Mexico
Background
The site of advanced Amerindian civilizations, Mexico came under Spanish rule for three centuries before achieving independence early in the 19th century. A devaluation of the peso in late 1994 threw Mexico into economic turmoil, triggering the worst recession in over half a century. The nation continues to make an impressive recovery. Ongoing economic and social concerns include low real wages, underemployment for a large segment of the population, inequitable income distribution, and few advancement opportunities for the largely Amerindian population in the impoverished southern states.
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The site of advanced Amerindian civilizations, Mexico came under Spanish rule for three centuries before achieving independence early in the 19th century. A devaluation of the peso in late 1994 threw Mexico into economic turmoil, triggering the worst recession in over half a century. The nation continues to make an impressive recovery. Ongoing economic and social concerns include low real wages, underemployment for a large segment of the population, inequitable income distribution, and few advancement opportunities for the largely Amerindian population in the impoverished southern states.
Geography
Location
Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, between Belize and the US and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and the US
Geographic coordinates
23 00 N, 102 00 W
Area
total: 1,972,550 sq km
land: 1,923,040 sq km
water: 49,510 sq km
slightly less than three times the size of Texas
Border countries
Belize, Guatemala, United States of America
Climate
varies from tropical to desert
Terrain
high, rugged mountains; low coastal plains; high plateaus; desert
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Laguna Salada -10 m
highest point: Volcan Pico de Orizaba 5,700 m
Natural resources
petroleum, silver, copper, gold, lead, zinc, natural gas, timber
Land use
arable land: 12.66%
permanent crops: 1.28%
other: 86.06% (2005)
Note
strategic location on southern border of US
People
Population: 107,449,525 (July 2006 est.)
Population growth rate
1.16% (2006 est.)
Birth rate
20.69 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate
4.74 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate
20.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 71.76 years
male: 68.73 years
female: 74.93 years (2001 est.)
Total fertility rate
2.42 children born/woman (2006 est.)
Nationality
noun: Mexican(s)
adjective: Mexican
Ethnic groups
mestizo (Amerindian-Spanish) 60%
Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian 30%
white 9%
other 1%
Religions
nominally Roman Catholic 89%
Protestant 6%
other 5%
Languages
Spanish, various Mayan, Nahuatl, and other regional indigenous languages
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.2%
male: 94%
female: 90.5% (2003 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: United Mexican States
conventional short form: Mexico
local long form: Estados Unidos Mexicanos
local short form: Mexico
Government type
federal republic
Capital
Mexico City
Independence
16 September 1810 (from Spain)
National holiday
Independence Day, 16 September (1810)
Economy
Overview
Mexico has a free market economy with a mixture of modern and outmoded industry and agriculture, increasingly dominated by the private sector. The number of state-owned enterprises in Mexico has fallen from more than 1,000 in 1982 to fewer than 200 in 2000. The ZEDILLO administration privatized and expanded competition in seaports, railroads, telecommunications, electricity, natural gas distribution, and airports. A strong export sector helped to cushion the economy's decline in 1995 and led the recovery in 1996-2000. Private consumption became the leading driver of growth in 2000, accompanied by increased employment and higher real wages. Mexico still needs to overcome many structural problems as it strives to modernize its economy and raise living standards. Income distribution is very unequal, with the top 20% of income earners accounting for 55% of income. Trade with the US and Canada has tripled since NAFTA was implemented in 1994. Mexico completed free trade agreements with the EU, Israel, El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala in 2000, and is pursuing additional trade agreements with countries in Latin America and Asia to lessen its dependence on the US.
GDP by sector
agriculture: 3.9%
industry: 25.7%
services: 70.5% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line
40% (2003 est.)
Inflation rate
3.4% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 39.8 million (2000)
agriculture: 18%
services: 58%
industry: 24% (2003)
Unemployment rate
3.2% plus underemployment of perhaps 25% (2006 est.)
Communications
Telephones: 19.512 million (2005)
Mobile Phones: 47.462 million (2005)
Radios: 31 million (1997)
Televisions: 25.6 million (1997)
Internet users: 18,622,500 (2005
Transportation
Railways: total: 17,562 km
Highways: total: 235,670 km
Waterways: 2,900 km (navigable rivers and coastal canals)
Airports: 1,839 (2006)
