Mexico (country)

Mexico (country)
Conventional long name	United Mexican States
Common name	Mexico
Capital	Mexico City
Largest city	Mexico City
Official languages	Spanish
Recognized languages	Nahuatl, Maya, Yucatec Maya
Ethnic groups	Mestizo, Amerindian, European
Government type	Federal republic
President	Andrés Manuel López Obrador
Legislature	Congress of the Union
Upper house	Senate
Lower house	Chamber of Deputies
Independence	16 September 1810 (Mexican War of Independence)
Area km2	1964375
Population estimate	126000000
Currency	Mexican peso
Time zone	Central Standard Time
Drives on	right
Calling code	+52
Internet tld	.mx

Mexico (country) is a federal republic in the southern portion of North America bordered by the United States of America, Guatemala, and Belize, with extensive coastlines on the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. It occupies diverse terrain including high Sierra Madre ranges, the Mexican Plateau, and lowland basins such as the Yucatán Peninsula. Mexico's population centers and cultural heritage reflect continuity from pre-Columbian civilizations through colonial New Spain to modern national institutions.

Geography

Mexico's geography includes the volcanic Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, peaks such as Pico de Orizaba, and deserts like the Sonoran Desert bordering the Sea of Cortez. Major rivers include the Grijalva River and the Usumacinta River, which drain the southern lowlands into the Gulf of Mexico. The Baja California Peninsula separates the Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of California while the Yucatán Peninsula hosts extensive karst topography, cenotes, and Chicxulub crater-related geology. Offshore features include the Sigsbee Deep region and the Mexican Caribbean reef systems near Cozumel and Cancún.

History

Pre-Columbian civilizations such as the Olmec, Maya, Teotihuacan, and the Aztec Empire developed complex urban centers including Monte Albán and Tenochtitlan. The arrival of Hernán Cortés and forces of the Spanish Empire in the 16th century led to the establishment of the Viceroyalty of New Spain and institutions like the Casa de Contratación. The 19th century saw independence movements culminating in the Mexican War of Independence and figures such as Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, followed by conflicts such as the Mexican–American War and the French Intervention in Mexico that produced leaders including Benito Juárez and Porfirio Díaz. The early 20th century featured the Mexican Revolution with protagonists like Francisco I. Madero, Pancho Villa, and Emiliano Zapata and reforms under the Constitution of 1917. Later events include the Cristero War, the dominance of the Institutional Revolutionary Party, and late-20th-century transitions represented by the North American Free Trade Agreement and electoral shifts around the National Action Party and the Party of the Democratic Revolution.

Politics and government

Mexico's federal structure divides authority among the President, bicameral Congress, and judiciary centered on the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation. Subnational units include 31 states and one Mexico City federal entity with locally elected governors and legislatures; public security policies involve institutions like the National Guard (Mexico). Key legal landmarks derive from the Constitution of 1917, and electoral administration is overseen by the Instituto Nacional Electoral. International relations include membership in the United Nations, the Organization of American States, and the G20.

Economy

Mexico's economy spans manufacturing hubs in the Maquiladora zones, energy sectors managed by entities like Petróleos Mexicanos and recent reforms, and agricultural regions producing corn, beans, and avocados in areas including Sinaloa and Michoacán. Trade is shaped by agreements including the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement and participation in global supply chains with hubs in Monterrey, Guadalajara, and Mexico City. Financial institutions such as the Banco de México and stock market Mexican Stock Exchange regulate fiscal and monetary policy. Key challenges include income inequality, informal employment, and dependency on commodity exports such as oil and minerals from regions like Zacatecas.

Demographics

Mexico's population includes large Mestizo majorities and indigenous groups speaking Nahuatl, Maya languages, and Mixtec, concentrated in states like Oaxaca and Chiapas. Urbanization centers include Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara with metropolitan networks extending into State of Mexico. Migration flows involve both emigration to the United States and internal rural-to-urban movement; diasporic communities maintain ties through remittances administered via institutions and corridors like Tijuana–San Diego crossings. Public health and demographic transition trends are monitored by the Secretariat of Health and institutions such as the INEGI.

Culture

Mexico's cultural heritage includes music genres like mariachi and ranchera, literary figures such as Octavio Paz and Juan Rulfo, and visual artists including Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, and José Clemente Orozco. Religious practices often center on Catholicism with syncretic traditions observed during Day of the Dead festivities and folk festivals in locales such as Oaxaca City and Puebla. Culinary traditions feature dishes like mole poblano, tacos al pastor, and staples derived from maize cultivation celebrated at Chinampa-influenced markets. Film and media exports include works by directors like Guillermo del Toro and Alejandro González Iñárritu, while popular sports are organized through institutions including Liga MX and national teams.

Infrastructure and transportation

Transport networks include highways such as the Pan-American Highway, rail corridors historically including the Ferrocarril Transístmico, and major airports like Mexico City International Airport and Cancún International Airport. Ports including Veracruz and Manzanillo handle maritime trade, supported by logistics hubs in Lázaro Cárdenas and Altamira. Energy infrastructure comprises refineries, pipelines, and the national utility Comisión Federal de Electricidad, while water management projects address basins such as the Balsas River watershed and urban supply in Mexico City with works like the Aguakan systems and metropolitan aqueducts. Telecommunications expanded under regulatory bodies such as the Federal Telecommunications Institute and private carriers operate nationwide.

Category:Countries in North America