Mexico

Mexico belongs geographically to North-America, ethnological it belongs to Latin America. Mexico is the most populous Spanish-speaking country in the world. About 70% of the people live in urban areas. According to some estimates, the population of the area around Mexico City is about 18 million, which would make it the largest concentration of population in the Western Hemisphere.
Highly developed cultures, including those of the Olmecs, Mayas, Toltecs, and Aztecs existed in this aerea long before the Spanish conquest.
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.
(Source: various sources)

border countries: Belize, Guatemala, USA
related countries: Spain

Official Name:
Estados Unidos Mexicanos
short form: México
int'l long form: United Mexican States
int'l short form: Mexico

ISO Country Code: mx

Time:
Time Zone: Central Daylight Time (CDT)
Local Time = UTC -5h
Actual Time México: Sat-Oct-22 10:23
Daylight saving time (DST): 3 April - 30. Oktober (UTC -6)

Country Calling Code: +52

Capital City: México (Distrito Federal; pop. 13 million, 2000 census metro area)

Other Cities:
Guadalajara, Monterrey, Puebla, Ciudad Juarez, Tijuana, Acapulco, Merida, Leon, Veracruz.

Government:
Type: Federal Republic. Independence: First proclaimed 16 September 1810; republic established 1824.
Constitution: 5 February 1917.

Geography:
Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, between Belize and the USA and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and the USA.
Area: 1 972 500 sq. km. (761 600 sq. mi.).
Terrain: Coastal lowlands, central high plateaus, and mountains up to 5 400 m. (18 000 ft.).

Climate: Tropical to desert.

People:
Nationality: Mexican(s).
Population (2004 estimate): 105 million.
Ethnic groups: Indian-Spanish (mestizo) 60%, Amerindian 30%, European 9%, other 1%.
Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Protestant 5%, other 5%.
Language: Spanish (official); 66 regional indigenous languages.
Literacy: 90%

Natural resources: Petroleum, silver, copper, gold, lead, zinc, natural gas, timber.

Agriculture products: Corn, beans, oilseeds, feed grains, fruit, cotton, coffee, sugarcane, winter vegetables.

Industries: Food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel, petroleum, mining, textiles, clothing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, tourism.

Currency: Mexican Peso (M$) (MXN)

(Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Mexico and others)

Mexico in Figures
Mexico key statistical data.