MEXICO

LOCATION
Mexico is situated in Middle America. To its west, Mexico’s border is by the North Pacific Sea. Mexico also borders the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. To the north, the U.S.A borders Mexico. In size, Mexico is slightly less than three times the size, of the state of Texas.
 
CLIMATE
There are areas of Mexico that appear lush and tropical. There are also large areas of the country that are dry, arid desert.
 
POPULATION
As of July 2000, the population of Mexico is estimated to be 100,349,766. The composition of people is as follows: 60% Ameridian-Spanish, 30% Ameridian, 9% white, and 1% other. In total there are 50,892,051 females, and 49,457,715 males.
 
RELIGION
Of the total population of Mexico, it is estimated that 89% of the country is Roman Catholic, 6% Protestant, and 5% hold no affiliation with any specific religion.
 
GENERAL
The official name of the country is United Mexican States . The country is comprised of 31 states. The capital is Mexico City. Mexico has a president who is both the Chief of State and the Head of the Government.
 
NATURAL RESOURCES
Mexico is rich in mineral resources, including coal, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, silver, gold, copper, lead, and zinc. Mexico also has enormous reserves of petroleum and natural gas. The largest reserves are located offshore.
The forests and woodlands contain mahogany, ebony, walnut, and rosewood. Agriculture in Mexico produces corn, wheat, soybeans, rice, cotton, coffee, fruit, beef, poultry, and dairy products.
 
TRANSPORTATION
Mexico has airports both with paved and unpaved runways. The majority of the runways are unpaved.
There are 2 heliports
Mexico has a total of 323,977 kilometers of highways, 227,756 kilometers being unpaved highways.
The railways total 31,048 kilometers with only 0.79% electrified.
Mexico does have a highly developed telephone system with vast microwave radio relay links. The service for domestic business and government can only be described as adequate. The general population has a less than adequate service; however, due to the poverty in the country, the general public does not own or use this service.
 
CURRENCY
The current unit of Mexican currency is the peso. One new Mexican Peso equals 100 centavos.
 
Facts and figures courtesy of CIA World Fact Book.
 
ADDITIONAL LINKS
To visit Mexico on the web www.embassyofmexico.org/english