Mexico
United Mexican States
Local name: México
- Capital
- Mexico City
- Population
- 131.9 million
- 11th in the world (2025)
- Area
- 1,964,375 km²
- 13th in the world
- Density
- 67 people/km²
- 120th in the world
In brief
Mexico is a country in North America. Its capital is Mexico City. With 131.9 million inhabitants in 2025, it ranks 11th in the world by population, out of the 195 countries recognised by the UN. Its area is 1,964,375 km². It shares land borders with Belize, Guatemala and the United States.
GDP per capita stands at $13,889 (2025), 72nd in the world. Life expectancy at birth is 75.3 years (2024). 80% of the population lives in cities.
History of Mexico
Olmecs, Teotihuacan, Maya and Zapotecs came before the Aztecs, who founded Tenochtitlan on a lake in the 14th century. Hernán Cortés conquered their empire in 1521, and the country became New Spain. The “cry” of the priest Miguel Hidalgo on 16 September 1810 launched the war of independence, won in 1821. Mexico lost half its territory to the United States in 1848. The 1910 revolution opened a long period dominated by a single party, the PRI, until 2000. Claudia Sheinbaum became the first woman president in 2024. It has more Spanish speakers than any other country.
Geography of Mexico
Mexico is made up of a high central plateau framed by the Sierra Madre ranges; the Pico de Orizaba (5,636 m), a volcano, is its highest point. Deserts in the north, rainforest in the south, the Yucatán peninsula with its cenotes and the Baja California peninsula: the country borders the Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico.
Map of Mexico
Flag of Mexico
The flag of Mexico is red, white and green. Its official proportions are 4:7 (height to width).
- Green34%
- Red33%
- White28%
- Yellow2%
Share of the flag’s surface taken by each colour.
What the flag stands for
Green, white and red, with an eagle perched on a cactus devouring a snake in the centre. According to Aztec legend, this sign showed the Mexica where to found Tenochtitlan, today Mexico City.
Sources: Wikipedia, articles “Mexico” and “Flag of Mexico”.
See also: flags with an eagle.
Download the flag (SVG) All 12 red, white and green flags All the flags of the world
Fact file
| Official name | United Mexican States |
|---|---|
| Capital | Mexico City |
| Official language | Spanish |
| Currency | Mexican peso (MXN, $) |
| Demonym | Mexican |
| Continent | Americas, North America |
| Access to the sea | Yes |
| Area | 1,964,375 km² |
| Calling code | +52 |
| Internet domain | .mx |
| UN status | Member state |
Economy and society
GDP per capita
$13,889
72nd in the world (2025)
Life expectancy
75.3 years
at birth (2024)
Urban population
80%
Sources: World Bank (2025) for population and economy, Natural Earth for the map, mledoze/countries and Wikidata for reference data. Method.