Mexico Facts For Your Mexico Factfile

This page provides a one stop shop of Mexico facts - a one page reference guide to the most populous Spanish speaking country in the world.

Click here for further information about Mexico.

Suggestions of sites to visit in Mexico can be found in the Where to Visit section as well as Culture and Art.

Mexico Fact File

• Full Name: United Mexican States
• Capital City: Mexico City
• Country Area: 1,964,375 sq km
• Land Mass Area: 1,943,945 sq km
• Population: 112,468,855 (2010 estimate)
• Life Expectancy: 76.26
• Ethnicity: 60% mestizo, 30% Amerindian, 9% white, 1% other
• Religion: 77% Roman Catholic, 14% unspecified, 6% Protestant, 3% no religion (2000 census)
• Official Languages: Spanish
• Internet Domain: .mx
• International Dialling Code: +52
• Monetary Unit: 1 peso = 100 centavos
• Government: Federal Republic
• Independence from Spain: 16 September 1810 (beginning of War of Independence, although Spain recognizes Mexico's independence as 27 September 1821, following the war)

Random Fact

The Maya were advanced mathematicians and astronomers who used many calendars combined. Their long count calendar begins on 11 August, 3114BC and ends on 21 December 2012AD, using modern calendars, which is Maya date 13.0.0.0.0.

The end date of their calendar is not believed to signify the end of the world, but a major astronomical event as the sun will be at the centre of the Milky Way.

Summer and winter solstice were very important dates to the Maya and the building of their pyramids at certain degree angles reflects this. At Chichen Itza on the summer solstice, a snake appears to slither down the pyramid.