Mexico

Mexico

Introduction

Background

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 global financial crisis beginning in late 2008 caused another massive economic downturn the following year. As the economy recovers, 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. The elections held in 2000 marked the first time since the 1910 Mexican Revolution that an opposition candidate – Vicente FOX of the National Action Party (PAN) – defeated the party in government, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). He was succeeded in 2006 by another PAN candidate Felipe CALDERON. National elections, including the presidential election, are scheduled for July 2012. Since 2007, Mexico’s powerful drug-trafficking organizations have engaged in bloody fueding, resulting in tens of thousands of drug-related homicides.

Geography

Location

Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, between Belize and the United States and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and the United States

Geographic coordinates

23 00 N, 102 00 W

Map references

North America

Area

total: 1,964,375 sq km
country comparison to the world: 14 land:1,943,945 sq km
water:20,430 sq km

Area – comparative

slightly less than three times the size of Texas

Land boundaries

total: 4,353 km
border countries:Belize 250 km, Guatemala 962 km, US 3,141 km

Coastline

9,330 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone:24 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 nm
continental shelf:200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate

varies from tropical to desert

Terrain

high, rugged mountains

low coastal plains

high plateaus

desert

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Laguna Salada -10 m
highest point:Volcan Pico de Orizaba 5,700 m

Natural resources

petroleum, silver, copper, gold, lead, zinc, natural gas, timber

Land use

arable land: 12.66%
permanent crops:1.28%
other:86.06% (2005)

Irrigated land

63,000 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

457.2 cu km (2000)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 78.22cu km/yr (17%/5%/77%)
per capita:731cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards

tsunamis along the Pacific coast, volcanoes and destructive earthquakes in the center and south, and hurricanes on the Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean coasts
volcanism:Mexico experiences volcanic activity in the central-southern part of the country

the volcanoes in Baja California are mostly dormant

Colima (elev. 3,850 m), which erupted in 2010, is Mexico’s most active volcano and is responsible for causing periodic evacuations of nearby villagers

it has been deemed a “Decade Volcano” by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth’s Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations

Popocatepetl (elev. 5,426 m) poses a threat to Mexico City

other historically active volcanoes include Barcena, Ceboruco, El Chichon, Michoacan-Guanajuato, Pico de Orizaba,San Martin, Socorro, and Tacana

Environment – current issues

scarcity of hazardous waste disposal facilities

rural to urban migration

natural freshwater resources scarce and polluted in north, inaccessible and poor quality in center and extreme southeast

raw sewage and industrial effluents polluting rivers in urban areas

deforestation

widespread erosion

desertification

deteriorating agricultural lands

serious air and water pollution in the national capital and urban centers along US-Mexico border

land subsidence in Valley of Mexico caused by groundwater depletion
note:the government considers the lack of clean water and deforestation national security issues

Environment – international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements

Geography – note

strategic location on southern border of US

corn (maize), one of the world’s major grain crops, is thought to have originated in Mexico

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Mexican(s)
adjective:Mexican

Ethnic groups

mestizo (Amerindian-Spanish) 60%, Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian 30%, white 9%, other 1%

Languages

Spanish only 92.7%, Spanish and indigenous languages 5.7%, indigenous only 0.8%, unspecified 0.8%
note:indigenous languages include various Mayan, Nahuatl, and other regional languages (2005)

Religions

Roman Catholic 76.5%, Protestant 6.3% (Pentecostal 1.4%, other 3.8%), Jehovah’s Witnesses 1.1%, other 0.3%, unspecified 13.8%, none 3.1% (2000 census)

Population

113,724,226 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11

Age structure

0-14 years: 28.2% (male 16,395,974/female 15,714,182)
15-64 years:65.2% (male 35,842,495/female 38,309,528)
65 years and over:6.6% (male 3,348,495/female 4,113,552) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 27.1 years
male:26 years
female:28.1 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

1.102% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105

Birth rate

19.13 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102

Death rate

4.86 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191

Net migration rate

-3.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177

Urbanization

urban population: 78% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:1.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
note:Mexico City is the second-largest urban agglomeration in the Western Hemisphere, after Sao Paulo (Brazil), but before New York-Newark (US)

Major cities – population

MEXICO CITY (capital) 19.319 million

Guadalajara 4.338 million

Monterrey 3.838 million

Puebla 2.278 million

Tijuana 1.629 million (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years:0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.82 male(s)/female
total population:0.96 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

85 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 78

Infant mortality rate

total: 17.29 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 104 male:19.14 deaths/1,000 live births
female:15.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 76.47 years
country comparison to the world: 72 male:73.65 years
female:79.43 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.29 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100

Health expenditures

13.8% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 3

Physicians density

2.893 physicians/1,000 population (2004)
country comparison to the world: 42

Hospital bed density

1.6 beds/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 118

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 96% of population
rural: 87% of population
total: 94% of population
unimproved:
urban: 4% of population
rural: 13% of population
total: 6% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 90% of population
rural: 68% of population
total: 85% of population
unimproved:
urban: 10% of population
rural: 32% of population
total: 15% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

0.3% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

220,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25

HIV/AIDS – deaths

NA

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases:bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease:dengue fever
water contact disease:leptospirosis (2009)

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

23.6% (2000)
country comparison to the world: 13

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

3.4% (2006)
country comparison to the world: 100

Education expenditures

4.8% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 69

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:86.1%
male:86.9%
female:85.3% (2005 Census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 14 years
male:14 years
female:14 years (2008)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 10%
country comparison to the world: 102 male:9.7%
female:10.6% (2009)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: United Mexican States
conventional short form:Mexico
local long form:Estados Unidos Mexicanos
local short form:Mexico

Government type

federal republic

Capital

name: Mexico City (Distrito Federal)
geographic coordinates:19 26 N, 99 08 W
time difference:UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time:+1hr, begins first Sunday in April

ends last Sunday in October
note:Mexico is divided into three time zones

Administrative divisions

31 states (estados, singular – estado) and 1 federal district* (distrito federal)

Aguascalientes, Baja California, Baja California Sur, Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Colima, Distrito Federal*, Durango, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Mexico, Michoacan de Ocampo, Morelos, Nayarit, Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca, Puebla, Queretaro de Arteaga, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosi, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Tlaxcala, Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave (Veracruz), Yucatan, Zacatecas

Independence

16 September 1810 (declared)

27 September 1821 (recognized by Spain)

National holiday

Independence Day, 16 September (1810)

Constitution

5 February 1917

Legal system

civil law system with US constitutional law theory influence

judicial review of legislative acts

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal and compulsory (but not enforced)

Executive branch

chief of state: President Felipe de Jesus CALDERON Hinojosa (since 1 December 2006)

note – the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:President Felipe de Jesus CALDERON Hinojosa (since 1 December 2006)
cabinet:Cabinet appointed by the president

note – appointment of attorney general, the head of the Bank of Mexico, and senior treasury officials require consent of the Senate
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:president elected by popular vote for a single six-year term

election last held on 2 July 2006 (next to be held 1 July 2012)
election results:Felipe CALDERON elected president

percent of vote – Felipe CALDERON 35.9%, Andres Manuel LOPEZ OBRADOR 35.3%, Roberto MADRAZO 22.3%, other 6.5%

Legislative branch

bicameral National Congress or Congreso de la Union consists of the Senate or Camara de Senadores (128 seats

96 members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms, and 32 seats allocated on the basis of each party’s popular vote) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (500 seats

300 members are elected by popular vote

remaining 200 members are allocated on the basis of each party’s popular vote

members to serve three-year terms)
elections:Senate – last held on 2 July 2006 for all of the seats (next to be held on 1 July 2012)

Chamber of Deputies – last held on 5 July 2009 (next to be held on 1 July 2012)
election results:Senate – percent of vote by party – NA

seats by party – PAN 52, PRI 33, PRD 26, PVEM 6, CD 5, PT 5, independent 1

Chamber of Deputies – percent of vote by party – NA

seats by party – PRI 237, PAN 143, PRD 72, PVEM 21, PT 13, CD 6, other 8

note – as of 1 January 2011, the current composition of the Senate is: PAN 50, PRI 33, PRD 25, PVEM 6, CD 6, PT 5, independent 3

the current composition of the Chamber of Deputies is: PRI 237, PAN 142, PRD 69, PVEM 21, PT 13, CD 8, other 10

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Justice or Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nacion (justices or ministros are appointed by the president with consent of the Senate)

Political parties and leaders

Convergence for Democracy or CD [Luis WALTON Aburto]

Institutional Revolutionary Party or PRI [Humberto MOREIRA Valdes]

Labor Party or PT [Alberto ANAYA Gutierrez]

Mexican Green Ecological Party or PVEM [Jorge Emilio GONZALEZ Martinez]

National Action Party (Partido Accion Nacional) or PAN [Gustavo MADERO Munoz]

New Alliance Party (Partido Nueva Alianza) or PNA/PANAL [Jorge Antonio KAHWAGI Macari]

Party of the Democratic Revolution (Partido de la Revolucion Democratica) or PRD [Jesus ORTEGA Martinez]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Businessmen’s Coordinating Council or CCE

Confederation of Employers of the Mexican Republic or COPARMEX

Confederation of Industrial Chambers or CONCAMIN

Confederation of Mexican Workers or CTM

Confederation of National Chambers of Commerce or CONCANACO

Coordinator for Foreign Trade Business Organizations or COECE

Federation of Unions Providing Goods and Services or FESEBES

National Chamber of Transformation Industries or CANACINTRA

National Peasant Confederation or CNC

National Small Business Chamber or CANACOPE

National Syndicate of Education Workers or SNTE

National Union of Workers or UNT

Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca or APPO

Roman Catholic Church

International organization participation

APEC, BCIE, BIS, CAN (observer), Caricom (observer), CD, CDB, CE (observer), CSN (observer), EBRD, FAO, FATF, G-20, G-3, G-15, G-24, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, MIGA, NAFTA, NAM (observer), NEA, OAS, OECD, OPANAL, OPCW, Paris Club (associate), PCA, RG, SICA (observer), UN, UNASUR (observer), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina (observer), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Arturo SARUKHAN Casamitjana
chancery:1911 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006
telephone:[1] (202) 728-1600
FAX:[1] (202) 728-1698
consulate(s) general:Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, El Paso, Houston, Laredo (Texas), Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Nogales (Arizona), Phoenix, Sacramento, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, San Juan (Puerto Rico)
consulate(s):Albuquerque, Anchorage (Alaska), Boise (Idaho), Brownsville (Texas), Calexico (California), Del Rio (Texas), Detroit, Douglas (Arizona), Eagle Pass (Texas), Fresno (California), Indianapolis (Indiana), Kansas City (Missouri), Las Vegas, Little Rock (Arkansas), McAllen (Texas), Midland (Texas), New Orleans, Omaha, Orlando, Oxnard (California), Philadelphia, Portland (Oregon), Presidio (Texas), Raleigh (North Carolina), Saint Paul, Salt Lake City, San Bernardino, Santa Ana (California), Seattle, Tucson, Washington DC, Yuma (Arizona)

note – Washington DC Consular Section located in a separate building from the Mexican Embassy and has jurisdiction over DC, parts of Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos PASCUAL
embassy:Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, 06500 Mexico, Distrito Federal
mailing address:P. O. Box 9000, Brownsville, TX 78520-9000
telephone:[52] (55) 5080-2000
FAX:[52] (55) 5511-9980
consulate(s) general:Ciudad Juarez, Guadalajara, Hermosillo, Matamoros, Monterrey, Nuevo Laredo, Tijuana
consulate(s):Merida, Nogales

Flag description

three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red

Mexico’s coat of arms (an eagle with a snake in its beak perched on a cactus) is centered in the white band

green signifies hope, joy, and love

white represents peace and honesty

red stands for hardiness, bravery, strength, and valor

the coat of arms is derived from a legend that the wandering Aztec people were to settle at a location where they would see an eagle on a cactus eating a snake

the city they founded, Tenochtitlan, is now Mexico City
note:similar to the flag of Italy, which is shorter, uses lighter shades of red and green, and does not have anything in its white band

National symbol(s)

golden eagle

National anthem

name: “Himno Nacional Mexicano” (National Anthem of Mexico)
lyrics/music:Francisco Gonzalez BOCANEGRA/Jaime Nuno ROCA
note:adopted 1943, in use since 1854

the anthem is also known as “Mexicanos, al grito de Guerra” (Mexicans, to the War Cry)

according to tradition, Francisco Gonzalez BOCANEGRA, an accomplished poet, was uninterested in submitting lyrics to a national anthem contest

his fiancee locked him in a room and refused to release him until the lyrics were completed

Economy

Economy – overview

Mexico has a free market economy in the trillion dollar class. It contains a mixture of modern and outmoded industry and agriculture, increasingly dominated by the private sector. Recent administrations have expanded competition in seaports, railroads, telecommunications, electricity generation, natural gas distribution, and airports. Per capita income is roughly one-third that of the US

income distribution remains highly unequal. Since the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1994, Mexico’s share of US imports has increased from 7% to 12%, and its share of Canadian imports has doubled to 5%. Mexico has free trade agreements with over 50 countries including, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, the European Free Trade Area, and Japan, putting more than 90% of trade under free trade agreements. In 2007, during its first year in office, the Felipe CALDERON administration was able to garner support from the opposition to successfully pass pension and fiscal reforms. The administration passed an energy reform measure in 2008 and another fiscal reform in 2009. Mexico’s GDP plunged 6.5% in 2009 as world demand for exports dropped, asset prices tumbled, and remittances and investment declined. GDP posted positive growth of 5% in 2010, with exports – particularly to the United States – leading the way, while domestic consumption and investment lagged. The administration continues to face many economic challenges, including improving the public education system, upgrading infrastructure, modernizing labor laws, and fostering private investment in the energy sector. CALDERON has stated that his top economic priorities remain reducing poverty and creating jobs.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.567 trillion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12 $1.486 trillion (2009 est.)
$1.582 trillion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.039 trillion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

5.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61 -6.1% (2009 est.)
1.5% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$13,900 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85 $13,400 (2009 est.)
$14,400 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 3.9%
industry:32.6%
services:63.5% (2010 est.)

Labor force

46.99 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 13.7%
industry:23.4%
services:62.9% (2005)

Unemployment rate

5.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49 5.5% (2009 est.)
note:underemployment may be as high as 25%

Population below poverty line

18.2%
note:based on food-based definition of poverty

asset based poverty amounted to more than 47% (2008)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.5%
highest 10%:41.4% (2008)

Distribution of family income – Gini index

51.7 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 18 53.1 (1998)

Investment (gross fixed)

20.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114

Budget

revenues: $234.3 billion
expenditures:$263.8 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

22.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93

Public debt

36.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77 36.9% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137 5.3% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

NA% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82 4.5% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

5.287% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140 7.074% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$148.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24 $123.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$582.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20 $510.1 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$374.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30 $327.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$454.3 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 22 $340.6 billion (31 December 2009)
$232.6 billion (31 December 2008)

Agriculture – products

corn, wheat, soybeans, rice, beans, cotton, coffee, fruit, tomatoes

beef, poultry, dairy products

wood products

Industries

food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel, petroleum, mining, textiles, clothing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, tourism

Industrial production growth rate

6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71

Electricity – production

239.1 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15

Electricity – consumption

181.5 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19

Electricity – exports

1.32 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

699.2 million kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

2.983 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7

Oil – consumption

2.073 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12

Oil – exports

1.511 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16

Oil – imports

496,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26

Oil – proved reserves

10.42 billion bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17

Natural gas – production

59.07 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15

Natural gas – consumption

62.42 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13

Natural gas – exports

200 million cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43

Natural gas – imports

14.59 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18

Natural gas – proved reserves

338.8 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37

Current account balance

-$5.626 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177 -$6.352 billion (2009 est.)

Exports

$298.5 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15 $229.7 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

manufactured goods, oil and oil products, silver, fruits, vegetables, coffee, cotton

Exports – partners

US 73.5%, Canada 7.5% (2010)

Imports

$301.5 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16 $234.4 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

metalworking machines, steel mill products, agricultural machinery, electrical equipment, car parts for assembly, repair parts for motor vehicles, aircraft, and aircraft parts

Imports – partners

US 60.6%, China 6.6%, South Korea 5.2% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$120.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18 $99.86 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$279.8 billion (30 June 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30 $195.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

$326.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16 $308.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad

$78.38 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28 $64.04 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

Mexican pesos (MXN) per US dollar -
12.687 (2010)
13.514 (2009)
11.016 (2008)
10.8 (2007)
10.899 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

1,819 (2010)
country comparison to the world:3

Airports – with paved runways

total: 250
over 3,047 m:12
2,438 to 3,047 m:30
1,524 to 2,437 m:85
914 to 1,523 m:83
under 914 m:40 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 1,569
over 3,047 m:1
2,438 to 3,047 m:1
1,524 to 2,437 m:66
914 to 1,523 m:438
under 914 m:1,063 (2010)

Heliports

1 (2010)

Pipelines

gas 16,594 km

liquid petroleum gas 2,152 km

oil 7,499 km

oil/gas/water 4 km

refined products 7,264 km

water 33 km (2010)

Railways

total: 17,166 km
country comparison to the world: 16 standard gauge:17,166 km 1.435-m gauge (22 km electrified) (2010)

Roadways

total: 366,095 km
country comparison to the world: 17 paved:132,289 km (includes 6,279 km of expressways)
unpaved:233,806 km (2008)

Waterways

2,900 km (navigable rivers and coastal canals mostly connected with ports on the country’s east coast) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 33

Merchant marine

total: 60
country comparison to the world: 65 by type:bulk carrier 4, cargo 3, chemical tanker 12, liquefied gas 4, passenger/cargo 11, petroleum tanker 22, roll on/roll off 4
foreign-owned:5 (Denmark 2, Greece 1, South Africa 1, UAE 1)
registered in other countries:18 (Antigua and Barbuda 2, Honduras 1, Marshall Islands 4, Panama 6, Portugal 1, Spain 2, Venezuela 1, unknown 1) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Altamira, Coatzacoalcos, Lazaro Cardenas, Manzanillo, Salina Cruz, Veracruz
oil terminals:Cayo Arcas terminal, Dos Bocas terminal

Military

Military branches

Secretariat of National Defense (Secretaria de Defensa Nacional, Sedena): Army (Ejercito), Mexican Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Mexicana, FAM)

Secretariat of the Navy (Secretaria de Marina, Semar): Mexican Navy (Armada de Mexico (ARM), includes Naval Air Force (FAN), Mexican Marine Corps (Cuerpo de Infanteria de Marina, Mexmar or CIM)) (2011)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for compulsory military service, conscript service obligation – 12 months

16 years of age with consent for voluntary enlistment

conscripts serve only in the Army

Navy and Air Force service is all voluntary

women are eligible for voluntary military service (2007)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 28,815,506
females age 16-49:30,363,558 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 23,239,866
females age 16-49:25,642,549 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 1,105,371
female:1,067,007 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

0.5% of GDP (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

abundant rainfall in recent years along much of the Mexico-US border region has ameliorated periodically strained water-sharing arrangements

the US has intensified security measures to monitor and control legal and illegal personnel, transport, and commodities across its border with Mexico

Mexico must deal with thousands of impoverished Guatemalans and other Central Americans who cross the porous border looking for work in Mexico and the United States

Belize and Mexico are working to solve minor border demarcation discrepancies arising from inaccuracies in the 1898 border treaty

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs: 5,500-10,000 (government’s quashing of Zapatista uprising in 1994 in eastern Chiapas Region) (2007)

Illicit drugs

major drug-producing and transit nation

world’s second largest opium poppy cultivator

opium poppy cultivation in 2009 rose 31% over 2008 to 19,500 hectares yielding a potential production of 50 metric tons of pure heroin, or 125 metric tons of “black tar” heroin, the dominant form of Mexican heroin in the western United States

marijuana cultivation increased 45% to 17,500 hectares in 2009

government conducts the largest independent illicit-crop eradication program in the world

continues as the primary transshipment country for US-bound cocaine from South America, with an estimated 95% of annual cocaine movements toward the US stopping in Mexico

major drug syndicates control the majority of drug trafficking throughout the country

producer and distributor of ecstasy

significant money-laundering center

major supplier of heroin and largest foreign supplier of marijuana and methamphetamine to the US market (2011)