Mexico

Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a large country in North America.

It sits at the northernmost edge of Latin America. The nation shares a northern border with the United States of America. To the southeast, it borders Guatemala and Belize. Mexico is surrounded by several major bodies of water. The Pacific Ocean lies to the west. The Gulf of Mexico is to the east. The Caribbean Sea sits to the southeast.

Covering 1,972,550 square kilometers, it is the thirteenth-largest country by land area.

Mexico is home to a massive and diverse population. More than 130 million people live there. This makes it the tenth-most populous country in the world. As of 2020, Mexico has the largest number of native Spanish speakers. The capital is Mexico City. It is also the largest city in the country. This city ranks among the most populous metropolitan areas on Earth. The nation is also known for its incredible natural variety. It is one of 17 megadiverse countries. It ranks fifth globally for natural biodiversity.

Human history in this region began at least 10,000 years ago. The earliest stone tools were found in the Valley of Mexico. Around 5000 BC, people began living in permanent agricultural villages. This happened because they domesticated maize, beans, and tomatoes. This area is called Mesoamerica. It is considered a cradle of civilization. The Olmec culture was the first complex civilization here. They flourished on the Gulf Coast around 1500 BC. Later, the Maya and Zapotec civilizations developed complex writing systems.

Many great empires rose and fell in Mesoamerica. Teotihuacán was a massive military and commercial empire. At its peak, it had over 150,000 people. It featured some of the largest pyramids in the Americas.

Later, the Aztec Empire established dominance. They built their capital at Tenochtitlan.

This city was later destroyed during the Spanish conquest. The Spanish built Mexico City on its ruins in 1521. This began a 300-year colonial period known as New Spain.

New Spain became a vital part of the global economy. It was a major hub between Europe and Asia. This was fueled by large silver deposits in northern Mexico.

The Spanish crown ruled through the State and the Church. They established the Viceroyalty of New Spain in 1535. Eventually, the Mexican War of Independence occurred from 1810 to 1821. This ended Spanish rule and created the First Mexican Empire. The country later faced many challenges. In 1848, Mexico lost nearly half its territory during an American invasion.

Modern Mexico is a federal republic with a presidential system. The government uses a democratic framework. Power is divided into three branches. These are the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The federal legislature is a bicameral Congress of the Union. This includes the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. The country is divided into 32 autonomous states. There are also municipal governments. This structure is influenced by European Enlightenment ideals and indigenous traditions.

Today, Mexico is a significant global player. It has the 15th-largest economy by nominal GDP. It ranks 13th by purchasing power parity. Mexico is also a major destination for travelers. In 2022, it saw 42.2 million international arrivals. It is the sixth most-visited country in the world. The nation also holds many UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It ranks first in the Americas for these sites.

Despite its success, the country faces ongoing difficulties. Poverty, systemic corruption, and crime are widespread issues. Since 2006, conflicts involving drug trafficking syndicates have caused approximately 127,000 deaths. Mexico remains an active member of many international groups. It belongs to the United Nations and the G20. It is also part of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). These connections help define its role as an emerging global power.