Mexico’s ancient history has left archaeological treasures from ancient Native American cultures. The country has significant natural resources and is the second largest economy in Latin America, but its wealth is unjustly distributed among the population. Violence and organized crime are serious societal problems.
Key figures and facts
- Capital: Mexico City
- Ethnic groups: Fertilizers (descendants of Europeans + Indigenous people) 62%, Indigenous people 28%, others (mainly Europeans) 10% (2012)
- Language: Spanish only 93%, Spanish and Maya, Nahuatl and other regional languages 7%, unspecified 1% (2005)
- Religion: Catholics 83%, Pentecostals 2%, Jehovah’s Witnesses 1%, other evangelical churches 5%, other/none/unspecified 9% (2010)
- Population: 125 959 205
- Control Form: Federal Republic
- Area: 1 964 380 km²
- Currency: pesos
- GNP per capita: 17 275 PPP $
- National Day: September 16th
Mexico’s Population
In 2013, the population of Mexico was estimated at 122 332 000 (World Bank), annual population growth to 1.2%. Life expectancy for women is 79.6 years and 74.8 years for men. Declining birth rates, 18.8 percent (against 34 per thousand 1980–85), have reduced the strong population growth somewhat. While in the mid-1980s it was over 40% under the age of 15, this proportion had dropped to 28.5% in 2013. However, it is labor migration, especially to the United States, which has contributed most to the decline in population growth. An estimated 6 million Mexicans live in the United States without a legal residence permit. Up to 3 million people cross the border illegally every year. Most “wetbacks”, as they are called – because they water or swim across the Rio Grande which separates the two countries – leaves in connection with the fruit harvesting season and returns home after a short stay. In addition, some border residents are day commuters. Mexico has also long been a refuge for political refugees, and many Latin Americans have stayed here in recent years.
The Native American population, estimated at 4.5 million in 1492, declined during conquest and early colonial times. Later, it has remained fairly constant. The percentage of Native American speakers is declining. This is due to a general bias or “mastering”, which particularly affects areas where Native American language and way of life stand weak vis-à-vis an expanding large community. Nevertheless, official Mexico gives the outside world an emphasis on Native American origins and pre-Columbian characteristics. Around 60% of the population are mastics, 30% are Indians and 9% are white of European descent. Blacks, Asians and Arabs further contribute to the country’s ethnic diversity.
Mexico has a population density of 62.9 per km2 (2013). The most densely populated is Mesa Central, or the plateau country around the capital, which has over half of the country’s population. The arid areas of the north and the coastal states of the south are relatively thinly populated. Since the 1940s, rural population pressure has led to a growing shift from country to city, especially to the capital Ciudad de México. Over 70% of the population lives in cities, and the capital Ciudad de México, in the Norwegian city of Mexico, is one of the world’s largest cities.
Population of Mexico by Year (Historical)
Year | Population | Annual Growth Rate | Population Density | Global Rank |
2020 | 128,932,642 | 1.060% | 66.3251 | 10 |
2019 | 127,575,418 | 1.100% | 65.6270 | 10 |
2018 | 126,190,677 | 1.130% | 64.9146 | 11 |
2017 | 124,777,213 | 1.170% | 64.1875 | 11 |
2016 | 123,333,265 | 1.210% | 63.4447 | 11 |
2015 | 121,858,147 | 1.330% | 62.6859 | 11 |
2010 | 114,092,852 | 1.480% | 58.6913 | 11 |
2005 | 106,005,092 | 1.400% | 54.5308 | 11 |
2000 | 98,899,734 | 1.530% | 50.8757 | 11 |
1995 | 91,663,174 | 1.770% | 47.1531 | 11 |
1990 | 83,943,021 | 2.010% | 43.1817 | 11 |
1985 | 75,983,374 | 2.320% | 39.0872 | 12 |
1980 | 67,761,261 | 2.600% | 34.8576 | 12 |
1975 | 59,607,842 | 2.970% | 30.6633 | 12 |
1970 | 51,493,454 | 3.140% | 26.4891 | 14 |
1965 | 44,123,742 | 3.160% | 22.6980 | 16 |
1960 | 37,771,748 | 3.150% | 19.4305 | 16 |
1955 | 32,350,485 | 2.970% | 16.6417 | 16 |
1950 | 27,944,558 | 0.000% | 14.3752 | 17 |
Major Cities in Mexico by Population
Rank | City | Population |
1 | Mexico City | 12,294,082 |
2 | Iztapalapa | 1,815,675 |
3 | Ecatepec de Morelos | 1,654,904 |
4 | Guadalajara | 1,495,071 |
5 | Puebla | 1,433,951 |
6 | Juarez | 1,320,893 |
7 | Tijuana | 1,300,872 |
8 | Leon de los Aldama | 1,238,851 |
9 | Gustavo Adolfo Madero | 1,185,661 |
10 | Zapopan | 1,142,372 |
11 | Monterrey | 1,135,401 |
12 | Ciudad Nezahualcoyotl | 1,104,474 |
13 | Chihuahua | 809,121 |
14 | Naucalpan de Juarez | 792,100 |
15 | Merida | 777,504 |
16 | Alvaro Obregon | 726,553 |
17 | San Luis Potosi | 722,661 |
18 | Aguascalientes | 722,139 |
19 | Hermosillo | 714,950 |
20 | Saltillo | 709,560 |
21 | Mexicali | 689,664 |
22 | Culiacan | 675,662 |
23 | Guadalupe | 673,505 |
24 | Acapulco de Juarez | 673,368 |
25 | Tlalnepantla | 653,299 |
26 | Cancun | 628,195 |
27 | Santiago de Queretaro | 626,384 |
28 | Coyoacan | 620,305 |
29 | Santa Maria Chimalhuacan | 612,272 |
30 | Torreon | 608,725 |
31 | Morelia | 597,400 |
32 | Reynosa | 589,355 |
33 | Tlaquepaque | 575,831 |
34 | Tlalpan | 574,466 |
35 | Tuxtla | 536,991 |
36 | Cuauhtemoc | 531,720 |
37 | Victoria de Durango | 518,598 |
38 | Toluca | 489,222 |
39 | Ciudad Lopez Mateos | 489,049 |
40 | Cuautitlan Izcalli | 484,462 |
41 | Ciudad Apodaca | 467,046 |
42 | Heroica Matamoros | 449,704 |
43 | San Nicolas de los Garza | 443,162 |
44 | Venustiano Carranza | 430,867 |
45 | Veracruz | 428,212 |
46 | Xalapa de Enriquez | 424,644 |
47 | Azcapotzalco | 414,600 |
48 | Tonala | 408,648 |
49 | Xochimilco | 407,774 |
50 | Benito Juarez | 385,328 |
51 | Iztacalco | 384,215 |
52 | Mazatlan | 381,472 |
53 | Irapuato | 380,830 |
54 | Nuevo Laredo | 373,614 |
55 | Miguel Hidalgo | 372,778 |
56 | Xico | 356,241 |
57 | Benito Juarez | 354,906 |
58 | Villahermosa | 353,466 |
59 | Ciudad General Escobedo | 352,333 |
60 | Celaya | 340,276 |
61 | Cuernavaca | 338,539 |
62 | Tepic | 332,752 |
63 | Ixtapaluca | 322,160 |
64 | Tampico | 308,892 |
65 | Ciudad Victoria | 305,044 |
66 | Tlahuac | 304,965 |
67 | Ciudad Obregon | 298,514 |
68 | Nicolas Romero | 281,688 |
69 | Ensenada | 279,654 |
70 | Coacalco | 277,848 |
71 | Santa Catarina | 268,236 |
72 | Uruapan | 264,328 |
73 | Gomez Palacio | 257,241 |
74 | Los Mochis | 256,502 |
75 | Pachuca de Soto | 256,473 |
76 | Oaxaca | 254,918 |
77 | Soledad de Graciano Sanchez | 254,904 |
78 | Colonia del Valle | 249,889 |
79 | Tehuacan | 248,605 |
80 | Ojo de Agua | 242,161 |
81 | Magdalena Contreras | 238,320 |
82 | Coatzacoalcos | 235,872 |
83 | Campeche | 220,278 |
84 | Monclova | 215,160 |
85 | La Paz | 215,067 |
86 | Nogales | 212,422 |
87 | Buenavista | 205,970 |
88 | Puerto Vallarta | 203,231 |
89 | Tapachula | 202,561 |
90 | Ciudad Madero | 197,105 |
91 | Chilpancingo | 187,140 |
92 | Poza Rica de Hidalgo | 185,131 |
93 | Chicoloapan | 172,808 |
94 | Ciudad del Carmen | 169,355 |
95 | Chalco | 168,609 |
96 | Jiutepec | 162,316 |
97 | Delegacion Cuajimalpa de Morelos | 160,380 |
98 | Salamanca | 160,058 |
99 | San Luis Rio Colorado | 157,978 |
100 | San Cristobal de las Casas | 157,916 |
101 | San Pablo de las Salinas | 156,080 |
102 | Cuautla | 154,247 |
103 | Ciudad Benito Juarez | 151,782 |
104 | Chetumal | 151,132 |
105 | Piedras Negras | 150,067 |
106 | Playa del Carmen | 149,812 |
107 | Zamora | 141,516 |
108 | Cordoba | 140,785 |
109 | San Juan del Rio | 138,767 |
110 | Colima | 137,272 |
111 | Ciudad Acuna | 134,122 |
112 | Manzanillo | 129,924 |
113 | Zacatecas | 128,900 |
114 | Huixquilucan | 124,735 |
115 | Ciudad Valles | 124,533 |
116 | Guadalupe | 124,512 |
117 | San Pedro Garza Garcia | 122,516 |
118 | San Pedro Garza Garcia | 121,898 |
119 | Fresnillo | 120,833 |
120 | Orizaba | 120,733 |
121 | Miramar | 118,503 |
122 | Iguala de la Independencia | 118,357 |
123 | Ciudad Delicias | 117,960 |
124 | Ciudad de Villa de Alvarez | 117,489 |
125 | Cuauhtemoc | 113,896 |
126 | Navojoa | 113,725 |
127 | Heroica Guaymas | 112,971 |
128 | Minatitlan | 111,935 |
129 | Cuautitlan | 108,338 |
130 | Texcoco de Mora | 105,054 |
131 | Parral | 104,725 |
132 | Tepexpan | 102,556 |
133 | Tulancingo | 102,295 |
134 | Tuxtepec | 101,699 |
135 | Colonia Lindavista | 99,889 |
136 | Apatzingan | 98,899 |
137 | Lagos de Moreno | 98,095 |
138 | Temixco | 97,677 |
139 | Ciudad Guzman | 97,639 |
140 | Comitan | 97,426 |
141 | Ciudad Rio Bravo | 95,536 |
142 | Garcia | 93,530 |
143 | Tepatitlan de Morelos | 91,848 |
144 | Cardenas | 91,447 |
145 | Cholula | 87,786 |
146 | Hacienda Santa Fe | 86,824 |
147 | Atlixco | 86,579 |
148 | Tecoman | 85,578 |
149 | Los Reyes Acaquilpan | 85,248 |
150 | Ciudad Mante | 84,676 |
151 | Tuxpam de Rodriguez Cano | 84,639 |
152 | Tlaxcala | 84,559 |
153 | Heroica Zitacuaro | 84,196 |
154 | Ocotlan | 83,658 |
155 | La Piedad | 83,212 |
156 | Ciudad Lerdo | 79,558 |
157 | Ciudad Lazaro Cardenas | 79,089 |
158 | Matehuala | 77,217 |
159 | Agua Prieta | 77,143 |
160 | Kanasin | 77,129 |
161 | Cozumel | 77,125 |
162 | Amozoc de Mota | 76,995 |
163 | Salina Cruz | 76,485 |
164 | San Martin Texmelucan de Labastida | 75,407 |
165 | Juchitan de Zaragoza | 74,714 |
166 | Silao | 74,131 |
167 | Fuentes del Valle | 73,976 |
168 | Guanajuato | 72,126 |
169 | El Pueblito | 71,143 |
170 | Guasave | 71,085 |
171 | San Francisco del Rincon | 71,028 |
172 | San Miguel de Allende | 69,700 |
173 | San Jose del Cabo | 69,677 |
174 | Frontera | 69,351 |
175 | Cabo San Lucas | 68,352 |
176 | Cadereyta Jimenez | 68,000 |
177 | Valle de Santiago | 67,947 |
178 | Cadereyta | 67,883 |
179 | San Mateo Atenco | 67,779 |
180 | Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo | 67,297 |
181 | Santa Cruz Xoxocotlan | 66,975 |
182 | Ramos Arizpe | 66,443 |
183 | Tultepec | 65,227 |
184 | Rosarito | 65,167 |
185 | Tecate | 64,653 |
186 | Sahuayo de Morelos | 64,320 |
187 | Guamuchil | 63,632 |
188 | Linares | 62,993 |
189 | Tesistan | 62,286 |
190 | San Andres Tuxtla | 61,658 |
191 | Cortazar | 61,547 |
192 | San Salvador Tizatlalli | 61,256 |
193 | Ciudad Hidalgo | 60,431 |
194 | Martinez de la Torre | 59,963 |
195 | Villa Vicente Guerrero | 59,890 |
196 | Colonia Nativitas | 59,889 |
197 | Heroica Caborca | 59,811 |
198 | Altamira | 59,425 |
199 | Dolores Hidalgo Cuna de la Independencia Naci | 59,129 |
200 | Teziutlan | 58,588 |
201 | Acambaro | 57,861 |
202 | Jacona de Plancarte | 56,823 |
203 | Puerto Penasco | 56,645 |
204 | Huauchinango | 56,095 |
205 | Nuevo Casas Grandes | 55,442 |
206 | Patzcuaro | 55,187 |
207 | Sabinas | 54,794 |
208 | San Bernardino Tlaxcalancingo | 54,406 |
209 | Zinacantepec | 54,109 |
210 | Jardines de la Silla (Jardines) | 53,631 |
211 | Santiago Teyahualco | 53,573 |
212 | Coatepec | 53,510 |
213 | Papantla de Olarte | 53,435 |
214 | Rioverde | 53,017 |
215 | Ciudad de Huajuapan de Leon | 52,932 |
216 | Zacapu | 52,695 |
217 | Matamoros | 52,122 |
218 | Taxco de Alarcon | 52,106 |
219 | Arandas | 52,064 |
220 | Huamantla | 51,885 |
221 | Uriangato | 51,271 |
222 | Teoloyucan | 51,144 |
223 | Acayucan | 50,823 |
224 | Zumpango | 50,631 |
225 | Zacapu | 50,001 |
226 | Polanco | 49,889 |
227 | San Luis de la Paz | 49,803 |
228 | Apizaco | 49,395 |
229 | Emiliano Zapata | 49,082 |
230 | Valladolid | 48,862 |
231 | Valle Hermoso | 48,807 |
232 | San Pedro | 48,635 |
233 | San Juan de los Lagos | 48,573 |
234 | Colonia del Sol | 47,921 |
235 | Santa Ana Chiautempan | 47,919 |
236 | Tierra Blanca | 47,713 |
237 | Tlapa de Comonfort | 46,864 |
238 | Tizimin | 46,860 |
239 | Autlan de Navarro | 45,271 |
240 | Mazatlan | 44,997 |
241 | Chiapa de Corzo | 44,966 |
242 | San Buenaventura | 44,650 |
243 | Purisima de Bustos | 43,401 |
244 | Tizayuca | 43,139 |
245 | Moroleon | 43,089 |
246 | Jerez de Garcia Salinas | 42,953 |
247 | Jesus Maria | 42,901 |
248 | Palenque | 42,836 |
249 | Izucar de Matamoros | 42,825 |
250 | Yautepec | 42,620 |
251 | Las Choapas | 42,582 |
252 | Empalme | 42,405 |
253 | Cintalapa de Figueroa | 42,356 |
254 | Juventino Rosas | 42,153 |
255 | Santo Domingo Tehuantepec | 41,971 |
256 | Ocosingo | 41,767 |
257 | Comalcalco | 41,347 |
258 | San Pedro | 41,054 |
259 | Ciudad Constitucion | 40,824 |
260 | Panuco | 40,643 |
261 | Rio Blanco | 40,500 |
262 | Camargo | 40,110 |
263 | Penjamo | 39,959 |
264 | Huejutla de Reyes | 39,904 |
265 | San Andres Cholula | 39,853 |
266 | Xicotepec de Juarez | 39,692 |
267 | Uman | 39,500 |
268 | Los Reyes de Salgado | 39,098 |
269 | Ocozocoautla de Espinosa | 39,069 |
270 | Esperanza | 38,858 |
271 | Melchor Ocampo | 38,488 |
272 | Zacatelco | 38,355 |
273 | Nueva Rosita | 38,047 |
274 | Tepotzotlan | 38,008 |
275 | Guacamayas | 37,869 |
276 | Perote | 37,405 |
277 | Progreso | 37,258 |
278 | Villaflores | 37,126 |
279 | Salvatierra | 37,092 |
280 | Santa Teresa | 36,734 |
281 | Santiago | 36,729 |
282 | San Jeronimo Cuatro Vientos | 36,667 |
283 | Ameca | 36,045 |
284 | Agua Dulce | 35,968 |
285 | Xalisco | 35,591 |
286 | Coyotepec | 35,566 |
287 | Ciudad Mendoza | 35,530 |
288 | Tala | 35,285 |
289 | San Martin Azcatepec | 35,279 |
290 | Tlapacoyan | 35,227 |
291 | Tonala | 35,211 |
292 | La Barca | 35,108 |
293 | San Pablo Autopan | 35,030 |
294 | Ciudad Melchor Muzquiz | 34,949 |
295 | Ixmiquilpan | 34,703 |
296 | Fraccionamiento Real Palmas | 34,525 |
297 | San Miguel Topilejo | 34,492 |
298 | Maravatio de Ocampo | 34,270 |
299 | Jose Mariano Jimenez | 34,170 |
300 | Porticos de San Antonio | 34,123 |
301 | Tepeji del Rio de Ocampo | 34,040 |
302 | Coatzintla | 33,925 |
303 | Parras de la Fuente | 33,706 |
304 | San Isidro | 33,626 |
305 | Zacatlan | 33,625 |
306 | Calpulalpan | 33,152 |
307 | Ciudad Sabinas Hidalgo | 32,957 |
308 | Rio Grande | 32,833 |
309 | Ticul | 32,685 |
310 | Jaltipan de Morelos | 32,667 |
311 | Victor Rosales | 32,610 |
312 | Tenosique | 32,468 |
313 | Nueva Italia de Ruiz | 32,356 |
314 | Zapotlanejo | 32,265 |
315 | Macuspana | 32,114 |
316 | Centro Familiar la Soledad | 32,048 |
317 | Huixtla | 31,922 |
318 | Ciudad Fernandez | 31,895 |
319 | Amecameca | 31,576 |
320 | Cananea | 31,449 |
321 | Loma Bonita | 31,374 |
322 | Huatusco | 31,194 |
323 | San Jose Guadalupe Otzacatipan | 31,188 |
324 | Chilapa de Alvarez | 31,046 |
325 | Jimenez | 30,943 |
326 | Champoton | 30,770 |
327 | Miguel Aleman (La Doce) | 30,758 |
328 | Escuinapa | 30,679 |
329 | Tantoyuca | 30,476 |
330 | Cosamaloapan | 30,466 |
331 | Puruandiro | 30,460 |
332 | Huatabampo | 30,364 |
333 | Nicolas R Casillas | 30,313 |
334 | Tlajomulco de Zuniga | 30,162 |
335 | Tequisquiapan | 29,688 |
336 | San Miguel Ajusco | 29,670 |
337 | Coyula | 29,563 |
338 | Pinotepa Nacional | 29,493 |
339 | Escarcega | 29,366 |
340 | Marfil | 29,264 |
341 | Santa Isabel | 29,200 |
342 | Actopan | 29,112 |
343 | Tequila | 29,092 |
344 | San Fernando | 29,060 |
345 | Navolato | 29,042 |
346 | Ixtapa | 28,925 |
347 | Tecamachalco | 28,568 |
348 | Pabellon de Arteaga | 28,522 |
349 | Tula de Allende | 28,466 |
350 | Ciudad Sahagun | 28,445 |
351 | San Felipe | 28,341 |
352 | Metepec | 28,094 |
353 | San Sebastian el Grande | 28,027 |
354 | Nuevo Mexico | 28,024 |
355 | Berriozabal | 28,017 |
356 | Ajalpan | 27,920 |
357 | Tultitlan de Mariano Escobedo | 27,906 |
358 | Apaseo el Alto | 27,880 |
359 | Rincon de Romos | 27,877 |
360 | San Francisco Acuautla | 27,849 |
361 | Sanctorum | 27,825 |
362 | Catemaco | 27,504 |
363 | Contla | 27,499 |
364 | Leyva Solano | 27,425 |
365 | Tuxpan | 27,412 |
366 | Tepeaca | 27,338 |
367 | Abasolo | 27,278 |
368 | Huimanguillo | 27,233 |
369 | Moyotzingo | 27,026 |
370 | Villagran | 26,968 |
371 | Atotonilco el Alto | 26,763 |
372 | Rancho La Gloria | 26,749 |
373 | Misantla | 26,716 |
374 | Sayula | 26,678 |
375 | Apan | 26,531 |
376 | Francisco I. Madero | 26,521 |
377 | Magdalena de Kino | 26,494 |
378 | Teapa | 26,437 |
379 | Las Pintitas | 26,389 |
380 | Rio de Teapa | 26,389 |
381 | Magdalena Atlicpac | 26,318 |
382 | Isla | 26,176 |
383 | San Jeronimo Chicahualco | 26,170 |
384 | Reforma | 26,146 |
385 | Ixtaczoquitlan | 26,076 |
386 | Apaseo el Grande | 26,010 |
387 | Santiago Papasquiaro | 26,010 |
388 | Ciudad de Allende | 25,954 |
389 | Ocoyoacac | 25,904 |
390 | Puerto Escondido | 25,791 |
391 | Acatzingo | 25,700 |
392 | Tecax | 25,640 |
393 | Felipe Carrillo Puerto | 25,633 |
394 | Valente Diaz | 25,589 |
395 | Huejotzingo | 25,573 |
396 | Tacambaro de Codallos | 25,554 |
397 | Tejupilco de Hidalgo | 25,520 |
398 | Valle de Bravo | 25,443 |
399 | Mixquiahuala de Juarez | 25,399 |
400 | Ixtepec | 25,270 |
Language
The official language is Spanish, which is the mother tongue for approximately 90% of the population. An estimated 10% speak Native American languages, most of which are bilingual. Among the most widespread Native American languages are Nahuatl, the Aztec language, spoken by about 1.6 million people, mixtek (0.5 million), zapotek (0.5 million) and Mayan language yucatek (1 million).
Religion
The Spanish conquest of the 16th century led the Catholic Church to a very dominant position, with a powerful hierarchy and numerous monasteries. After the Constitution of 1917, a complete distinction was made between state and church, and the new state was clearly hostile in the following decades. 90% of the population is said to be Catholics. However, many elements of Native American religions live on within the church, especially in connection with the saint’s cult. Particularly important is the cult of Mexico’s patron saint, the Virgin of Guadalupe, founded in 1531, with its center on the outskirts of Ciudad de México in the same location as the former Aztec temple. Several of the Native American people of Mexico have developed syncretistic religions in which features of Catholic Christianity are combined with traditional religions.