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] The United Mexican States or Mexico is a country located in North America, bordered to the north by the United States to the south by Guatemala and Belize, to the west by the Pacific Ocean and to the east by the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.

Estados Unidos Mexicanos

File:Mexico flag medium.png (In Detail) (In Detail)
National motto: (none)
Official language:	Spanish
Capital:	Mexico City
President:	Vicente Fox
Area  - Total:  - % water:	Ranked 13th 1,972,550 km² 0.025%
Population  - Total (2000):  - Density:	Ranked 11th 100,349,766 51/km²
Independence  - Declared:  - Recognised:	from Spain September 16, 1810 1821
Currency:	Peso
Time zone:	UTC -8 to UTC -6
National anthem:	Mexicanos, al grito de guerra
Internet TLD:	.MX
Calling Code	52

History

Main article: History of Mexico

Mexico was the site of several advanced Indian civilisations, such as the Maya and the Aztec. The arrival of the Spanish in the early 16th century and their defeat of the Aztecs in 1521 marked the beginning of the colonial period of Mexico as a part of New Spain.

In 1810, independence from Spain was declared, causing a long war eventually leading to independence in 1821. After independence, Mexican territory slowly decreased in size, losing and selling ground to the invading United States (see Mexican-American War). In the 1860s the country suffered a military occupation by France, fought off by Mexican patriot Benito Juarez.

The long, undemocratic regime of Porfirio Diaz lead to the Mexican Revolution in 1910. Revolutionary forces defeated the federal army, but were left with internal struggles, leaving the country in conflict for two more decades.

At the end of the revolution the P.R.I. (Institutional Revolutionary Party) controlled the country until the end of the 20th century.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Mexico

The government is organized as a Democratic Federal Republic with division of powers (executive power, held by the president of the republic; legislative power, represented by the congress and the judiciary power).

States

Main article List of states of Mexico

Mexico is divided into 31 states (estados) and 1 Federal District (Distrito Federal), which contains the capital, Mexico City.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Mexico

Mexico is located in southern North America, bordered on the north by the United States, on the southeast by Guatemala and Belize, on the west by the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortez and on the east by the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea.

The terrain and climate vary from deserts in the north to tropical rain forest in the south.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Mexico

Mexico has a free-market economy with a mixture of modern and outmoded industry and agriculture, increasingly dominated by the private sector. The number of state-owned enterprises in Mexico has fallen from more than 1,000 in 1982 to fewer than 200 in 1999. The administration of President Ernesto Zedillo continued a policy of privatizing and expanding competition in sea ports, railroads, telecommunications, electricity, natural gas distribution, and airports which was initiatied by his predecessors Miguel de la Madrid and Carlos Salinas de Gortari.

A strong export sector helped to cushion the economy's decline in 1995 and led the recovery in 1996-1999. Private consumption became the leading driver of growth, accompanied by increased employment and higher wages. Mexico still needs to overcome many structural problems as it strives to modernize its economy and raise living standards. Income distribution is very unequal, with the top 20% of income earners accounting for 55% of income. Trade with the US and Canada has nearly doubled since NAFTA was implemented in 1994. Mexico is pursuing additional trade agreements with most countries in Latin America and has signed a free trade deal with the European Union to lessen its dependence on the US. The government has followed conservative economic policies since 2000 to avoid another end-of-term economic crisis, but it still projects an economic growth rate of 4.5% because of the strong US economy and high oil prices.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Mexico

Culture

Main article: Culture of Mexico

See also: Mexican food

Miscellaneous topics

• Communications in Mexico
• Transportation in Mexico
• Military of Mexico
• Foreign relations of Mexico
• Zapatista uprising in Chiapas, Mexico
• List of Mexican Celebrities

External link

• Mexican presidency's web site