Country Profile: Mexico

Although often overshadowed by its neighbor, the United States, the United Mexican States (Estados Unidos Mexicanos) has an ancient and complex history. It is the birthplace of numerous civilizations, including the Aztec and the Mayan. The country has been ruled by kings, emperors, dictators, and presidents. Mexico's borders once included much of the southwestern US.

Mexico is the world’s most populous Spanish-speaking nation. Its population of over 107 million is primarily of indigenous and Spanish descent. Amerindians comprise thirty percent of the population. Many Amerindians continue to speak their native languages.

In recent history, a single political party, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), controlled the government for 71 years. The party’s dominance was broken in 2000 when Mexicans elected National Action Party (PAN) candidate Vincente Fox. Filipe Calderon, also a member of the National Action Party, succeeded Fox as president in 2006.

Mexico is a major oil producer. The country also has many other natural resources – copper, lead, silver, sulfur, and zinc. It has the highest per capita income in Latin America. However, huge gaps remain between rich and poor, urban and rural, and north and south. An estimated 40% of the population lives in poverty. That poverty has caused many to seek employment in the United States. Because of the country’s relative wealth when compared to other Latin American nations, many from Central and South America are entering Mexico in search of work or to get to the US.

Approximately 180,000 Mexicans are infected with HIV/AIDS. Large numbers of migrant workers to and from Mexico are responsible for the rise in HIV/AIDS in rural areas.