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Mexico

Mexico is a country situated in southern North America, officially known as the United Mexican States. It is bordered to the northeast by the United States and the Rio Grande forms part of this border. Mexico is divided into two major peninsulas: Yucatan in the southeast, and Baja California in the northwest. The high Mexican Plateau forms the core of the country, surrounded by mountain ranges such as the Sierra Madre Occidental, the Sierra Madre Oriental and the Cordillera Neo-Volcanica, with its highest peak being the volcano Citlaltépetl at 18,406 feet (5,610 m).

The population of Mexico consists predominantly of mestizos (more than three-fifths of the total population) and American Indians (about one-fifth), as well as people of European descent (the remainder). Spanish is the official language, but more than 50 Indian languages are also spoken. Christianity, particularly Roman Catholicism, is the predominant religion in Mexico.

Mexico has a mixed economy based on agriculture, manufacturing and the extraction of petroleum and natural gas. Major crops include corn, wheat, rice, beans, coffee, cotton, fruits and vegetables. Mexico also has significant reserves of oil and natural gas, and is the world’s largest producer of silver, bismuth and celestite. Manufactured goods include processed foods, chemicals, transport vehicles and electrical machinery.

Mexico is a federal republic with two legislative houses – the Senate (with 128 members) and the Chamber of Deputies (with 500 members). The President is both the head of state and government.

In terms of area, Mexico covers 758,450 sq mi (1,964,375 sq km). As of 2023, its estimated population is 130,980,000. The currency is the Mexican peso, with an exchange rate of 1 US dollar equalling 18.667 Mexican pesos. The life expectancy at birth for males is 72.5 years and for females is 78.2 years. The literacy rate for those aged 15 and over is 96% for males and 94% for females. The country's Gross National Income (GNI) in 2021 is 1,260,700 US dollars, with GNI per capita standing at 9,380 US dollars.