Which Continent Is Mexico On

Mexico is a Spanish-speaking country in North America. It is located south of the United States and is bordered by Guatemala and the Caribbean Sea to the southeast, by the Pacific Ocean to the West and South, while the Gulf of Mexico is to the East.

North America is the third largest continent, since only Africa and Asia replace it in size. The largest countries on the continent are the United States of America, Canada and Mexico, the countries that are part of the North America Free Trade Association (NAFTA). At the same time, these three countries are also the richest and most industrialized in the continent. Due to their smaller population, several small Caribbean countries have a larger GDP per capita than Mexico. Some of the largest and most important cities in North America include Toronto, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington DC, Toronto, Ottawa, Kingston, and Mexico City.

History

Mexico is the eleventh most populous country in the world. At the same time, it is the most populous of the Spanish-speaking countries. Although Mexico City is the country’s capital, Mexico has numerous other metropolises, including Guadalajara, Toluca, Monterrey, Leon, Tijuana, and Puebla. The country dates back to 8,00 BCE and was home to many civilizations, such as the Aztecs and the Mayans. the country gained independence from Spain in 1821, and Agustin de Iturbide served as its first emperor. In 1824, a republic was established and Guadalupe Victoria became the country’s first president. The current president of Mexico is Enrique Peňa Nieto.

Geography

Mexico is the fourteenth largest country in the world. It shares a 1900-mile border with the U.S., a 500-mile border with Guatemala, and a 150-mile border with Belize. The highest point in Mexico is Pico de Orizaba (5700 meters), which is part of the trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. Many parts of the country are dry with sporadic rainfall, especially in the north, while the tropical lowlands in the south experience around 2000 mm of rain annually. According to a 2002 study, Mexico had the second highest rate of deforestation in the world, beaten only by Brazil.

Population and culture

According to a 2017 estimate, Mexico has a population of 123.5 million people. A census conducted two years earlier in 2015 established the youthful composition of the country, as 53.1% of Mexicans were less than 30 years old. Given the Mexican government’s efforts to unify all Mexicans under the single ethnic identity, called ‘Mestizo’, little data exists on the ethnic composition within the country.

However, there are Mexicans of European descent, Arab descent (particularly Lebanese), Afro-Mexicans, and various indigenous peoples, such as Maya, Mixtec, Zapotec, and Nahua peoples. Almost all Mexicans speak Spanish, although 5.4% of the population speaks an indigenous language in addition to Spanish. The main religion in the country is Roman Catholicism, which is practiced by 83% of the population, and 10% subscribe to other Christian denominations. Mexico has the second largest Catholic community in the world. The richest man in the world, Carlos Slim, has Mexican nationality.