Conservation - MEXICO Country Facts

Mexico

Population: 106.4 million (UN, 2005) Capital: Mexico City Area: 1.96 million sq km (758,449 sq miles) Major language: Spanish Major religion: Christianity Life expectancy: 72 years (men), 77 years (women) Monetary unit: 1 peso = 100 centavos Main exports: Silver, fluorite, zinc, and mercury, and its petroleum reserves are one of its most valuable assets. GNI per capita: US $7,310 (World Bank, 2006) International dialing code: +52

Geography

Mexico lies at the heart of Central America forming the bridge between North America and Central America. It borders the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean to the east and west, and the US, Belize and Guatemala to the north and south. The climate ranges from tropical to desert. The lowlands which border the Gulf of Mexico are characterized by hotter, more humid climate than the higher elevations of the country.

The most pressing environmental issues concerning Mexico include poaching, a lack of natural fresh water resources, poor air quality, pollution of rivers, deforestation, widespread erosion and desertification.

People

Mexico has the highest population of all the Spanish-speaking countries. Its population is made up of 60% mestizo, 30% Amerindian, 9% white and 1% ethnic minorities. The major religion is Roman Catholic which is followed by 89% of the population. Spanish is the official language but Amerindians have preserved their indigenous languages and many still speak languages such as Mayan and Nahuatl. Much of today's Mexican culture derives from the Aztec period including place-names, food, art, dress, and symbols.

Brief History

For roughly 20,000 years, Mexico has been home to a series of civilizations that are recognized for their advanced cultures. These civilizations were unique in terms of ethnicity and language, but culturally homogenous. They worshipped the same gods, built pyramids, cultivated corn, used advanced forms of mathematics, astronomy, medicine and hieroglyphics, and the 365 day calendar. Of the six most influential cultures, the best known are the Mayans and the Aztecs. The Mayans are noted for their achievements and are considered to be the most influential Pre-Colombian culture. The Aztecs are the most recent Pre-Colombian civilization, and although they cannot be accredited with achieving the greatest artistic or scientific feats, the Aztecs advanced the fastest and ruled the most territory. They won control over central Mexico in 1428, and soon after ruled a vast empire stretching from coast to coast with 10 million inhabitants. The Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan (modern day Mexico City) had become the largest capital in the world by the time the Spanish arrived in 1519. Led by Hernan Cortez, the Spanish entered Mexico to find a country rich in gold. Their aim was to defeat the Aztecs and take this gold, a mission which was made easier by an Aztec myth; the Aztec people believed that one day their most important god, Feathered Serpent Quetzacoatl, would return to them from the east where he had fled. Therefore, when the Aztec emperor Moctezuma II beheld the white face of Cortez, he believed him to be the god they had been waiting for, and treated him and his men to great hospitality. Despite the passivity of the Aztecs, the Spanish did not conquer their empire until the following year when they returned with the support of Indian allies. For almost three centuries, Mexico was Spain's most important and affluent colony. Spanish rule ended in 1821 following the 11-year War of Independence and in that same year Mexico's first independent government was established. A century of fighting followed including a war with the US and the Mexican Revolution, one of the bloodiest internal conflicts to date. For seventy years after the revolution, Mexico's politics was dominated by one party, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). This period saw impressive economic growth and was named 'El Milagro Mexicano', (the Mexican miracle). The PRI's hegemony came to an end in 1997 when it lost its overall majority for the first time since 1929. In July 2000, Vicente Fox of the National Action party became the first opposition candidate to win an election. The most recent election saw the close defeat of Obrador by Conservative candidate Calderon.

Politics

Mexico is a federal democratic republic. Each president is elected for a non-renewable six-year term and is responsible for appointing the cabinet. President Vicente Fox ended his 6-year term at the end of 2006, and was succeeded by Conservative candidate Calderon. Fox, representing the National Action Party was elected president in July 2000, ending the PRI's 71-year hold on the presidency. Fox's government had focused predominantly on international commerce, economic integration, migratory policies, human rights, and tackling drug trafficking. Calderon has promised to continue these policies and will also be faced with problems such as low competitiveness, inadequate infrastructure and inefficient energy. Reduction of poverty and improvement of education are also important. As a devout Catholic, he will also tackle 'pro-life' issues such as abortion, condom use, euthanasia, and homosexual relations, all of which he is passionately against.

Economics

Since 1970, Mexico's economy has relied heavily on oil exports. The industry now accounts for nearly one-third of government revenue with the US being the main buyer of crude oil. Other exports include tobacco, silver, lead, copper, fruit and vegetables.

Mexico is one of Latin America's leading producers of manufactured goods and is home most famously to major Volkswagen operations. Ventures which have aided Mexico's economic growth include entering into the GATT agreement in 1986 and the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement with the United States and Canada in 1994. Despite continuing economic problems such as poverty and unemployment, Mexico has been ranked as having the 13th highest GDP in the world and the third highest per capita GDP in Latin America after Argentina and Chile.