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MEXICO
The United Mexican States
 Area: 1,964,375 sq km, of which 1,959,248 sq km are
continental and 5,127 sq km are islands.
Population: 105 million (2004 est.)
Capital City: Mexico City (21 million est. 2003)
People: The people of Mexico today are a mixture of
descendants from Spanish and other immigrants, mainly Europeans,
who settled in Mexico from the sixteenth century onwards, and
mestizos - mixed European and indigenous ancestry, as well as
the many indigenous groups.
Languages: The official language is Spanish. There are at
least 62 indigenous languages.
Religion(s): Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 6%, 5% other
denomination
Basic Economic Facts:
Currency:
Mexican Peso, divided into
100 centavos
Nominal GDP: US 637.2 billion (2003 at market exchange
rate); US 894 billion (2003) purchasing power parity
Nominal GDP per head: US 6,260 (2002 at market exchange
rate); US 78,780 (2003) purchasing power parity.
Annual growth: 1.3% in 2003, 4.2% in 2004
Inflation:3.98% in 2003, 5.19% in 2004
Major industries: Manufacturing (including food,
beverages, textiles, clothing, tobacco, chemicals, and motor
vehicles); Commerce (restaurants and hotels); Transport and
Communication; Financial Services; Tourism; Oil and gas
(controlled and monopolized by the State through the Pemex
enterprise); Electricity (controlled and monopolized by the
State through CFE)
Major Trading Partners:
Exports (2004): US 87.6%, Canada 1.7%, Germany 0.8%, Spain
1.1%, Japan 0.6%
Imports (2004): USA 56.2%; China 7.3%; Japan 5.45%;
Germany 3.6%; Korea 2.7%; Canada 2.7%
Major Political Parties: Partido
Revolucionario Institucional (PRI); Partido Accion Nacional
(PAN); Partido de la Revolucion Democratica (PRD)
Government: Mexico has a Federal republic system of
government covering the 31 states and the Federal District of
Mexico with powers separated into three branches: independent
executive (President), legislative (Congress) and judicial
(Supreme Court of Justice, federal and local systems). The
President is elected for a six-year term and may not hold office
a second time. Congress is bi-cameral and consists of a Senate
(128 seats) and a Chamber of Deputies (500 seats). The judges
making up the Supreme Court are appointed by the President, with
the consent of the Senate.
Head of State: President Vicente Fox Quesada
Foreign Minister: Luis Ernesto Derbez
DID
YOU KNOW?
- Did you know that Mexico is the
greater producer of silver in the world.
- Did you know that the highest natural
lighthouse of the world is located in
Mazatlán, Sinaloa in
México.
-
Did you know
that the word “Gringo” was originated from the war between
Mexicans and Americans (1845 – 1847). When the American
soldiers invade Mexico, the Mexicans sing a song called
“green grow the lilas” and the word “gringo” was a
deformation of that sentence.
MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS:
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