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Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of
Mexico, between Belize and the US and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between
Guatemala and the US
Geographic coordinates: 23 00 N, 102 00 W
Area: total: 1,972,550 sq km land: 1,923,040 sq
km water: 49,510 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than three times the size of Texas
Land boundaries: total: 4,538 km border
countries: Belize 250 km, Guatemala 962 km, US 3,326 km
Climate: varies from tropical to desert
Population: 104,959,594 (July 2004 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.18% (2004 est.)
Ethnic groups: mestizo (Amerindian-Spanish) 60%, Amerindian or
predominantly Amerindian 30%, white 9%, other 1%
Religions: nominally Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 6%, other 5%
Languages: Spanish, various Mayan, Nahuatl, and other regional
indigenous languages
Government type: federal republic
Capital: Mexico
Independence: 16 September 1810 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 16 September (1810)
Constitution: 5 February 1917
Labor force: 41.5 million (2003)
Unemployment rate: 3.3% plus underemployment of perhaps 25% (2003)
Exports - commodities: manufactured goods, oil and oil products,
silver, coffee, cotton
Imports - commodities: metal-working machines, steel mill products,
agricultural machinery, electrical equipment, car parts for assembly, repair
parts for motor vehicles, aircraft, and aircraft parts
Currency: Mexican peso (MXN)
Military branches: National Defense Secretariat (includes Army and Air
Force), Navy Secretariat (includes Naval Air and Marines)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $5,168.3 million (2003)
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