| Country Information | Official name: Estados Unidos Mexicanos President: Vicente Fox Quesada (2000) Area: 761,602 sq mi (1,972,550 sq km) Monetary unit: Mexican peso
Population (2005 est.): 106,202,903 - growth rate: 1.2%; - birth rate: 21.0/1000; - infant mortality rate: 20.9/1000; - life expectancy: 75.2; - density per sq mi: 139
Capital and largest city (2003 est.): Mexico City, 21,233,900 (metro. area), 8,681,400 (city proper) Other large cities: - Ecatepec, 1,731,900 (part of Mexico City metro. area); - Guadalajara, 1,665,800; - Puebla, 1,345,500; - Nezahualcóyotl, 1,250,700 (part of Mexico City metro. area); - Monterrey, 1,135,000
Languages: - Spanish, - various Mayan, - Nahuatl, - other regional indigenous languages
Ethnicity/race: - mestizo (Amerindian-Spanish) 60%, - Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian 30%, - white 9%, - other 1%
Religions: - nominally Roman Catholic 89%, - Protestant 6%, - other 5%
Literacy rate: 92% (2003 est.)
Economic summary: - GDP/PPP (2004 est.): $1.006 trillion; per capita $9,600. - Real growth rate: 4.1%. - Inflation: 5.4%. - Unemployment: 3.2% plus underemployment of perhaps 25%. - Arable land: 13%. - Agriculture: corn, wheat, soybeans, rice, beans, cotton, coffee, fruit, tomatoes; beef, poultry, dairy products; wood products. - Labor force: 34.73 million; agriculture 20%, industry 24%, services 56% (1998). - Industries: food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel, petroleum, mining, textiles, clothing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, tourism. - Natural resources: petroleum, silver, copper, gold, lead, zinc, natural gas, timber. - Exports: $164.8 billion (f.o.b., 2003 est.): manufactured goods, oil and oil products, silver, fruits, vegetables, coffee, cotton. - Imports: $168.9 billion (f.o.b., 2003 est.): metalworking machines, steel mill products, agricultural machinery, electrical equipment, car parts for assembly, repair parts for motor vehicles, aircraft, and aircraft parts. - Major trading partners: U.S., Canada, Japan.
Communications: - Telephones: main lines in use: 12.332 million (2000); mobile cellular: 2.02 million (1998). - Radio broadcast stations: AM 851, FM 598, shortwave 16 (2000). - Radios: 31 million (1997). - Television broadcast stations: 236 (plus repeaters) (1997). - Televisions: 25.6 million (1997). - Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 51 (2000). - Internet users: 3.5 million (2002).
Transportation:
- Railways: total: 19,510 km (2002). - Highways: total: 329,532 km; paved: 108,087 km (including 6,429 km of expressways); unpaved: 221,445 km (1999 est.). - Waterways: 2,900 km navigable rivers and coastal canals. - Ports and harbors: Acapulco, Altamira, Coatzacoalcos, Ensenada, Guaymas, La Paz, Lazaro Cardenas, Manzanillo, Mazatlan, Progreso, Salina Cruz, Tampico, Topolobampo, Tuxpan, Veracruz. - Airports: 1,823 (2002).
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