Mexico
Mexico is a federal republic in the southern portion of North America. The United Nations Statistics Division groups it in the Americas region, subregion Latin America and the Caribbean.
Mexico
Mexico is a federal republic in the southern portion of North America. The United Nations Statistics Division groups it in the Americas region, subregion Latin America and the Caribbean. Its UN M49 code is 484, its ISO alpha-2 code is MX, and its ISO alpha-3 code is MEX. Mexico is a member state of the United Nations. The World Bank capital field lists Mexico City as the capital. These identifiers come from the UN M49 overview and the World Bank country API; they are statistical groupings, not political statements about territorial claims or sovereignty.
The most common mistake in country research is treating a single published figure as a stable fact. Population, GDP, and even a country’s official name can change between editions. The UN M49 code 484, the ISO codes MX and MEX, and Mexico’s membership in the United Nations are stable facts. They do not change with elections or census cycles. What changes constantly are population estimates, economic indicators, and administrative boundaries. For any figure that shifts over time, use the primary source and note the reference year. Do not treat an old number as current.
Stable identifiers
These fixed codes and groupings are assigned by the United Nations and the International Organization for Standardization. They are useful for database joins, consistent citations, and cross-country comparisons.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| UN M49 code | 484 |
| ISO alpha-2 | MX |
| ISO alpha-3 | MEX |
| UN region | Americas |
| UN subregion | Latin America and the Caribbean |
| UN member state | Yes |
| World Bank capital field | Mexico City |
| IANA country-code top-level domain | .mx |
Source: UN Statistics Division M49 classification and the World Bank country API. These codes are statistical identifiers, not political endorsements.
Capital
Mexico City is the capital of Mexico. This is the listing given in the World Bank country data and is consistent with the UN M49 overview. The city is the seat of the federal government, though Mexico City also functions as one of the country’s 32 federal entities. Political and territorial claims regarding the city’s status are governed by Mexican federal law; no international body has a competing claim.
A common point of confusion: Mexico City (the capital) is a federal entity, formally Ciudad de México, distinct from the surrounding Estado de México. The two share the same metropolitan area but are separate administrative divisions.
How to verify changing figures
Population, language counts, currency details, government structure and economic indicators change faster than a static reference can track. Use the following primary sources and note the reference year for each figure you quote.
Population
Population figures change continuously. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs publishes the World Population Prospects, the standard source for cross-country estimates. Mexico’s statistical office, the Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI), conducts the census and intercensal surveys. The most recent census was carried out by INEGI in 2020, but official intercensal estimates and projections have been updated since then. For a figure you can cite, check:
- UN World Population Prospects (population.un.org/wpp). The reference year is stated on each data download.
- INEGI (inegi.org.mx), which publishes census counts and quarterly estimates.
The UN M49 overview provides the regional grouping and country codes, not the population number. The World Bank API returns the latest World Bank population estimate with its own reference year. Always record the source and year; figures from different agencies can differ by millions because they use different definitions and update schedules. As a rule, census data is the most precise but is collected only every 5-10 years. Intercensal estimates and UN projections differ slightly by definition and date.
Economic data
The World Bank publishes standardized economic indicators for Mexico. Its API provides a stable machine-readable endpoint: https://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/MX?format=json. Use the indicator field to select a specific series, for example population (SP.POP.TOTL), GDP per capita (NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD), or Gini index (SI.POV.GINI), and note the reference year for each value. The API also returns the country code, region, income level, and lending category as of the latest available update; check the “lastUpdated” field in the response.
The World Bank groups Mexico as an upper-middle-income economy. That grouping is reviewed each 1 July and should be cited with its release year.
Languages
Mexico has no single official language at the federal level in law, though Spanish is the de facto language of government and daily life. The 2003 General Law of Linguistic Rights of Indigenous Peoples recognizes Spanish and the indigenous languages as national languages. INEGI reports language data from censuses; the most recent census data should be checked for speaker numbers. For official language policy, consult the Mexican government’s legal text. Do not rely on unofficial summaries for legal claims.
UNESCO Institute for Statistics publishes education and literacy data. Ethnologue documents living languages, but its counts change with grouping decisions.
Currency and central bank
The peso (MXN) is the unit of account. The central bank is Banco de México. Exchange rates are volatile; use the Banco de México official daily fixing or an international reference such as the IMF’s International Financial Statistics for the reference year. For banknote and coin information, consult the Banco de México website. Do not assume that the peso’s value against the US dollar in a travel blog matches the rate on the date you need. Another frequent mix-up: the Mexican peso (MXN) and the US dollar (USD) are often quoted side by side in tourist areas, but the exchange rate fluctuates. Always use a date-specific source.
Government and legal system
Mexico is a federal republic with a presidential system. The constitution dates from 1917. Political structure: 32 federal entities (31 states and Mexico City). For government composition, leadership, and electoral results, consult the official portal of the Government of Mexico (gob.mx). INEGI provides economic statistics. Political system, electoral calendar, and administrative divisions should be checked against official government sources because they change with legislation.
The CIA World Factbook is a clear secondary source for government structure. For primary law, use the official gazette or foreign ministry of Mexico.
Travel advice
Your own foreign ministry’s travel advisory is the only appropriate source for entry requirements, safety conditions, and health notices. The IATA Travel Centre provides airline-verified passport, visa, and health entry rules. Do not rely on secondary summaries for decisions about travel.
Sources at a glance
- UN M49 overview:
https://unstats.un.org/unsd/methodology/m49/overview/ - World Bank country API:
https://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/MX?format=json - UN World Population Prospects: population.un.org/wpp
- INEGI: inegi.org.mx
- Banco de México: banxico.org.mx
- Government of Mexico: gob.mx
- UNESCO Institute for Statistics: uis.unesco.org
- CIA World Factbook: cia.gov/the-world-factbook
- IATA Travel Centre: iatatravelcentre.com
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