COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: Mexico covers an area of 1,972,500 sq. km. or 761,000 sq. miles. It is about three times the size of Texas. The capital is located in Mexico City. The population of the area around Mexico City is about 20 million, the largest concentration of people in the world. The latest estimate has the population of Mexico at 97.4 million with an annual growth rate of 1.9%. Mexico has a chief executive (president); a bicameral legislature; a judicial system with a Supreme Court, local and federal courts; and an administrative subdivision of 31 states and one federal district. Mexico has a rapidly developing economy and has sought economic prosperity through liberalization of its trade regime. The climate ranges from tropical to desert, and the terrain consists of coastal lowlands, central high plateaus, and mountains up to 18,000 feet.

Total Growth and Population

According to the results of the XII General Census of Population and Housing (XII CGPyV, 2000), in February 2000 the Mexican population reached a total of 97.4 million inhabitants, continuing to be the eleventh most populated country in the world.
Considering these results, the annual demographic growth rate of the country during of period 1990 - 2000 approximately 1.9, showing a continued decrease in the growth rate.

Population by Gender

In regard to gender, there is an almost balanced situation, as men accounted for 48.7% of the population in 2000, vis-a-vis women who represented 51.3% of the total population. Nevertheless, in the age groups, differences are reflected both in a greater numbers of male births and male deaths, as well as in terms of gender and age in international migration.

Geographic Distribution

The nation's population density in 2000 was 50 people per square kilometer. Nevertheless, the population density in the 31 states of the union and Federal District varies considerably, ranging from very low rates in the states of Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Sonora, Campeche, Durango and Coahuila, having under 15 inhabitants per square kilometer, to high densities in the Federal District and the State of Mexico where there are 5 634 and 611 inhabitants per square kilometer, respectively. This diversity is derived from the significant differences both in population and in the surface area of the states.

The population is concentrated in large urban centers and also scattered in smaller towns. In the first case, there are metropolitan cities such as Mexico, Guadalajara and Monterrey which make up 2% of the national territory, yet 25% of the total population of the country lives in these cities. At the other extreme, a little over one fourth of the population lives in rural areas having under 2 500 inhabitants which was the case of over 95% of all towns in 1990.

Basic services

According to the XII CGPyV, 2000, Mexico registered 21.9 million households.

Education

In 1997 10.6% of the population over 15 years of age was illiterate; 92.2% of the 6-14 year-old population attended school. During the 1998-1999 school year, 3.4 million children were enrolled at the pre-primary level, 14.7 million at the elementary level, 5.1 million at the secondary level, 3.0 million at high school level and 1.6 million in higher levels of education.

Health care

In 1999, Mexico had per each 100,000 inhabitants: 117.0 doctors, 187.8 nurses and 78.8 hospital beds.

MEDICAL FACILITIES: Adequate medical care can be found in all major cities. Health facilities in Mexico City are excellent. Care in more remote areas is limited. Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the United States can be very costly. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services, and U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the United States.

MEDICAL INSURANCE: Uninsured travelers who require medical care overseas may face extreme difficulties. Please check with your own insurance company to confirm whether your policy applies overseas, including provision for medical evacuation. Please ascertain whether payment will be made to the overseas hospital or doctor, or whether you will be reimbursed later for expenses that you incur. Some insurance policies also include coverage for psychiatric treatment and for disposition of remains in the event of death. Useful information on medical emergencies abroad, including overseas insurance programs, is provided in the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs brochure, Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad, available via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page or autofax: (202) 647-3000.

OTHER HEALTH INFORMATION: Information on vaccinations and other health precautions may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747); fax 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299), or via their Internet site at http://www.cdc.gov.

Air pollution in Mexico City and Guadalajara is severe, especially from December to May.

BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION FACILITIES: A number of facilities have opened in Mexico that offer behavior modification therapy for teenagers and others suffering from drug addiction or other psychological disorders. Standards held by the Government of Mexico and local government, where they exist, may not meet standards for similar facilities in the United States. Parents planning to enroll their children in these facilities should take appropriate action to investigate the facility first. Please refer to the Behavior Modification Fact Sheet at http://travel.state.gov/behavior_modification.html.