multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy
Independence date
16 September 1810 (declared); 27 September 1821 (recognized by Spain)
9 November 1953 (from France)
Religions
Roman Catholic 76.5%, Protestant 6.3% (Pentecostal 1.4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.1%, other 3.8%), other 0.3%, unspecified 13.8%, none 3.1% (2000 census)
Theravada Buddhist 95%, other 5%
Languages
Spanish only 92.7%, Spanish and indigenous languages 5.7%, indigenous only 0.8%, unspecified 0.8%; note - indigenous languages include various Mayan, Nahuatl, and other regional languages (2005)
Mexican pesos (MXN) per US dollar - 11.016 (2008 est.), 10.8 (2007), 10.899 (2006), 10.898 (2005), 11.286 (2004)
riels (KHR) per US dollar - 4,070.94 (2008 est.), 4,006 (2007), 4,103 (2006), 4,092.5 (2005), 4,016.25 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
0.500%
3.000%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
3
0
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
Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos
Area
1,964,375 km sq
181,035 km sq
Coastline
9,330 km
443 km
Climate
varies from tropical to desert
tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to November); dry season (December to April); little seasonal temperature variation
