16 September 1810 (declared); 27 September 1821 (recognized by Spain)
3 September 1971 (from UK)
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)
Muslim 77.5%, Christian 8.5%, other 14% (2004 census)
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)
Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language
liquefied natural gas (LNG), petroleum products, fertilizers, steel
External Debt
$210,800,000,000 $
$125,300,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Mexican pesos (MXN) per US dollar - 11.016 (2008 est.), 10.8 (2007), 10.899 (2006), 10.898 (2005), 11.286 (2004)
Qatari rials (QAR) per US dollar - 3.64 (2008 est.), 3.64 (2007), 3.64 (2006), 3.64 (2005), 3.64 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
0.500%
10.000%
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
Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia
Area
1,964,375 km sq
11,586 km sq
Coastline
9,330 km
563 km
Climate
varies from tropical to desert
arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
