Mexico

Mexico (officially the United Mexican States, Estados Unidos Mexicanos) is a country in North America, located between the United States to the north and Guatemala and Belize to the south. It has a population of over 126 million people, making it the most populous Spanish-speaking country in the world. Its capital is Mexico City, one of the largest cities in both Latin America and the world. Mexico has a very varied geography that includes deserts, mountain ranges (e.g. the Sierra Madre), tropical rainforests, and long coastlines on both the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. The country is rich in biodiversity and has several active volcanoes. Mexico has a rich pre-colonial heritage with advanced civilizations such as the Maya, Aztec, and Olmec. After being colonized by Spain in the 16th century, Mexico gained independence in 1821. This mixture of indigenous and Spanish culture characterizes the country's language, religion, and traditions to this day. Mexico is known for its colorful culture, traditional music (such as mariachi), art, food (such as tacos, mole, and tamales), and holidays such as Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Mexico has one of the largest economies in Latin America and is heavily export-oriented, especially in the automotive industry, electronics, agriculture, and energy. The country is a member of the USMCA (formerly NAFTA) trade agreement with the United States and Canada. Mexico is a federal republic with 32 states.