Mexico Facts

Interesting Mexico Facts for Kids

What you will find in Mexico Facts for Kids:

Snapshot
Basic Facts
Where is Mexico?
Geography
Attractions & Landmarks
People & Culture

Language
Economy
Food
Animals
FAQs
Resources

First let's have a quick glance at the most important facts about Mexico in our popular Snapbox:

Mexico - Snapbox

Name: Mexico, official name: United Mexican States (MEX)
Capital: Mexico City
Area: 1,972,550 km² (761,610 sq mi)
located on the North American continent
Population: 131 million
Main national Language: Spanish
Currency: Mexican peso
Climate: temperate and tropical zones
Largest inhabited island: Cozumel
Highest peak: Pico de Orizaba
Longest river: Rio Grande
Coastlines: Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean
Cultural Traditions: Día de Muertos, cenotes, piñatas, mariachi music, guacamole

Mexico is the second most populous country in North America and home to the world's largest Spanish speaking population.

Last updated: 30 October 2026; Sources: INEGI and Wikipedia

Interesting Facts for Kids

Here are some interesting Mexico Facts which were chosen and researched by kids especially for kids.

Mexico Facts
Basic Facts

Mexico Flag

Continent: North America
Population: 131 million people live in Mexico (INEGI 2026)
Capital: Mexico City with 22 million inhabitants in the metropolitan area
Name: United Mexican States (in Spanish: Estados Unidos Mexicanos)
Government: Democracy, Republic
Language: Spanish
Literacy: More than 96% of the population over the age of 15 years can read and write (UNESCO 2026)
Religion: Christians (91%), mainly Roman Catholics

Click for the anthem

Currency: 1 peso = 100 centavos
Flag colors: green, white and red
National Symbols: golden eagle and national colours green, white and red
History: The area of today's Mexico was home to ancient empires such as the Maya and Aztecs who ruled there and built massive stone pyramids. Mexico was conquered and colonised by the Spanish from the 16th century. The Spanish ruled from 1521 for over 300 years. In 1821, Mexico finally gained independence from Spain. The people fought long for their freedom and rights, especially during the Mexican Revolution in 1910.
President: Claudia Sheinbaum (since October 2024 - Mexico's first female president)

Where is Mexico?
Map

Mexico is located on the North American continent and shares borders with the USA in the North and Belize and Guatemala in the South. The border between Mexico and the USA is the second longest border in the world and is about 3,155 km/ 2,000 miles long.

Mexico borders the Pacific Ocean to the west as well as Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico (both part of the Atlantic Ocean) to the east.

Below you can see a map of Mexico, click on the map to zoom in to see more cities and detailed information.

The capital city of Mexico is Mexico City, one of the world's most populous cities!

Mexico City, the country's capital city

Mexico Facts
Geography

Here find a short intro into the Geography of Mexico:

Landforms
Cities

Climate
Geo Superlatives

Landforms

Mexico has low coastal plains, high-rugged mountains and a high tableau in the centre of the country. The highest mountains are located in the eastern and northern parts of the country, while rainforests dominate the southern and eastern parts and deserts are in the country's western region.

Mexico is situated on the ‘Ring of Fire’, the world’s most prominent volcano and earthquake region. However, the volcanos on Mexico's Baja California, a popular tourist destination, are mostly dormant.

The peninsula to the west of mainland Mexico is called Baja California. Over 120 species of cactus are growing there!

Mexico's Baja California is known for its cactus valley

Cactus valley in Baja California

Cities

Most of the bigger cities are located in the southern parts of the country. Mexico's largest cities are:

Mexico City: 9.2 million (source: INEGI 2026) but more than 22 million inhabitants live in the metropolitan area!
Guadalajara: about 4 million inhabitants
Monterrey: about 4 million inhabitants
Tijuana: about 2 million inhabitants

Did you know that Mexico City is a megacity and the second largest city in the western hemisphere? Only Sao Paolo in Brazil is bigger! Read more about megacities on our special page here.

Did you know?

Mexico City is a megacity and known as the second largest city in the western hemisphere?
Only Sao Paolo in Brazil has a bigger metropolitan city!

Climate

The climate varies from temperate and tropical climate to desert climate.

Did you know?

Mexico stretches over four time zones. From Eastern Standard Time, UTC-5 to Pacific Time UTC-8
Mexico does not observe daylight saving time except for some regions close to the U.S. border

Geo Superlatives

Mexico has the world's largest Spanish speaking population and Mexico is also the second most populous country in North America - after the USA.
The highest peak in Mexico is a volcano. It is called 'Pico de Orizaba' or 'Volcan Citlaltepetl' and is 5,636 m/ 18,491 ft high. This is also the third largest volcano in Northern America.
The longest river in Mexico is the Río Bravo del Norte (also referred to as Rio Grande). This river begins in the southwestern USA and flows into Mexico.
The largest lake in Mexico is Lake Chapala near Guadalajara.
The "cardon cactus" is the world's biggest cactus! The Mexican giant cactus measures up to 21 metres/ 70 feet in height and can be seen in the deserts of Baja California. These cacti can live up to 300 years.
There are over 10,000 cenotes in Mexico.

Did you know?

Cenotes are natural sinkholes that filled up with water when underground limestone caves collapsed
Cenotes are the only sources of freshwater in the dense jungle of the Yucatan peninsula.

Cenote near Tulum

Mexico Facts
Landmarks & Attractions

Mexico is one of the world's top travel destinations and for US travellers, Mexico is the top destination. And Mexico houses 50 UNESCO World Heritage Sites! So much to explore in this North American country.

Mexicans love children, so families are always welcome everywhere! There are some great attractions for kids, among the most popular with families are:

Chichen Itza: built by the Maya people in the 5th century BCE, Chichen Itza is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This unique archeological site mainly served as a ceremonial center for the Maya civilization. Today, Chichen Itza is visited by more than two million people every year.

Chichen Itza

Acapulco: The bay on the Pacific Ocean is home to Mexico's most popular beach city with golden sandy beaches, lots of holiday resorts and known by families for it's magnificent water sports park. Mexico's busiest port is quite a sight too.

Mexico Acapulco Daniel Elizalde S _shutterstock

Acapulco - image by Daniel Elizalde S./shutterstock

Oaxaca: Visit the archaeological site of the Monte Alban ruins, shop at the city's colourful market or marvel at the famous rock formations and bubbling waters at Hierve el Agua which means 'bubbling of the water'.

Hierve el agua

Mérida: The city's Mayan cultural heritage is displayed in the fascinating Mayan World Museum (Gran Museum del Mundo Maya), the Dzibilchaltún ruins and archeological site, as well as a rich colonial heritage as seen on the city’s Plaza Grande and the main boulevard Paseo de Montejo or the Catedral de Merida.

Merida

Agave landscape at the foothills of the Tequila volcano: The blue agave plant is used to produce the famous tequila spirit. Agave plantations and tequila distilleries are dotted all over the region.

Riding through the agave fields in Mexico

Mexico City: the capital city is built on the site of the former Aztec capital Tenochtitlan. Make sure to also visit the ruins of the ancient Aztec pyramids at nearby Teotihuacan.

Teotihuacan

Teotihuacan: The ancient city ruins of Aztec monuments such as the pyramids of the Sun and the Moon and the Temple of Quetzalcoatl are stunning. This was once the most most powerful centre in the Americas - only 50 km/ 31 miles north east of the capital Mexico City

Mexico City - Independence monument

Yucatan cenotes: There are more than 6,000 cents on the Yucatan peninsula. To the indigenous Mayan people, cenotes once were sacred places. Today, some are open to the public and you can swim, snorkel or splash around wearing lifejackets in the (mostly deep) water.

Tulum Ruins: This ancient Mayan site is located on a cliff and is the only major Mayan site on the Caribbean coast.

Mayan Ruins in Tulum

Mexico Facts
People & Culture

Most Mexicans (80%) are Christians as Roman Catholicism was introduced by the Spanish colonists. La Virgen de Guadalupe (Virgin of Guadalupe) is considered the Patron saint of Mexico.

Fiesta de la Virgen - Festivities in Mexico

Famous Mexican are among many others: the actress Selma Hayek, the guitarist Carlos Santana and the soccer players Javier Hernandez and Guillermo Ochoa.

Mexicans are known as very friendly and welcoming foreigners, they are really fond of kids. Mariachi are the popular musicians who play folk music. They mainly use string instruments, but also trumpets are sometimes played. The groups are often invited to play at birthday parties, weddings and other family celebrations.

Mariachi band

On 1 and 2 November the Mexicans celebrate the Dia del los Muertos, a special festival to remember the deceased members of the family. In Mexico, the celebrations combine Catholic traditions with indigenous (Aztec and Mayan) rituals which makes a very unique combination. Mexican families gather around the homes of the family members and spend time in around graves where the graves have been decorated with marigold flowers, candles and other decorations that help remember the family members that have passed on.

Dia de los Muertos

Popular Souvenirs

Among the most popular Mexican souvenirs are Taxco silver jewellery or the alebrijes the handprinted and skilfully crafted wooden creatures from Oaxaca or local pottery such as these colourful Talavera plates, bowls and vases.

Talavera ceramics from Mexico - image by Malgosia S

National Symbols

Mexican Flag

The flag is shows three bands in green, white and red. The emblem on the white ground shows an eagle standing on a cactus with a snake in the beak.

What do the colours in the flag stand for? The colours of the Mexican flag stand for independence, unity and religion. The legend describes, that the Aztec settled and built their capital city which they named Tenochtitlan, which is today Mexico City, on the place where they saw and eagle sitting on a cactus, eating a snake.

More about the meaning of colours in flags

Mexico Facts
Language

Most people in Mexico speak Spanish. As was mentioned before, Mexico is the country with the most Spanish speakers in the world. More people speak Spanish here than in Spain, simply because many more people live in Mexico and the country is also more than three times bigger than Spain.

Mexico does not have an official language, but Spanish is the national language used in administration, business and education. There are 68 indigenous languages spoken in Mexico.

And don't forget to read all the excellent essays by our former competition participants here:

Mexico Facts
Economy

Mexico is one of the fifteen largest economies in the world. The main trading partners of Mexico are the USA, Canada, China and Japan as well as some European countries including Spain and Germany.

The main exports from Mexico are corn (maize), oil, fruits and vegetables, silver, coffee, cotton.

There are more than 500,000 small coffee farms in Mexico. The main export country of Mexican coffee is the USA.

Coffee plantation in Mexico - image by Andre Nery

Did you know?

Mexico is the largest economy in Latin America.
Mexico is known as one of the largest exporters of coffee beans!

Oranges, watermelon, lemon, pineapples and avocados are the most popular and most consumed fruits in Mexico.

The pitaya or dragonfruit is a unique exotic fruit of cactus species that grows in southern Mexico. The origins of this dragonfruit are in Mexico where the fruit was cultivated first by the Aztec people.

Pitaya or dragonfruit

Mexico Facts
Mexican Food

Chocolate, chilies, avocados and corn come originally from Mexico.

Mexican style 'Chili con Carne'

The main staple food is corn and rice, fruits and vegetables, chicken, pork, beef, lamb and along the coastal regions also seafood.

Chilli peppers are usually among the main ingredients in many Mexican dishes. One dish many of you will think of is 'chilli con carne', a dish with spicy mince meat and kidney beans but this is not really a Mexican dish, but only a Mexican-style dish!

Instead enchiladas, tortillas and tacos are typical Mexican dishes and very popular in Mexico!

Tacos al Pastor - typical Mexican street food

Other typical Mexican food:

tacos: the typical Mexican "bread" is served in a large variety of dishes. In tacos al pastor smaller corn flatbread rounds are served with sliced pork that has been fried after being marinated in various spices such as coriander (cilantro), pineapple cubes and onions, the so-called "herdsman-style"
guacamole: the typical Mexican avocado dip made with mashed avocados, salt and lime or lemon juice, often also with chilli peppers
tortilla: Mexican corn or wheat flour flatbread is eaten with almost every dish. A tortilla is usually filled with meat, cheese, potato or vegetables
tostada: crunchy tortilla that has been fried in oil
enchilada: stuffed tortilla that has been baked in chilli sauce
nachos: tortilla chips often served hot with melted cheese or spicy mince sauce, usually eaten as a snack
tamales: stuffed and steamed dough pockets wrapped in banana leaf or corn husks

Tamales for a typical Mexican Breakfast

pan de muerto: sweet bread roll baked for the 'Day of the Dead' which is celebrated on 1 and 2 of November
chile verde: stew cooked with lots of spicy green chilli
elote: the Mexican version of 'corn on a cob', a popular street food

Did you know?

Hot chocolate was considered the sacred drink by the Aztecs!

Mexican Hot Chocolate and Pan de Muerto

Mexico Facts
Animals

Mexico is one of the most bio-diverse countries on earth. The country has the most reptile species in the world housing over 700 reptile species and also has the second most mammal species in the world, of which there are over 430 species!

In Mexico, there are jaguars, pumas and huge iguanas. Whales, manta rays and manatees are common in the oceans and can sometimes by spotted of the Yucatan coast.

In the jungles of southern Mexico, one can encounter various types of lizards, monkeys and colourful birds, such as these parrots, the beautiful scarlet macaws.

Scarlet macaws

Mexico Facts
FAQs

Where is Mexico?

Mexico is a country on the North American continent bordering the USA, Guatemala and Belize. The country also has coastlines along the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans.

What is unique about Mexico?

Mexico has the largest Spanish-speaking population of any country in the world. Mexicans celebrate the Day of the Dead or Día de Muertos on 1 and 2 November with a unique celebration that is a blend of Catholic traditions and indigenous customs and rituals. Decorations with marigold flowers and decorative skulls can be seen everywhere.

What is the capital of Mexico?

The capital city is Mexico City with about ten million residents but a metropolitan area housing more than 22 million people.

What language do people speak in Mexico?

The national language used in schools and offices is Spanish, however, there are about 68 indigenous languages spoken in Mexico.

Which animals live in Mexico?

Mexico is known for its diversity in wildlife. There are jaguars, iguanas, monkeys, sea turtles, flamingos and turtles and many more! There is also the coati, which is similar to a raccoon.

What food is Mexico famous for?

Mexico is famous for Guacamole which is made with mashed avocados as well as tacos, which are a traditional dish made with a flat bread called tortilla and various fillings.

Mexico Facts
Resources

Chitzen Itza. " Chicken Itza History. Chichen Itzá. Last accessed 30 October 2026
The Associated Press. "Mexico Population Rises to 126M." APNews. 25 January 2021. Last accessed 30 October 2026
Embassy of Mexico in the UK. "Symbols of Mexico." Embamex. Last accessed 30 October 2026
Mexico Daily Post. "What is the most consumed fruit in Mexico?" MexicoDailyPost.news. 5 March 2024. Last accessed 30 October 2026