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Mexico Facts & Worksheets

Mexico, known officially as the United Mexican States, is a federal republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of Mexico.

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Mexico, known officially as the United Mexican States, is a federal republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of Mexico. It is home to rich Latin American history, culture, languages, and traditions. It’s also home to the populated city in the western hemisphere, Mexico City. 

See the fact file below for more information on the country of Mexico or alternatively, you can download our comprehensive worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

General Information

  • Capital: Mexico City
  • Population: 101,879,171 (July 2001 est.)
  • Area: 1,972,550 sq km, slightly less than three times the size of Texas
  • Government: Federal republic
  • Money: Mexican peso (MXN)
  • Climate: Varies from tropical to desert
  • Languages: Spanish, various Mayan, Nahuatl and other regional indigenous languages
  • Mexico is situated in the southern part of North America between latitudes 14° and 33°N and longitudes 86° and 119°W.
  • It is bordered to the north by the United States and to the southeast by Guatemala. To the south and west is the Pacific Ocean and to the east is the Gulf of Mexico.
  • Mexico is a federal republic comprising 31 states.
    • The capital city of Mexico is Mexico City.
    • Its population in 2020 was approximately 126,014,024.
    • The area of Mexico is 761,610 sq mi (1,972,550 sq km), making it the thirteenth largest country in the world (almost three times the size of Texas).
    • The currency is the Mexican peso (MXN)
    • Languages of Mexico are Spanish, various Mayan, Nahuatl, and other regional indigenous languages.
    • The Mexican climate varies from tropical to desert.
  • Mexico is crossed from north to south by two mountain ranges. These are the Sierra Madre Oriental and the Sierra Madre Occidental, which are an extension of the Rocky Mountains from North America. 
  • In the center, from west to east, the country is crossed by the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, also known as the Sierra Nevada. 
  • The Río Bravo del Norte river (called the Rio Grande in the United States) forms a lengthy part of the international border and is 1952 mi (3,141 km) long.

Ancient History

  • Mexico is the third largest country in Latin America.
  • It has one of the largest populations, making it the home of more Spanish speakers than any other nation in the world – including Spain!
  • Around 1000 BCE, the first of Mexico’s ancient civilizations, the Olmecs, established themselves in what are now the states of Veracruz and Tabasco. In their wake came the Teotihuacan, the Zapotecs and Mixtecs of Monte Alban, the Maya of Yucatan, the Toltecs, Aztecs, and dozens of smaller urban groups.
  • By 1100 CE, the Toltecs had conquered much of central and southern Mexico and had established their capital at Tula in Mesa Central. They also built the city of Teotihuacan near present-day Mexico City.
  • The Aztecs founded the city of Tenochtitlan in the early 1300s, and it became the capital of their empire. When the Spanish arrived in central Mexico, the Aztecs controlled most of the Mesa Central through a state tribute system that extracted taxes and political servility from conquered tribal groups.

Mid-History

  • Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés arrived at Veracruz in 1519. Believing that Cortés might be the serpent god Quetzalcoatl, Aztec King Moctezuma II invited the conquistador to Tenochtitlán. 
  • In May 1521, Cortez and his followers attacked and conquered the Aztecs. It was the start of Spanish colonization.
  • The Catholic Church’s influence was felt in the region when missionaries began arriving in 1523. The missionaries built many monasteries and converted millions of people to Catholicism. 
  • As a consequence of Spanish control, introduced diseases, and the arrival of Christianity, much indigenous history, culture, traditions, and architecture were wiped out.
  • On September 16, 1810, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a parish priest from the town of Dolores, issued a call to rebellion. It was the start of the rebellion and quest for independence.
  • In 1858 Benito Juarez, a Zapotec from Oaxaca, became president. He attempted to eliminate the influence of the Roman Catholic Church in the nation by appropriating its land and prerogatives.
  • Following Mexico’s occupation by the French in the mid-1800s, Porfírio Díaz served as president from 1876 to 1909. But his dictatorship sparked a 10-year-long Mexican revolution.
  • In 1934, Lázaro Cárdenas became president and reestablished the ancient ejido system, which established communally-shared tracts of farmland.
  • Miguel Aleman Valdes, president from 1946 to 1952, was responsible for massive public-works projects, including irrigation schemes in the northwest and hydroelectric power in the south.
  • Luis Echeverria Alvarez (1970-76) devalued the peso after nearly 25 years of parity with the United States dollar. 
  • Jose Lopez Portillo (1976-82) directed the frantic economic growth of the oil boom. 
  • Miguel de la Madrid Hurtado (1982-88) inherited an economy that had been transformed by a rapid decrease in international oil prices as well as huge foreign debts.

Mexico Today

  • At the beginning of the 21st century, Mexico’s population surpassed 100 million.
  • Mexico has the largest population of Spanish speakers in the world.
  • With almost 25 million residents, Mexico City is one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world.
  • Mexico has the world’s second-highest number of Catholics after Brazil.
  • Mexicans comprise the largest group of legal immigrants in the United States.
  • Mexico is the world’s leading producer of silver. An area called the Silver Belt encompasses Guanajuato and Zacatecas in the Mesa Central, Chihuahua in the Mesa del. Silver forms past of a dark past in Mexico’s history, with many indigenous people exploited for mining it.
  • Norte and San Luis Potosi farther east saw significant mining activity during the colonial period.
  • Mexico hosted the Summer Olympics in 1968 and the FIFA World Cup soccer championship in 1970 and 1986.
  • The Mexico City Arena, one of the largest bullfighting arenas in the world, seats 50,000. 
  • Another 35 arenas are located throughout the country.

Flora and Fauna

  • Mexico is considered the second country in the world in ecosystems and fourth in overall species. An ecosystem (or ecological system) consists of all the organisms and the physical environment with which they interact. 
  • Mexico has:
    • 707 known species of reptile 
    • 438 species of mammals
    • 290 species of amphibians
    • 26,000 different species of flora
  • In Mexico, 65,637 sq mi (170,000 sq km) are “Protected Natural Areas”. 
  • These include: 
    • 34 biosphere reserves (unaltered ecosystems), 
    • 67 national parks 
    • 4 natural monuments (protected in perpetuity for their aesthetic, scientific, or historical value), 
    • 26 areas of protected flora and fauna, 
    • 4 areas for natural resource protection (conservation of soil, hydrological basins, and forests)
    • 17 sanctuaries (zones rich in diverse species).

Did You Know?

  • Mexico is one of the world’s most popular vacation destinations, with over 20 million foreigners visiting in a year.
  • Mexico is also home to the world’s largest pyramid. However, the oldest pyramids in the world are located in Egypt.
  • Mexico is at risk for several natural hazards, including hurricanes on both coasts, tsunamis on the Pacific coast, and volcanism.
  • Roman Catholicism is Mexico’s dominant religious affiliation.
  • Mexico’s native culinary ingredients include chocolate, vanilla, maize, tomato, beans, squash, and avocado.      
  • Tequila, which is a distilled alcoholic drink made from cultivated agave cacti, is a major industry. 
  • Sporting activities include football, boxing, wrestling, and bullfighting. 
  • Mexico has a long tradition of music. Traditional Mexican music includes ranchera, banda, corridos and mariachi. 
  • Painting is one of the oldest arts in Mexico. Cave paintings found in the Baja California Peninsula caves in Mexico’s northwest Mexico are about 7500 years old.
  • In 1995 Mexican chemist Mario Molina shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry with two others for their work in atmospheric chemistry, particularly concerning the formation and decomposition of ozone. 
  • The most significant scientific project in Mexico was the construction of the Gran Telescopio Milimétrico (GMT), (translates to Large Millimeter Telescope). This is the world’s largest and most sensitive single-aperture telescope in its frequency range.
  • Mexico produces energy from hydroelectric schemes and extensive solar thermal panel farms. 
  • Mexico has the largest number of taxicabs in the world.
  • There are 69 different languages spoken in Mexico.

Mexico Worksheets

This bundle includes 10 ready-to-use Mexico worksheets that are perfect for students to learn about Mexico, known officially as the United Mexican States which is a federal republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of Mexico.

This download includes the following worksheets:

  • Mexico Facts
  • All Around Mexico – Mexican Adjectives
  • People of Mexico – Autobiography
  • People Match
  • Mexican Symbols – National Identities in Pictures
  • Coloring Activity
  • Aztec Word Creator
  • Quick Quiz – Truth or Bluff
  • Mexico’s Mexico City
  • Mexico Acrostic

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Mexico so popular to visit?

Mexico is a popular destination to visit for many reasons. It has a vibrant and colorful culture, and the country is known for its festive drinks, spicy cuisine, and some of the best beach destinations in the world.

How do you say hello to someone in Mexico?

You would greet someone with “Buenos dias” (Good day), “Buenas tardes” (Good afternoon), or “Buenas noches” (Good evening/night) depending on the time of day.

What’s the color of Mexico’s flag?

The national flag of Mexico (in Spanish is Bandera de México) is a vertical tricolor flag of green, white, and red with the national coat of arms in the center of the white stripe.

What is a conquistador?

Conquistadors were the explorer-soldiers of the Spanish and Portuguese Empires of the 15th and 16th centuries. During the Age of Discovery, conquistadors sailed beyond Europe to the Americas, Africa, and Asia, opening trade routes and colonizing.

Does Mexico have any volcanoes?

Mexico has the world’s smallest volcano, the Cuexcomate volcano, located outside the city of Puebla and is just 43 feet(13 m) tall.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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