Who Are We and How Many?
Mexico is home to over 130 million people spread across its territory of approximately one million 964,375 square kilometers. As the tenth most populous country globally and thirteenth in size, Mexico remains one of the world’s leading economies due to its scale and production.
- 52% of Mexico’s population identifies as female, while 48% identify as male.
- The non-binary population amounts to 592,328 individuals, representing a mere 0.5% of the total.
- The youth population has significantly decreased; those under 15 years old account for only 22% of the total population.
- The working-age population (16 to 64 years) makes up around 68% of the total.
- Three out of ten Mexicans recognize themselves as indigenous.
- The Afro-Mexican population represents 2.4% of the total, while 6.8% report living with some form of disability.
- Half of Mexicans perceive themselves as having medium or light brown skin.
- The most populous states are the State of Mexico, Mexico City, and Jalisco.
- Nationally, 76% of people live in urban areas, while 24% reside in rural zones.
Births, Deaths, and Family
- The average life expectancy in Mexico is 71.6 years for men and 77.7 years for women.
- The global fertility rate is 1.6 children per woman; this rate has decreased significantly, as in 1976, women had an average of 5.7 children.
- The birth rate is 12 natalities per 1,000 inhabitants.
- Mexico registers 6.5 deaths per 1,000 inhabitants.
- Marriages in Mexico have decreased by about 15% over the last decade.
Education and Employment
- Individuals over 15 years old have an average school performance of 9.7 years (equivalent to secondary education).
- Enrolment rates are 95.8% in primary school, 82.9% in secondary school, and 62.5% in pre-university.
- The highest dropout rate occurs at the pre-university level, with 9 out of every 100 students failing to complete their studies.
- The Economically Active Population (PEA) was 60.5 million, with 59 million actually employed.
- The national unemployment rate is 2.5%, a particularly low level compared to historical records.
- Despite the low unemployment, informality persists: half of all workers are in some form of informal employment.
- Approximately 35% of employed individuals experience labor poverty, meaning their work incomes are insufficient to cover basic needs.
Mexico’s Inequality
- The average income of wealthier families is 16 times higher than that of poorer families, one of the largest gaps globally.
- 57% of people with darker skin live in poverty, while this figure drops to 34% for those with lighter skin.
- Historically discriminated groups (women, gender diverse individuals, people with disabilities, and indigenous populations) have the lowest average incomes.
- Only 2 out of 10 people born into poverty manage to escape it.
- 78% of inequality cases are linked to “anchors” such as gender, skin color, and birthplace.
- The Gini coefficient remains near 0.5 points on a scale from 0 to 1, where higher figures indicate greater inequality.
- Regional Gini coefficients show that inequality is higher in the south (0.449) than in the north (0.403), reflecting regional development disparities.
Key Questions and Answers
- Q: What is Mexico’s current population? A: Mexico has a population of over 130 million people.
- Q: How has Mexico’s demographic structure changed? A: Mexico is experiencing an aging population, declining traditional family patterns, and increasing diversity.
- Q: What are the key demographic trends in Mexico? A: Key trends include declining birth rates, rising life expectancy, fewer marriages, more diverse families, and improved living standards.
- Q: How does Mexico’s education system perform? A: While enrolment rates are high, dropout rates are significant, particularly at the pre-university level.
- Q: What is the employment situation in Mexico? A: Although unemployment is low, informality and labor poverty remain pressing issues.
- Q: How unequal is Mexico? A: Mexico faces significant inequality, with substantial gaps in income and opportunities based on factors like gender, skin color, and birthplace.
