Mexico

Bordered by the Pacific Ocean on its West and the Gulf of Mexico to its East, Mexico is the third-largest country in Latin America and has the second-largest economy. The nation is one of contrasts, with terrain encompassing arid lands and Caribbean coastlines and a society that has extremes of wealth and poverty.

Once home of the Maya, Aztec and other ancient civilizations, Mexico was ruled by Spain starting in the early 16th century. Administered by Spain for three centuries, the country achieved independence early in the 19th century, first as a short-lived empire and then as a republic in 1824.

Mexico is a federal republic with 31 states and one federal district. The country has a developing market economy with strong links to the U.S., long a major trading partner, although the U.S. president has pledged to change the terms of the relationship in coming years. Mexican workers living in the U.S. send billions of dollars back to their country each year. Most of the Mexican economy relies on services - with trade, transportation, finance and government accounting for about two-thirds of gross domestic product. The country has increasingly turned toward manufacturing, and is a major exporter and producer of oil.

Mexico is home to the world’s largest population of Spanish speakers, and it has made a large cultural imprint in Latin America and beyond. The country’s famous writers include Samuel Ramos, Octavio Paz and Carlos Fuentes. Mexico’s best known art form is the mural, which draws from the art of the Aztec, Maya and other pre-Columbian civilizations. The country’s film industry is one of the region’s largest, and many Mexican actors and filmmakers have received international recognition for their work. As in many Latin American countries, soccer is a widely shared obsession.

[Explore the top universities in Mexico.]