35 Fun Facts About Mexico

Last updated on November 5, 2022

From high mountains and deep canyons throughout its interior to thousands of kilometers of sandy beaches, and to the deserts and rain forests within, Mexico really has it all. Add in the delectable cuisine and the fact that Mexico has 35 UNESCO World Heritage Sites (the most in all of the Americas and 7th in the world), and there’s no wonder that it cracks the top ten of the most visited countries in the world.

So how much do you know about it? Read on for a whole bunch of fun facts about Mexico.

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General Facts About Mexico

Travel

~ The currency used is the Mexican Peso, although American dollars are also often accepted. See conversation rates here.

~ The most popular tourist destinations (according to this report) include Mazatlan, San Miguel de Allende, and Cancun.

~ International airports: Mexico City International Airport (MEX), Cancun International Airport (CUN), and Guadalajara International Airport (GDL) are the three busiest airports in the country.

~ When is the best time to visit Mexico? High season for travel to Mexico is between December through April. This is also the best time for trips to the country that are heavily focused in outdoor activities.

Geography

~ Mexico is located on the continent of North America and shares borders with the United States in the north and Belize and Guatemala in the south.

~ The landmass of Mexico is 758,449 square miles (1,964,375 square kilometers), making it the 13th largest country.

~ The USA-Mexico border is the second-longest in the world at approximately 3,155 km long.

~ Mexico is located in the ‘Ring of Fire’ which is the biggest volcano and earthquake region in the world. For a long time, Mexico was also believed to have the world’s smallest volcano – Cuexcomate – which actually turned out to be an inactive geyser.

~ There are 32 states in Mexico.

~ The majority of the larger cities are located in areas within the southern part of the country.

~ Several low coastline plains have high mountainous heights and high tables at the center of southwestern Mexico.

~ The capital city, Mexico City, is sinking – because it was originally built on a lake. It is sinking between 6 to 8 inches per year.

Biodiversity

~ Mexico ranks fifth in the world in terms of biodiversity with almost 50,000 species.

~ There are 48 active volcanoes in Mexico including the smallest in the world, a 43-meter high Cuexcomate volcano near Puebla City.

~ The Chihuahuan Desert is the largest desert in North America. It covers 250,000 square miles through six Mexican states and portions of Texas and New Mexico.

~ The Mexican national dog is the Xoloitzcuintli, and it is the smallest recognized dog breed to exist.

~ The country has almost 500 beaches! (This might just be the best of the fun facts about Mexico!)

People and Languages

~ The population of Mexico is over 126 million, making it the 10th most populous country in the world.

~ The official language is Spanish, although there are over 60 Indigenous languages that are also used.

~ Mexico has the most Spanish speakers in the world.

~ The largest chunk of the Mexican population (80%) is Christian after Roman Catholicism was introduced by the Spanish colonists.

~ The actress Selma Hayek, guitarist Carlos Santana, artist Frida Kahlo, and the soccer players Jose Hernandez and Guillermo Ochoa are among the most famous Mexicans.

History

~ Mexico was the home site of many advanced Mesoamerican civilizations – most famously, the Maya and the Aztecs.

~ The oldest complex civilization in Mexico is the culture of Olmez (1200-400 BC), Founded between 800 and 200 BC.

~ Cholula is the oldest city of Mexico and was established between 800 and 200 B.C.

~ Mexico City has more than 180 museums, the second-most in the world after London, England.

~ Chichen Itza, a large pre-Columbian city built by the Mayans, was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007.

Culture

~ Mexico has the world’s biggest pyramid: the Great Pyramid of Cholula.

~ Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is the most important celebration in Mexico, but this colorful celebration is not the same as Halloween. It is an extensive celebration of life and death, where families and friends gather over several days to celebrate the deceased.

~ No gifts are delivered on Christmas. Instead, Mexicans give presents on the 6th of January in celebration Dia de Los Reyes, or Three Wise Men Day.

~ Mexican food is reputed to be some of the world’s best, even having made UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Popular dishes are tacos, tamales, chilaquiles, pozole, mole poblano, and so much more.

Quirky Facts About Mexico: These are Just for Fun!

~ Mexico holds more Guinness World Records than any other country in Latin America.

~ Chocolate originated in Mexico. Thousands of years ago, the Aztecs and Mayans were the first to cultivate the cacao plant.

~ When state oil company employees were drilling a well in the Yucatan in 1981 they discovered a massive crater with a depth of over 600 meters. This is believed to be site of where a meteor hit 65 million years ago and wiped out the dinosaurs.

~ Mexico drinks more Coca-Cola than any other country in the world.

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