|
004012 Visit since
| Some
interesting facts about Mexico | by Prof.
German Estrada
May 7, 2001. | This week,
I want to give you some other information about this beautiful country that may
enhance your knowledge about it. It has to do with the latest statistics (1) dealing
with geography, religion, education, government, etc. I'm sure that those of you
who enjoy and like this country will find these numbers quite interesting. The
Republic of Mexico whose full name is "Estados Unidos Mexicanos" is
situated in the extreme meridian of North America. To the North, it borders with
the United States of America; to the east with the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean
Sea, to the south with Belize, Guatemala and the Pacific Ocean, and to the west
with the Pacific Ocean. Its geometric surface covers 1,964,375
square kilometers, divided into 31 Federal Entities or States (Entidades Federativas),
and one Federal District (Mexico City). One of the longest borders dividing any
two countries exists between Mexico and the United States: 3,152 Kms. It has a
coastline of 11,122 Kilometers. It has a 956-km border with Guatemala and 193
kilometers with Belize. Out of the total square area, 5,127 sq. kms. are made
up of islands. Compared with other countries in the rest
of the world, Mexico ranks 12th after Russia, Canada, the US, China, Brazil, Australia,
India, Argentina, Kazhakstan, Sudan & Saudi Arabia, and the fifth in our hemisphere,
after Canada, US, Brazil and Argentina. This, our Mexico
Mágico, has a wide variety of the world's different climates. The following
table gives you a better idea of it:
Hot & Humid: 4.8%, Hot & Dry:
23%, Mild: 23.1%, Dry: 28.3%, Very Dry: 20.8%. The latest
census taken in the year 2000 reports a population of 97.3 million people, of
which Mexico City*, the capital, has 17.8 millions. The urban population is about
74.68%, and the Indian population numbers 10.6 million. These people speak 66
different languages and dialects, the main ones being Nahuatl, Maya, Zapotec,
Mixtec, Otomí, Tzeltal, Totonaca, Mazatec, Mazahua, Chinantec, Purépecha,
Mixe, etc. 51.36% of the total population of Mexico are women. *
The Metropolitan Area is the 2nd largest metropolitan area in the world. The first
is the Tokyo-Yokohama in Japan. The majority of Mexico's
population is young: 65.4% is under 30 years of age and 36% is between 30 and
64 years old. 89.13% is Catholic, 7.01 Protestant or Evangelical, 0.69% is of
the Jewish faith and
others, and 2.94% has no religion. 10% of the total population
is illiterate.*
*(I may add, quite a few of them working in the government!). Children
born in 1999 could expect to live around 74 years. Up to 1998, the principal causes
of death were:
Circulatory System: 21.3%, Accidents & Violence: 12.13%,
Malignant Tumors: 11.82%,
Diabetes: 8.56%, Cirrhosis of the liver: 5.20%,
Pneumonia: 4.94%, Intestinal Infections: 1.44%, Others: 34.78%. According
to the 1995-1999 figures, the "quality of life" in Mexico was as follows:
Population that lives in poverty (1999): 44 to 60%, Houses with electricity (1995):
93.52%, Houses with running water (1995): 87.0%, Houses with sewage (1995): 76.7%,
Houses with an earthen floor: 15.40%. And for the time
being, last but not least, a statistic that gives us an idea of the little trust
we have in our police: up to 1999, only 1.37% of crimes were reported! Incredible...
1.37 out of every 100 crimes…!!!!!! It appears that all over the world, people
nowadays refrain (are afraid of?) from reporting crimes... Some progress!
(1) INEGI
gestrada@pvnet.com.mx
Prof. Germán Estrada is the
author of the best selling book, "México
Mágico: Everything You Wanted To Know About... But Nobody Told
You..." available in Puerto Vallarta at The Net House, Mail Boxes, Etc.,
Books, Books as well as directly from the author by internet. Archives
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