Mexico's Statistics and Resources

GDP - $1.761 trillion

GDP per capita - $15,300

Life expectancy - 76.66 years

Poverty rate - 51.3%

Literacy rate -  86.1%

Unemployment rate - 5%

Inflation - 3.6%

The climate of Mexico varies from tropical to desert, depending on location. Some areas receive as much as 79 inches of rain per year, while others receive as low as 3 inches. There are high mountains, high plateaus, and desert, but also low plains for agriculture. Major natural resources include gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, timber, natural gas, and petroleum. The Rio Grande, part of the border between Mexico and the US, is the most widely known river of the country that flows into the Gulf of Mexico. Other big rivers include Rio Culiacan and Rio Balsas, both of which flow into the Pacific Ocean.

The labor force of Mexico is about 50.7 million. By occupation, 13.7% are in agriculture, 23.4% in industry, and 62.9% in services. Mexico's educational system consists of three levels of schooling in basic education; primary (primaria), secondary (secundaria), and high school (preparatoria). Primary consists of grades 1-6, secondary is 7-9, and high school is comprised of grades 10-12. College is much like the US in that there are mostly 4 year undergrad programs and the possibility to earn a Master's Degree or Doctoral Degree in postgrad. The unemployment rate of youths (age 15-24) is 9.5%.

Mexico has industries of tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel, petroleum, and motor vehicles. There are also industries of textiles, clothing, and tourism. Technology has advanced in Mexico. Computers are now matching standards of the United States and therefore education about information technology has increased. Infrastructure of Mexico is modern. There are newly designed highways that ensure transportation and delivery run smoothly. There are locations on the US-Mexico border that allow the railway systems to to connect to commercial areas of the US.