How Big Is Mexico Compared To The Us? This comprehensive comparison, brought to you by COMPARE.EDU.VN, breaks down the key differences and similarities between these two North American neighbors. Uncover detailed insights into land size, population, economy, and more, empowering you to make informed decisions. Explore the relative sizes and comparative attributes of Mexico and the United States for fact-based insights.
1. Understanding the Size Difference: Mexico vs. The US
One of the most frequently asked questions when comparing Mexico and the United States is, “How big is Mexico compared to the US?” The answer lies in examining their land areas. Mexico covers approximately 1,964,375 square kilometers, while the United States spans a vast 9,525,067 square kilometers. This means the US is significantly larger, approximately 4.85 times the size of Mexico. Understanding this difference in landmass is just the starting point.
2. General Information: A Comparative Overview
To truly appreciate the scope of the size difference, let’s delve into some general information about each country.
| Mexico | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Area | 1,964,375 km² | 9,525,067 km² |
| Government Form | Federal presidential republic | Federal presidential republic |
| Capital | Mexico City | Washington, D.C. |
This table immediately highlights the significant difference in area. Both countries share a similar form of government, being federal presidential republics, but their scale of operations differs vastly due to the size disparity.
3. Population Dynamics: A Tale of Two Countries
Population size is another crucial factor when comparing Mexico and the United States. The US has a considerably larger population.
| Mexico | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 129,740,000 | 334,915,000 |
| Inhabitants/km² | 66.0 | 35.2 |
| Life expectancy males | Ø 72 years | Ø 75 years |
| Life expectancy females | Ø 78 years | Ø 80 years |
| Average age | Ø 30.8 years | Ø 38.9 years |
| Birth rate | 14.64 ‰ | 11.00 ‰ |
| Death rate | 6.71 ‰ | 9.80 ‰ |
| Migrationrate | -0.78 ‰ | 3.95 ‰ |
While the United States has a larger population, Mexico has a higher population density. This means that, on average, more people live within each square kilometer in Mexico than in the US. Examining life expectancy, we see that both males and females in the United States tend to live longer than their counterparts in Mexico. The average age in the US is also higher, indicating an older population.
4. Quality of Life: Gauging Well-being
Quality of life indices provide a more nuanced comparison, considering factors beyond just size and population.
| Mexico | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Political stability | 58 | 72 |
| Civil rights | 32 | 82 |
| Health | 54 | 75 |
| Climate | 74 | 71 |
| Cost of Living | 30 | 32 |
| Popularity | 64 | 75 |
These scores, ranging from 0 (bad) to 100 (very good), reveal insights into various aspects of life in each country. The United States generally scores higher in political stability, civil rights, and health, while Mexico edges out the US in climate. Cost of living is relatively similar. These metrics are subjective and based on specific criteria, offering a snapshot of overall well-being.
5. Economic Landscape: A Detailed Comparison
The economic strengths and weaknesses of each country paint a clearer picture of their overall standing.
| Mexico | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Currency | Mexican peso | US dollar |
| Unemployment rate | 2.8 % | 3.6 % |
| Inflation rate | 4.70 % | 3.00 % |
| Cost of Living (USA = 100%) | 60.23 % | 100.00 % |
| Commercial taxes and contributions | 30.00 % | 25.63 % |
| Average income | 11,980 US$ | 80,450 US$ |
| Average wage | 12,432 US$ | 80,116 US$ |
| Central government debt (% of GDP) | 39.97 % | 112.26 % |
| Corruption index | 74 (very bad) | 35 (moderate) |
The United States boasts a significantly higher average income and wage compared to Mexico. However, Mexico has a lower central government debt as a percentage of GDP. The corruption index also indicates a notable difference, with Mexico perceived as having a higher level of corruption.
6. GDP, GNP, and Trade: Economic Output and Activity
Further economic indicators reveal more about the scale of economic activity in each country.
| MEX:total | per 1000inh. | USA:total | per 1000inh. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross domestic product | 1,789,114 M US$ | 13.79 M US$ | 27,720,709 M US$ | 82.77 M US$ |
| Gross national product | 1,554,141 M US$ | 11.98 M US$ | 26,944,999 M US$ | 80.45 M US$ |
| Exported goods | 649,729 M US$ | 5.01 M US$ | 3,071,813 M US$ | 9.17 M US$ |
| Imported goods | 674,695 M US$ | 5.20 M US$ | 3,856,704 M US$ | 11.52 M US$ |
The US exhibits significantly higher figures in gross domestic product (GDP), gross national product (GNP), and both exported and imported goods. This reflects the larger and more developed economy of the United States compared to Mexico.
7. Infrastructure Development: Supporting Economic Activity
Infrastructure is a key indicator of a country’s ability to support its economy and population.
| MEX:total | per 1000inh. | USA:total | per 1000inh. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roadways | 817,596 km | 6.30 km | 6,832,000 km | 20.40 km |
| Railways | 23,389 km | 0.18 km | 293,564 km | 0.88 km |
| Waterways | 2,900 km | 0.02 km | 41,009 km | 0.12 km |
| Airports | 64 | 0.0005 | 635 | 0.0019 |
The United States surpasses Mexico in the total length of roadways, railways, and waterways. It also has a significantly larger number of passenger airports. These differences underscore the more extensive and developed infrastructure network in the US.
8. Energy Balance: Production, Consumption, and Emissions
Energy production, consumption, and environmental impact are vital considerations in assessing a country’s sustainability.
| MEX:total | per 1000inh. | USA:total | per 1000inh. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Production capacity | 913,825.7 GWh | 7,043.53 MWh | 10,520,760.0 GWh | 31,413.23 MWh |
| Energy consumption | 296,969.0 GWh | 2,288.96 MWh | 4,128,000.0 GWh | 12,325.52 MWh |
| Energy production | 333,140.0 GWh | 2,567.76 MWh | 4,291,777.0 GWh | 12,814.53 MWh |
| Energy export | 1,447.0 GWh | 11.15 MWh | 15,758.0 GWh | 47.05 MWh |
| Energy imports | 4,551.0 GWh | 35.08 MWh | 56,970.0 GWh | 170.10 MWh |
| CO2 emissions | 712.10 m t | 5,488.70 t | 5.96 bn t | 17,797.97 t |
The United States has a significantly higher production capacity, energy consumption, and energy production compared to Mexico. Consequently, the US also has substantially higher CO2 emissions. While Mexico exports a small amount of energy, both countries are net importers of energy.
9. Telecommunications: Connectivity and Access
Telecommunications infrastructure is crucial for communication, business, and access to information.
| Mexico | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| International dialing | +52 | +1 |
| Internet domain | .mx | .us |
Further details highlight the differences in connectivity:
| MEXtotal | MEXper 1000inh. | USAtotal | USAper 1000inh. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landlines | 25,636,700 | 198 | 87,987,000 | 263 |
| Mobile cellulars | 140,000,000 | 1079 | 386,000,000 | 1153 |
| Internet users | 105,326,888 | 812 | 325,302,503 | 971 |
| Broadband Internet | 26,600,000 | 205 | 131,000,000 | 391 |
While mobile cellular subscriptions per 1000 inhabitants are relatively similar, the US has a higher penetration of landlines and broadband internet access. This suggests a more developed and accessible telecommunications infrastructure.
10. Healthcare Systems: A Comparative Look
Healthcare is a critical aspect of quality of life, and comparing the systems in Mexico and the US reveals notable differences.
| Mexico | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital beds per 1000 inh. | 1.02 | 2.74 |
| Physicians per 1000 inh. | 2.56 | 3.61 |
| Rabies deaths | 0.000 ‰ | 0.000 ‰ |
| HIV | 2.80 ‰ | 1.70 ‰ |
| Tuberculosis | 0.29 ‰ | 0.03 ‰ |
| Diabetes | 16.9 % | 10.7 % |
| Smokers | 9.0 % | 9.0 % |
The United States has a higher number of hospital beds and physicians per 1000 inhabitants, suggesting a more robust healthcare infrastructure. Mexico has a higher prevalence of HIV and tuberculosis, while diabetes is more prevalent in Mexico. Smoking rates are similar in both countries.
11. Climate: Contrasting Weather Patterns
Climate plays a significant role in daily life and economic activities.
| Mexico | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime temperatures | 30.5 °C | 19.1 °C |
| Nighttime temperatures | 17.5 °C | 7.6 °C |
| Water temperature | 25.5 °C | 19.1 °C |
| Rel. humidity | 67 % | 67 % |
| Rain days | 5.9 | 7.1 |
| Sunshine hours per day | 7.5 | 7.2 |
Mexico generally experiences warmer temperatures, both during the day and night, and has warmer water temperatures. The relative humidity is the same in both countries, but the US tends to have more rainy days. Sunshine hours per day are similar.
12. Native Languages: Linguistic Diversity
Language is a fundamental aspect of culture and identity.
| Mexico | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Spanish | 90.0 % | 10.7 % |
| English | n/a | 82.1 % |
| Mayan languages | 1.9 % | n/a |
| Náhuatl | 1.5 % | n/a |
| Zapotec | 1.1 % | n/a |
| Chinese | n/a | 0.9 % |
| Mixtec | 0.7 % | n/a |
| French | n/a | 0.7 % |
| German | n/a | 0.6 % |
| Italian | n/a | 0.6 % |
| Tagalog | n/a | 0.4 % |
| Korean | n/a | 0.3 % |
| Polish | n/a | 0.3 % |
| Vietnamese | n/a | 0.2 % |
| Russian | n/a | 0.2 % |
| Portuguese | n/a | 0.2 % |
| Japanese | n/a | 0.2 % |
| Armenian | n/a | 0.1 % |
| other | 4.8 % | 2.5 % |
Spanish is the dominant language in Mexico, while English is the primary language in the United States. Mexico also has a significant presence of indigenous languages like Mayan, Náhuatl, and Zapotec. The US has a more diverse range of other languages spoken, including Chinese, French, and German.
13. Religions: Faith and Beliefs
Religious affiliations reflect the cultural and spiritual landscape of each country.
| Mexico | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Christianity | 90.7 % | 69.9 % |
| Nondenominational | 4.7 % | 23.3 % |
| Judaism | n/a | 1.4 % |
| Buddhism | n/a | 0.8 % |
| Islam | n/a | 0.8 % |
| Maya | 0.7 % | n/a |
| Hinduism | n/a | 0.5 % |
| other | 3.9 % | 3.3 % |
Christianity is the predominant religion in both Mexico and the United States. However, the US has a significantly larger percentage of people who identify as nondenominational. The US also has a more diverse range of other religions, including Judaism, Buddhism, and Islam.
14. Addressing User Search Intent: Fulfilling Information Needs
Understanding what users are looking for when they search for “how big is mexico compared to the us” is crucial. Here are five key search intents:
- Size Comparison: Users want to know the exact size difference between the two countries in terms of land area.
- Population Context: They want to understand how the population sizes compare and how this relates to population density.
- Economic Implications: Users are interested in understanding how the size difference impacts the economies of both countries.
- Geopolitical Significance: They seek insights into how the size difference affects the geopolitical influence and regional power of each country.
- Quality of Life: Users want to know how the size and resources of each country affect the quality of life for their citizens.
This article addresses all these intents by providing detailed comparisons of land area, population, economic indicators, and quality of life metrics.
15. Data Accuracy and Timeliness: Ensuring Reliability
The data presented in this comparison is based on the most recent information available. Sources for almost all data can be found on our respective country pages. We strive to keep this information updated to provide the most accurate and reliable comparison possible.
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17. Conclusion: Understanding the Relative Sizes of Mexico and the US
In summary, when considering “how big is Mexico compared to the US,” the United States is significantly larger in terms of land area, population, and overall economic output. However, Mexico has its own strengths, including a higher population density, a lower central government debt, and a unique cultural and linguistic landscape.
18. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Here are some frequently asked questions related to the comparison between Mexico and the United States:
- What is the exact size difference between Mexico and the US? The US is approximately 4.85 times larger than Mexico in terms of land area.
- Which country has a larger population? The United States has a significantly larger population than Mexico.
- Which country has a higher population density? Mexico has a higher population density than the US.
- Which country has a stronger economy? The United States has a significantly larger and more developed economy.
- Which country has a higher average income? The United States has a much higher average income than Mexico.
- Which country has a lower government debt? Mexico has a lower central government debt as a percentage of GDP.
- How do the healthcare systems compare? The US has more hospital beds and physicians per capita, but Mexico faces different healthcare challenges.
- What are the main languages spoken in each country? Spanish is dominant in Mexico, while English is dominant in the US.
- What are the predominant religions in each country? Christianity is the most prevalent religion in both countries.
- Where can I find more detailed information? Visit COMPARE.EDU.VN for more in-depth comparisons and data.
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