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Country Profile Mexico

Mexico ranks among the top countries in the world in many categories. It is the 13th largest country in the world, the 11th most populated country in the world, the 10th most visited country in the world and the fifth ranked for number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Fifty years ago, Mexico was considered a developing country, but it currently has a place among the most modernized nations in the world.

One hundred and ten million people live in Mexico, with 78 percent of them residing in urban areas. Although Mexico has one of the world’s largest economies, the per capita income is still only one-half of the regional average. Other defining statistics, such as life expectancy, are average for the region; however, modern problems, such as smoking and obesity levels, are higher in Mexico than in the surrounding area.

Spending on medical services is very low compared to the rest of the region, at around one-sixth of the regional average. There has been very little increase in spending in the last 15 years. Mexico still ranks highly among health care systems, despite this low spending, as the costs of health care and medicines to citizens are on average lower than in other places. Unfortunately, most of the health care system is located in urban areas and rural populations must travel if they need services.

The levels of health care personnel are comparable to the region. There are 28.9 doctors per 10,000 people, which is around 30 percent higher than average, and 39.8 nurses and midwives, which is about 40 percent lower. Currently, Mexico is seeking to implement universal health care in the near future.

Infant mortality is average for the region, having decreased by 30 percent from the much higher numbers of 20 years ago. Maternal mortality, however, is 30 percent higher than average. Malnutrition is still somewhat of a problem in 15 percent of children. Wealth disparity is unknown, as there is no data available.

The number of attended births is 94 percent, and 88 percent of the population receive adequate antenatal care. Again, no information is available on disparities between the richest and poorest segments of the population.

HIV numbers are almost half of the regional average, as is tuberculosis. Disease prevalence in Mexico is about average for the area. Immunization levels are high, just like most of the region.

The availability of clean drinking water is maintained at a high level in urban areas, numbering just over 95 percent. This is less in rural areas; however, in the last 20 years there has been an increase from 60 to 85 percent availability. Sanitation is more of a problem, ranking 90 percent in urban areas and 65 percent in rural areas.

The statistics show steady improvement in the development of infrastructure in the last 20 years. Mexico has undergone some economic troubles recently, but is recovering and becoming more modern and advanced every year. Mexico is known for rapidly adapting foreign technologies to its own needs and is quickly becoming a world power.