Central America.

Central Standard Time: GMT - 6 (GMT - 5 from first Sunday in April to last Sunday in October.)
Mountain Standard Time: GMT - 7 (GMT - 6 from first Sunday in April to last Sunday in October.)
Pacific Standard Time: GMT - 8 (GMT - 7 from first Sunday in April to last Sunday in October.)

1,959,248 sq km (758,449 sq miles).

106.4 million (UN, 2005).

54.3 per sq km.

Mexico City. Population: 21 million (2003 estimate).

Mexico is at the southern extremity of North America and is bordered to the north by the USA, northwest by the Gulf of California, west by the Pacific, south by Guatemala and Belize, and east by the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. Mexico’s geographical features range from swamp to desert, and from tropical lowland jungle to high alpine vegetation. Over half the country has an altitude above 1000m (3300ft). The central land mass is a plateau flanked by ranges of mountains to the east and west that lie roughly parallel to the coast. The northern area of this plateau is arid and thinly populated, and occupies 40 per cent of the total area of Mexico. The southern area is crossed by a range of volcanic mountains running from Cape Corrientes in the west through the Valley of Mexico to Veracruz in the east, and includes the magnificent volcanoes of Cofre de Perote, Ixtaccíhuatl, Matlalcueyetl, Nevado de Toluca, Orizaba and Popocatépetl. This is the heart of Mexico and where almost half of the population lives. To the south, the land falls away to the sparsely populated Isthmus of Tehuantepec whose slopes and flatlands support both commercial and subsistence agriculture. In the east, the Gulf Coast and the Yucatán peninsula are flat and receive over 75 per cent of Mexico’s rain. The most productive agricultural region in Mexico is the northwest, while the Gulf Coast produces most of Mexico’s oil and sulphur. Along the northwest coast, opposite the peninsula of Baja California, and to the southeast along the coast of Bahía de Campeche and the Yucatán peninsula, the lowlands are swampy with coastal lagoons.

Mexico is a federal republic with 31 states and one federal district. The bicameral National Congress is elected by universal adult suffrage. The 64 members of the Senate (two per state plus two for the federal district) serve for a term of six years. The 500-seat Chamber of Deputies consists of members elected for three years, 300 from single-member constituencies with the remaining 200 allocated to minority parties on the basis of proportional representation. The President, who appoints a cabinet, has executive power and serves a term congruent with that of the Senate. Each state has its own governor and elected Chamber of Deputies.

Republic since 1917. Gained independence from Spain in 1821. Head of State and Government: President Vicente Fox Quesada since 2000 (outgoing). President-elect Felipe Calderon since 2006. Recent history: The July 2006 presidential elections were a closely fought contest between conservative candidate Felipe Calderon and his left-wing rival Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. Calderon won a narrow victory, with 35.88 per cent of the vote, against Lopez Obrador's 35.31 per cent share. Lopez Obrador refused to concede however, and demanded a recount, rousing his supporters to rally in protest. However, Calderon's win was confirmed by the electoral commission in September 2006, following a partial recount. Calderon is due to be inaugurated on 1 December.

Spanish is the official language (spoken by more than 90 per cent). English is widely spoken. 8 per cent speak indigenous languages, of which Nátinate is most widely spoken.

89 per cent Roman Catholic, five per cent Protestant and six per cent other denominations.

Handshaking is the most common form of greeting. Casual sportswear is acceptable for daytime dress throughout the country. At beach resorts, dress is very informal for men and women and nowhere are men expected to wear ties. In Mexico City, however, dress tends to be smart in elegant restaurants and hotel dining rooms. Smoking is unrestricted except where notified. Mexicans regard relationships and friendships as the most important thing in life next to religion and they are not afraid to show their emotions. A large Mexican family always seems to find room for one more and a visitor who becomes friends with a Mexican will invariably be made part of the family. Visitors should always remember that local customs and traditions are important.

110 volts AC, 60Hz. US two-pin (flat) plugs are usual.