Mexico is one of the largest states, located in the Americas.This applies both to the size of the country and the number of people living in it.Based on data from the last census, held here in 2010, the population of Mexico at that time was just over 112 million people.As of today, according to tentative estimates, the number of residents of the state has grown to the level of 120 million.
Brief historical information
At the beginning of the expansion of European countries on the territory of modern Mexico lived, according to various sources, at least 4.5 million people.Some researchers put the number at more than 5 times.Whatever it was, the colonial policy pursued by the conquerors led to the fact that as of 1605 there were no more than one million inhabitants.Over the next two centuries, the population of Mexico has grown to 7 million.After another 90 years, the number of local residents has doubled.The period after the Second World War was marked by phenomenal growth in the number of Mexicans.The average annual growth during this time reached the level of 3%.This measure one of the world leaders was precisely Mexico.The population in the seventies of the twentieth century was already 70 million people.In this regard, the government passed a law designed to resolve the situation.In particular, by 2000, an average annual increase should not exceed 1%.Such a solution slightly, but still reduce the rate of population growth only in the nineties.This also contributed to the mass emigration of the local population in search of a better life in the United States.As of today, as noted above, the state is home to nearly 120 million people.According to demographic studies, this figure in the coming years will continue to grow.
Settling
populated state is extremely uneven.The average population density of Mexico is 57 people per square kilometer.Almost 55% of the locals live in the central regions of the country, which accounts for only 15% of its area.This region in the history of the state has always played the role of political, cultural and economic center.The population density here reaches 600 persons per 1 km2.Worst of all populated north of the country, the Yucatan Peninsula and Baja California.There per square kilometer on average 20 people.
ethnic composition
Before the appearance here of the first Europeans, the population of Mexico consisted of numerous tribes.Some scientists argue that their number reaches 700. In this case, in the natives spoke 100 different languages.Over the entire period of the colonization of the country have emigrated over 300 thousand Spaniards who massively intermarried with the locals.Their descendants have become mestizos, now prevalent in ethnic composition.Their number is more than half - about 65 million people.
indigenous population of Mexico is the second largest ethnic group.Among Aboriginal dominated Mayan descendants, who have long been assimilated into modern society.The number of blacks are small - about 200 thousand people.Their descendants have been brought into the country during the colonial era to work in the plantations and mines.Even after the independence of the state in a massive immigration of African Americans was not observed.The largest diaspora in the country, said the French, Germans, English, Chinese and Japanese.
Languages
Almost the entire population of Mexico (93%) speaks in Spanish, which has the status of a state.At the same time it should be noted that not every Spaniard can understand all the words.The fact that for a long time use of the language was influenced by Native American dialects.More than a million local people use to communicate Aboriginal languages.They absolutely do not know Spanish, which leads to the impossibility of their education.As a result, most of the indigenous people of Mexico are illiterate.
welfare and employment
As of today, in a country like Mexico, per capita GDP is on average 16.3 thousand US dollars per year.The area economy is characterized by high contrast.In particular, according to official data, more than 40% of the annual income of the country is concentrated in 10% of the wealthiest citizens.Not surprisingly, the list of the richest people in the world according to Forbes is the place every year 10-11 Mexicans.On the other hand, more than one third of the country's inhabitants live in conditions of moderate and extreme poverty.
Mexican population is occupied mainly in agriculture.The unemployment rate in the country is slightly less than 5%.Thus it is impossible not to note a great role of so-called informal employment.In particular, about 30% of the working population (and that 14 million people) are not officially formalized.With regard to the average wage, it is about 4 US dollars a day.
Culture
In a country such as Mexico, population and culture finally formed by the merger of Aboriginal Spanish conquistadors.It can be traced to religion, language and other aspects of life.At the same time still in the pre-Hispanic period worked here many representatives of art, whose works have survived.In this case, we are talking about cave paintings and writings, which are considered a local calling card.It should be noted also heads carved in stone Indian-Olmecs, Maya murals and paintings in the paradise of the rain god.During the colonial period, Mexican culture is increasingly characterized by a religious theme and was under Spanish influence, which can be seen in the chapels, altars and decorating the walls of buildings, erected at the time.
In the post-revolutionary period, the majority of public and governmental buildings were decorated by the well-known cultural figures, David Siqueiros, Diego Rivera, Jose Clemente Orozco.The main theme in the art at the time was linked to the social and historical themes.At present, more and more influence over the country has a North American culture.
As for religion, the official religion of the country is not.Moreover, according to the constitution of 1917 the church underwent some restrictions.Whatever it was, almost the entire population of Mexico (90%) profess Roman Catholicism, about 4% of local people are atheists, and all other Mexicans adhere to Protestantism and other religious movements.
