Mexico has a fascinating history, wonderful food, and an abundance of natural wonders. It’s a land of early civilizations, diverse ethnicities, unbelievable landscapes, and a vivacious culture. Take a look below for 30 interesting and fun facts about Mexico.

1. Mexico is the fifth largest country in the Americas and is bordered by the United States to the north, the Gulf of Mexico to the east, Belize and the Caribbean Sea to the south-east and the Pacific Ocean to the south and west.

2. It’s coordinates are 19.0000° N, 99.1333°.

3. It has a total area of 758,449 square miles (1,964,375 square kilometres).

4. It’s made up of mountains, jungles and deserts so there’s sure to be something to do for everyone!

5. Mexico’s population was 126.2 million in 2018.

6. Founded in 1521, Mexico’s capital is Mexico City which has an area of 573.4 square miles (1485 square kilometres) and a population of 8.855 million (2015).

7. Due to the fact it was built on a river, Mexico City is sinking at a rate of 15-20cm per year! In fact, over the 20th century it sank an incredible 9-11 metres!

8. Most Mexicans are mestizos, meaning they have a combination of Indian and Spanish blood.

9. The landscape here is diverse, consisting of jungles, deserts and mountains and is scattered with ancient ruins from both the Mayans and Aztecs.

10. The average life span here is 74.95 years (2017).

11. The Spaniards built the city on the ancient ruins of the Aztec city of Tenochtitlán.

12. Years before phones and the internet became common, the place to find your literature in North America was Mexico.

13. Mexico City was the first place in all of North America to use the printing press in 1539.

14. Mexico has been home to great artists. Throughout history, the Maya and other Indians created inspiring murals, sculptures, and jewellery.

15. Modern Mexican artists incorporate great painters, photographers, sculptors, and muralists.

16. You may assume that the oldest university in North America is Harvard, but the National Autonomous University of Mexico in Mexico City was opened in 1551, but unfortunately it was closed in 1867 during the dictatorship.

17. Mexico is home to the biggest pyramid in the world, even bigger than the pyramids of Giza – the Great Pyramid of Cholula.

18. It’s believed that the biggest pyramid has been constructed for the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl.

19. The National Autonomous University of Mexico re-opened during the revolution, so unlike Harvard, it hasn’t been open as long, but it has been around longer!

20. In ancient times, losers of a ritual ball game in Mexico were put to death. So, we can surely say that Mexicans take sports seriously!

21. In some hazardous sports, like bullfighting and rodeo, which was invented in Mexico, contestants still put their lives in danger.

22. Mexico has 10-12% of the world’s biodiversity, making it the 4th most bio-diverse country in the world.

23. Spider monkeys, ocelots, and macaws are just a few of the animals, which are part of Mexico’s wildlife.

24. The currency here is the Mexican Peso.

25. Children in Mexico don’t receive presents on Christmas day; instead they are given out on January 6th to celebrate the arrival of the three kings.

26. If you’re fascinated by history, make sure you visit some of the magnificent ancient ruins such as Teotihuacan (Aztec) and Chichen Itza (Mayan).

27. The border between Mexico and the USA is the most frequenty crossed international boundary in the world, with an estimated 350 million legal crossings every year!

28. The Day of the Dead is a unique national holiday that celebrates the dead – in Pomuch it’s traditional to remove the bones of one’s ancestors from tombs and “dust” or “wash” them by hand.

29. The concept for “Coco”, the animated film that won two Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song, “Remember Me” is inspired by the Mexican holiday the Day of the Dead.

30. Most Mexicans speak Spanish, but there are 68 recognized languages in the country, mostly native.