Demographic History of Mexico

Demographic Background of Mexico

In 1900, the Mexican population was 13.6 million. During the period of economic prosperity known as the "Mexican Miracle" the Mexican government invested in efficient social programs that reduced infant mortality rate and increased life expectancy that led to an intense demographic increase between 1930 and 1980. Mexico's population's annual growth rate peaked at 3.5% in 1965 and has since stabilized to 0.99% in 2005. Mexico is now transitioning to the third phase of demographic transition with approximately 50% of the population being 25 or younger in 2005. Fertility rates have also decreased from 5.7 children per woman in 1976 to 2.2 in 2006.

Mexico's population growth

While the national annual growth rate is still positive (1.0%), what was once a national net migration rate of negative (-4.75/1000 inhabitants) given the intense flow of immigrants to the United States; it has now stabilized and now Mexico is experiencing a positive migration of its citizens returning from the United States. There is an estimated 5 - 6 million undocumented Mexicans that lived in the United States. (This number is sometimes confused to the 12 million of undocumented immigrants in the United States which include immigrants from other nations from Asia, Europe, and other South American Countries). Recent US Census reveals that 33.5 million US citizens declaring having Mexican ancestry.

Mexico itself constitutes the second country of total number of immigrants to the United States from 1830 to 2000 after Germany.

The five most populated cities in Mexico in 2010 were Mexico City (20.1 million), Guadalajara (4.4 million), Monterrey (4 million), Puebla (2.6 million) and Toluca (1.8 million). Mexico City, including the adjacent municipalities that make up the greater metropolitan area, is estimated to be one of the most populated cities in the world, by the UN Urbanization Report.

Read about Mexico's immigration >