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).

111.2 million (UN estimate 2009).

56.7 per sq km.

Mexico City. Population: 22 million (2009 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 is at an altitude greater than 1,000m (3,300ft). 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% 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% 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.

Republic since 1917. Gained independence from Spain in 1821.

President Felipe Calderón since 2006.

The July 2006 presidential elections were a closely fought contest, with conservative candidate Felipe Calderón edging out his left-wing rival Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador by less than 1%. Obrador refused to concede, and demanded a recount, rousing his supporters to rally in protest. Calderón's win was confirmed by the electoral commission in September 2006, following a partial recount, and he was inaugurated on 1 December 2006.

Since taking office, Calderón has had some success with his tough policies against the drug cartels and the violence that surrounds them. The launch of the First Employment Program to maximise job opportunities within Mexico was criticised by some as not being far ranging enough. Spiralling corn costs internationally have meant tortillas, the staple diet of the country's poor, have shot up in price - Calderón responded by putting a ceiling on tortilla prices, with limited results.

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

89% Roman Catholic, 5% Protestant and 6% other denominations.

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

Handshaking is the most common form of greeting. Casual wear is acceptable during the day throughout Mexico. At beach resorts, clothing is very informal for men and women and nowhere are men expected to wear ties. In Mexico City, however, apperance tends to be smart in elegant restaurants and hotel dining rooms. Smoking is banned in all enclosed public places, punishable by stiff fines and even a jail sentence - although smoking in bars and restaurants is permitted if they have separate rooms or outdoor areas. 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 respect local customs and traditions.