Metropolitan areas of Mexico
List of metropolitan areas in Mexico by population
Table:
Rank

Metropolitan area

Federative Entity

2015 Pop.

2010 Pop.

Change

1

Greater Mexico City

Mexico City, Mexico, Hidalgo

21,339,781

20,501,764

+4.09%

2

Greater Guadalajara

Jalisco

4,796,603

4,434,878

+8.16%

3

Greater Monterrey

Nuevo León

4,475,949

4,106,054

+9.01%

4

Greater Puebla

Puebla, Tlaxcala

2,941,988

2,728,790

+7.81%

5

Greater Toluca

Mexico

2,116,506

1,936,126

+9.32%

6

Greater Tijuana

Baja California

1,840,710

1,751,302

+5.11%

7

Greater León

Guanajuato

1,768,193

1,609,717

+9.84%

8

Greater Juárez

Chihuahua

1,391,180

1,332,131

+4.43%

9

Greater Torreón

Coahuila, Durango

1,283,835

1,215,817

+5.59%

10

Greater Querétaro

Querétaro, Guanajuato

1,255,185

1,097,025

+14.42%

11

Greater San Luis Potosí

San Luis Potosí

1,133,571

1,040,822

+8.91%

12

Greater Mérida

Yucatán

1,058,764

973,046

+8.81%

13

Greater Aguascalientes

Aguascalientes

1,044,049

932,298

+11.99%

14

Greater Mexicali

Baja California

988,417

936,145

+5.58%

15

Greater Cuernavaca

Morelos

983,365

924,964

+6.31%

16

Greater Saltillo

Coahuila

923,636

823,128

+12.21%

17

Greater Chihuahua

Chihuahua

918,339

852,533

+7.72%

18

Greater Tampico

Tamaulipas, Veracruz

916,854

859,419

+6.68%

19

Greater Morelia

Michoacán

911,960

829,625

+9.92%

23

Culiacán–Greater Culiacán

Sinaloa

905,660

850,000

+6.55%

Drawing on the provided table and the passages listed.

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A metropolitan area is a region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less-populated surrounding territories , sharing industry , infrastructure , and housing . A metro area usually comprises multiple jurisdictions and municipalities : neighborhoods , townships , boroughs , cities , towns , exurbs , suburbs , counties , districts , states , and even nations like the eurodistricts . As social , economic and political institutions have changed , metropolitan areas have become key economic and political regions . Metropolitan areas include satellite cities , towns and intervening rural areas that are socioeconomically tied to the urban core , typically measured by commuting patterns . Most metropolitan areas are anchored by one major city such as Paris metropolitan area ( Paris ) and New York metropolitan area ( New York City ) . In some cases metropolitan areas have multiple centers of close to equal importance , such as Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area ( Dallas and Fort Worth ) and Islamabad-Rawalpindi metropolitan area ( Islamabad and Rawalpindi ) . In the United States , the concept of the metropolitan statistical area has gained prominence . Metropolitan areas may themselves be part of larger megalopolises . For urban centres outside metropolitan areas , that generate a similar attraction at smaller scale for their region , the concept of the regiopolis and respectively regiopolitan area or regio was introduced by German professors in 2006 . In the United States , the term micropolitan statistical area is used .
The United Mexican States ( Spanish : Estados Unidos Mexicanos ) is a federal republic composed of 32 states . According to the Constitution of 1917 , the states of the federation are free and sovereign in all matters concerning their internal affairs . Each state has its own congress and constitution .
With a population of about 126 million in 2019 , Mexico ranks as the 10th most populated country in the world . It is the most populous Spanish-speaking country and the third-most populous in the Americas after the United States and Brazil . Throughout most of the twentieth century Mexico 's population was characterized by rapid growth . Although this tendency has been reversed and average annual population growth over the last five years was less than 1% , the demographic transition is still in progress , and Mexico still has a large cohort of youths . The most populous city in the country is the capital , Mexico City , with a population of 8.9 million ( 2016 ) , and its metropolitan area is also the most populated with 20.1 million ( 2010 ) . Approximately 50% of the population lives in one of the 55 large metropolitan areas in the country . In total , about 78.84% of the population of the country lives in urban areas , meaning that only 21.16% live in rural areas . The Census Inegi in Mexico is the Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía ( INEGI ) . The National Population Council ( CONAPO ) , is an institution under the Secretary of the Interior in charge of the analysis and research of population dynamics . The National Commission for the Development of Indigenous Peoples ( CDI ) , also undertakes research and analysis of the sociodemographic and linguistic indicators of the indigenous peoples
Greater Mexico City refers to the conurbation around Mexico City , officially called Mexico City Metropolitan Area ( Zona Metropolitana de la Ciudad de México ) , constituted by Mexico City itself composed of 16 Municipalities - and 41 adjacent municipalities of the states of Mexico and Hidalgo . For normative purposes , [ further explanation needed ] however , Greater Mexico City most commonly refers to the Metropolitan Area of the Valley of Mexico ( Zona Metropolitana del Valle de México ) an agglomeration that incorporates 18 additional municipalities . As of 2016 [ update ] an estimated 21,157,000 people lived in Greater Mexico City , making it the second largest metropolitan area in North America . It is surrounded by thin strips of highlands which separate it from other adjacent metropolitan areas , of which the biggest are Puebla , Toluca , and Cuernavaca-Cuautla , and together with which it makes up the Mexico City megalopolis . Since the 1940s there have been different proposals to establish the limits of the growing conurbation of Mexico City , and different definitions were used unofficially as the city continued to grow . The Federal Government ( represented by the Department of Social Development ) , the government of Mexico City , and the government of the State of Mexico agreed on the official definitions for both the Mexico City Metropolitan Area and the Metropolitan Area of the Valley of Mexico on December 22 , 2005 . Per the agreement , most urban planning projects will be administered by Metropolitan Commissions . On January 29 , 2016 , Mexico City proper was no longer called the Federal District ( Spanish : Distrito Federal or D.F. ) . It is now in transition to become the country 's 32nd federal entity , officially Mexico City ( Spanish : Ciudad de México , commonly abbreviated as CDMX ) , giving it a level of autonomy comparable to that of a state . Because of a clause in the Mexican Constitution , however , since it is the seat of the powers of the federation , it can never become a state , or the capital of the country has to be relocated . The English name Mexico City remains . Its original 16 Boroughs became municipalities .
Mexico City , or the City of Mexico ( Spanish : Ciudad de México , American Spanish : [ sjuˈða ( ð ) ðe ˈmexiko ] ( listen ) ; abbreviated as CDMX , Nahuatl languages : Āltepētl Mēxihco ) , is one of the 32 states which make up the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico and the capital of Mexico and the most populous city in North America . It is one of the most important cultural and financial centres in the world . It is located in the Valley of Mexico ( Valle de México ) , a large valley in the high plateaus in the center of Mexico , at an altitude of 2,240 meters ( 7,350 ft ) . The city has 16 alcaldías , formerly known as boroughs . The 2009 population for the city proper was approximately 8.84 million people , with a land area of 1,485 square kilometers ( 573 sq mi ) . According to the most recent definition agreed upon by the federal and state governments , the population of Greater Mexico City is 21.3 million , which makes it the second largest metropolitan area of the Western Hemisphere , the eleventh-largest agglomeration ( 2017 ) , and the largest Spanish-speaking city in the world . Greater Mexico City has a GDP of $ 411 billion in 2011 , making Greater Mexico City one of the most productive urban areas in the world . The city was responsible for generating 15.8% of Mexico 's GDP , and the metropolitan area accounted for about 22% of total national GDP . If it were an independent country , in 2013 , Mexico City would be the fifth-largest economy in Latin America , five times as large as Costa Rica and about the same size as Peru . Mexico 's capital is both the oldest capital city in the Americas and one of two founded by indigenous people , the other being Quito , Ecuador . The city was originally built on an island of Lake Texcoco by the Aztecs in 1325 as Tenochtitlan , which was almost completely destroyed in the 1521 siege of Tenochtitlan and subsequently redesigned and rebuilt in accordance with the Spanish urban standards . In 1524 , the municipality of Mexico City was established , known as México Tenochtitlán , and as of 1585 , it was officially known as Ciudad de México ( Mexico City ) .
The State of Mexico ( Spanish : Estado de México , pronounced [ esˈtaðo ðe ˈmexiko ] ( listen ) ) is one of the 32 federal entities of Mexico . It is the most populous , as well as the most densely populated state . It is divided into 125 municipalities and its capital city is Toluca de Lerdo . The State of Mexico is often abbreviated to Edomex from Estado de México in Spanish , to distinguish it from the name of the whole country . It is located in South-Central Mexico . It is bordered by the states of Querétaro and Hidalgo to the north , Morelos and Guerrero to the south , Michoacán to the west , Tlaxcala and Puebla to the east , and surrounds Mexico City ( the former Federal District ) on three sides . The state 's origins are in the territory of the Aztec Empire , which remained a political division of New Spain during the Spanish colonial period . After gaining independence , Mexico City was chosen as the capital of the new nation ; its territory was separated out of the state . Years later , parts of the state were broken off to form the states of Hidalgo , Guerrero and Morelos . These territorial separations have left the state with the size and shape it has today , with the Toluca Valley to the west of Mexico City and a panhandle that extends around the north and east of this entity . The state name is simply México according to the 1917 Constitution of the United Mexican States , but to distinguish it from both the city and the country it is most often called Estado de México . The demonym used to refer to people and things from the state is mexiquense , distinct from mexicano ( Mexican ) , which describes the people or things from the country as a whole .
Hidalgo ( Spanish pronunciation : [ iˈðalɣo ] ) , officially the Free and Sovereign State of Hidalgo ( Spanish : Estado Libre y Soberano de Hidalgo ) , is one of the 32 states which constitute the Federal Entities of Mexico . It is divided into 84 municipalities and its capital city is Pachuca de Soto . In 1869 , Benito Juárez created the State of Hidalgo . He appointed as capital of the state the city of Pachuca to which was added the name de Soto in recognition of Manuel Fernando Soto , who is considered the most important driving force in creating the state . The state was named after Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla , the initiator of the Mexican War of Independence . It is located in Eastern Mexico . Hidalgo is bordered by San Luis Potosí and Veracruz on the north , Puebla on the east , Tlaxcala and State of Mexico on the south and Querétaro on the west . The state has a number of relatively intact native cultures such as the Otomi . There are also three notable immigrant cultures , those of the descendants of Cornish miners from Cornwall ( located in South West England ) who arrived in the 19th century , a few self-proclaimed Italian descendants , and a small Jewish enclave which claims to be descended from Sephardi Jews which came to New Spain in the 16th century . The state contains a number of ecotourism , cultural and archeological attractions including the Huasteca area , the ruins of Tula , natural hot water springs , old haciendas and mountain ranges . Hidalgo is known for its mountainous terrain but part of the state is on a coastal plain . With a population of 2.665 million and an area of roughly 20,813 square km , Hidalgo is one of Mexico 's smaller states .
The Guadalajara metropolitan area ( officially , in Spanish : Zona Metropolitana de Guadalajara ) is the most populous metropolitan area of the Mexican state of Jalisco and the second largest in the country after Greater Mexico City . It includes the core municipality of Guadalajara and the surrounding municipalities of Zapopan , Tlaquepaque , Tonalá , Tlajomulco de Zúñiga , El Salto , Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos and Juanacatlán .
Jalisco ( UK : /həˈliːskoʊ/ , US : /hɑːˈ- , həˈlɪskoʊ/ , Spanish : [ xaˈlisko ] ( listen ) ) , officially the Free and Sovereign State of Jalisco ( Spanish : Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco [ esˈtaðo ˈliβɾe i soβeˈɾano ðe xaˈlisko ] ) , is one of the 32 states which comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico . It is located in Western Mexico and is bordered by six states which are Nayarit , Zacatecas , Aguascalientes , Guanajuato , Michoacán and Colima . Jalisco is divided into 125 municipalities , and its capital city is Guadalajara . Jalisco is one of the most important states in Mexico because of its natural resources as well as its history . Many of the characteristic traits of Mexican culture , particularly outside Mexico City , are originally from Jalisco , such as mariachi , ranchera music , birria , tequila , jaripeo , etc. , hence the state 's motto : Jalisco es México . Economically , it is ranked third in the country , with industries centered in the Guadalajara metropolitan area , the second largest metropolitan area in Mexico . The state is home to two significant indigenous populations , the Huichols and the Nahuas . There is also a significant foreign population , mostly from the United States and Canada , living in the Lake Chapala and Puerto Vallarta areas . [ citation needed ]
The Monterrey metropolitan area refers to the surrounding urban agglomeration of Monterrey , Nuevo León . Officially called Area Metropolitana de la Ciudad de Monterrey or AMM , the metropolitan area is the 3rd-largest such area in Mexico .
Nuevo León ( Spanish pronunciation : [ ˈnweβo leˈon ] ( listen ) ) , officially the Free and Sovereign State of Nuevo León ( Spanish : Estado Libre y Soberano de Nuevo León ) , is one of the 32 states which comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico . It is divided into 51 municipalities and its capital city is Monterrey . It is located in Northeastern Mexico . It is bordered by the states of Tamaulipas to the north and east , San Luis Potosí to the south , and Coahuila to the west . To the north , Nuevo León has a 15 kilometer ( 9 mi ) stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border adjacent to the U.S. state of Texas . The state was named after the New Kingdom of León , an administrative territory of the Viceroyalty of New Spain , which was itself named after the historic Spanish Kingdom of León . Besides its capital , other important cities are Guadalupe , Santa Catarina , San Nicolás de los Garza , and San Pedro Garza García , all of which are part of the Monterrey Metropolitan area .
The Metropolitan area of Puebla or Greater Puebla is the fourth largest agglomeration in Mexico with a population of 2.109 million . This agglomeration includes 10 municipalities of the state of Puebla , and 13 municipalities of the state of Tlaxcala . It does not include the city of Tlaxcala . According to the National Institute of Statistics , Geography , and Data Processing ( INEGI ) , it consists of the following municipalities of the State of Puebla :
Puebla ( Spanish pronunciation : [ ˈpweβla ] ( listen ) ) , officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Puebla ( English : Free and Sovereign State of Puebla ) , is one of the 32 states which comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico . It is divided into 217 municipalities and its capital is the city of Puebla . It is located in East-Central Mexico . It is bordered by the states of Veracruz to the north and east , Hidalgo , México , Tlaxcala and Morelos to the west , and Guerrero and Oaxaca to the south . The origins of the state lie in the city of Puebla , which was founded by the Spanish in this valley in 1531 to secure the trade route between Mexico City and the port of Veracruz . By the end of the 18th century , the area had become a colonial province with its own governor , which would become the State of Puebla , after the Mexican War of Independence in the early 19th century . Since that time the area , especially around the capital city , has continued to grow economically , mostly through industry , despite being the scene of a number of battles , the most notable of which being the Battle of Puebla . Today , the state is one of the most industrialized in the country , but since most of its development is concentrated in Puebla and other cities , many of its rural areas are very poor , forcing many to migrate away to places such as Mexico City and the United States . Culturally , the state is home to the china poblana , mole poblano , active literary and arts scenes , and festivals such as Cinco de Mayo , Ritual of Quetzalcoatl , Day of the Dead celebrations ( especially in Huaquechula ) and Carnival ( especially in Huejotzingo ) . It is home to five major indigenous groups : Nahuas , the Totonacs , the Mixtecs , the Popolocas and the Otomi , which can mostly be found in the far north and the far south of the state .
Tlaxcala ( /tlɑːsˈkɑːlə/ ; Spanish : [ tla ( k ) sˈkala ] ( listen ) , [ tla ( ɣ ) sˈkala ] ; from Nahuatl languages : Tlaxcallān Nahuatl pronunciation : [ tɬaʃˈkalːaːn ] ( listen ) ) , officially the Free and Sovereign State of Tlaxcala ( Spanish : Estado Libre y Soberano de Tlaxcala ) , is one of the 32 states which comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico . It is divided into 60 municipalities and its capital city is Tlaxcala . It is located in East-Central Mexico , in the altiplano region , with the eastern portion dominated by the Sierra Madre Oriental . It is bordered by the states of Puebla to the north , east and south , México to the west and Hidalgo to the northwest . It is the smallest state of the republic , accounting for only 0.2% of the country 's territory . The state is named after its capital , Tlaxcala , which was also the name of the Pre-Columbian city and culture . The Tlaxcalans allied themselves with the Spanish to defeat the Aztecs , with concessions from the Spanish that allowed the territory to remain mostly intact throughout 300 years of colonial period . After Mexican Independence , Tlaxcala was declared a federal territory , until 1857 when it was admitted as a state of the federation . Most of the state 's economy is based on agriculture , light industry and tourism . The tourist industry is rooted in Tlaxcala 's long history with major attractions being archeological sites such as Cacaxtla and colonial constructions in and around Tlaxcala city .
Greater Toluca or the Metropolitan Area of Toluca is the conurbation formed by Toluca , as the core city , and 12 adjacent municipalities of the state of Mexico , namely Almoloya de Juárez , Calimaya , Chapultepec , Lerma , Metepec , Mexicaltzingo , Ocoyoacac , Otzolotepec , San Mateo Atenco , Xonacatlán and Zinacantepec . The city of Toluca is just one of several cities/towns ( called localidades in Mexico ) that comprise the municipality of Toluca . The municipality of Toluca , in 2005 , had a population of around 750 thousand , whereas the population of the entire metropolitan area was 1.6 million , making it the fifth largest metropolitan area of Mexico after Greater Mexico City , Greater Guadalajara , Greater Monterrey and Greater Puebla .
The Tijuana metropolitan area , and in Spanish the Zona Metropolitana de Tijuana , is located by the Pacific Ocean in Mexico . The 2010 census placed the Tijuana metropolitan area as the fifth largest city by population in the country with 1,751,302 persons . The census bureau defined metropolitan area comprises two municipalities : Tijuana and Rosarito Beach . Yet sources commonly include Tecate Municipality in the metropolitan area as the urban area between Tijuana and Tecate grows , the commuting populace increases - ultimately further developing the southern areas of San Diego-Tijuana , and the three municipalities maintain strong relationships and cooperation .
Baja California [ note 1 ] ( Spanish pronunciation : [ ˈbaxa kaliˈfoɾnja ] ( listen ) ; English : Lower California ) , officially the Free and Sovereign State of Baja California ( Spanish : Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California ) , is a state in Mexico . It is the northernmost and westernmost of the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico . Before becoming a state in 1952 , the area was known as the North Territory of Baja California ( El Territorio Norte de Baja California ) . It has an area of 70,113 km2 ( 27,071 sq mi ) , or 3.57% of the land mass of Mexico and comprises the northern half of the Baja California Peninsula , north of the 28th parallel , plus oceanic Guadalupe Island . The mainland portion of the state is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean , on the east by Sonora , the U.S. state of Arizona , and the Gulf of California ( also known as the Sea of Cortez ) , and on the south by Baja California Sur . Its northern limit is the U.S. state of California . The state has an estimated population of 3,315,766 ( 2015 ) much more than the sparsely populated Baja California Sur to the south , and similar to San Diego County , California on its north . Over 75% of the population lives in the capital city , Mexicali , in Ensenada , or in Tijuana . Other important cities include San Felipe , Rosarito and Tecate . The population of the state is composed of Mestizos , mostly immigrants from other parts of Mexico , and , as with most northern Mexican states , a large population of Mexicans of Spanish ancestry , and also a large minority group of East Asian , Middle Eastern and indigenous descent . Additionally , there is a large immigrant population from the United States due to its proximity to San Diego and the lower cost of living compared to San Diego . There is also a significant population from Central America .
The metropolitan area of León is the seventh most populated metropolitan area in Mexico , with nearly 1,609,717 inhabitants . It includes the core city of León , Guanajuato , with a population of 1,436,733 . The metropolitan area also counts with the municipality of Silao , all situated in the state of Guanajuato , Mexico .
Guanajuato ( Spanish pronunciation : [ gwanaˈxwato ] ( listen ) ) , officially the Free and Sovereign State of Guanajuato ( Spanish : Estado Libre y Soberano de Guanajuato ) , is one of the 32 states which make up the Federal Entities of Mexico . It is divided into 46 municipalities and its capital city is Guanajuato . The largest city in the state is León . Guanajuato is in central Mexico . It is bordered by the states of Jalisco to the west , Zacatecas to the northwest , San Luis Potosí to the north , Querétaro to the east , and Michoacán to the south . It covers an area of 30,608 km2 ( 11,818 sq mi ) . Guanajuato is between the arid north of the country and the lusher south , and it is geographically part of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt , the Mexican Plateau . It was initially settled by the Spanish in the 1520s due to mineral deposits found around the now capital city of Guanajuato , but areas such as the Bajío region also became important for agriculture and livestock . Mining and agriculture were the mainstays of the state 's economy , but have since been eclipsed by the secondary sector . Guanajuato has particularly seen growth in the automotive industry . The state is home to several historically important cities , especially those along the Bicentennial Route , which retraces the path of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla 's insurgent army at the beginning of the Mexican War of Independence . This route begins at Dolores Hidalgo , and passes though the Sanctuary of Atotonilco , San Miguel de Allende , Celaya , and the capital of Guanajuato .
Ciudad Juárez ( /ˈhwɑːrɛz/ HWAH-rez ; Juarez City . Spanish pronunciation : [ sjuˈðað ˈxwaɾes ] ( listen ) ) is the most populous city in the Mexican state of Chihuahua . The city is commonly referred to as simply Juárez , and was known as El Paso del Norte ( The Pass of the North ) until 1888 . Juárez is the seat of the Juárez Municipality with an estimated population of 1.5 million people . It lies on the Rio Grande ( Río Bravo del Norte ) river , south of El Paso , Texas , United States ( U. S. ) . Together with the surrounding areas , the cities form El Paso-Juárez , the second largest binational metropolitan area on the Mexico-U.S. border ( after San Diego-Tijuana ) , with a combined population of over 2.7 million people . Four international points of entry connect Ciudad Juárez and El Paso : the Bridge of the Americas , the Ysleta International Bridge , the Paso del Norte Bridge , and the Stanton Street Bridge . Combined , these bridges allowed 22,958,472 crossings in 2008 , making Ciudad Juárez a major point of entry and transportation into the U. S. for all of central northern Mexico . The city has a growing industrial center , which in large part is made up by more than 300 maquiladoras ( assembly plants ) located in and around the city . According to a 2007 New York Times article , Ciudad Juárez was absorbing more new industrial real estate space than any other North American city . In 2008 , fDi Magazine designated Ciudad Juárez The City of the Future . Since the launch of the Mexican Drug War in 2006 , however , the amount of violence has increased dramatically .
Chihuahua ( Spanish pronunciation : [ tʃiˈwawa ] ( listen ) ) , officially the Estado Libre y Soberano de Chihuahua ( English : Free and Sovereign State of Chihuahua ) , is one of the 32 states which comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico . It is located in Northwestern Mexico and is bordered by the states of Sonora to the west , Sinaloa to the southwest , Durango to the south , and Coahuila to the east . To the north and northeast , it has a long border with the U.S. adjacent to the U.S. states of New Mexico and Texas . Its capital city is Chihuahua City . Although Chihuahua is primarily identified with the Chihuahuan Desert for namesake , it has more forests than any other state in Mexico , with the exception of Durango . Due to its variant climate , the state has a large variety of fauna and flora . The state is mostly characterized by rugged mountainous terrain and wide river valleys . The Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range , part of the continental spine that also includes the Rocky Mountains , dominates the state 's terrain and is home to the state 's greatest attraction , Las Barrancas del Cobre , or Copper Canyon , a canyon system larger and deeper than the Grand Canyon . On the slope of the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains ( around the regions of Casas Grandes , Cuauhtémoc and Parral ) , there are vast prairies of short yellow grass , the source of the bulk of the state 's agricultural production . Most of the inhabitants live along the Rio Grande Valley and the Conchos River Valley . The etymology of the name Chihuahua has long been disputed by historians and linguists . The most accepted theory explains that the name was derived from the Nahuatl language meaning The place where the water of the rivers meet ( i.e. , confluence , cf .
The Comarca Lagunera or La Comarca de la Laguna ( region of lagoons ) is a region of northern Mexico occupying large portions of the states of Durango and Coahuila , with rich soils produced by periodic flooding of the Nazas and Aguanaval rivers . Neither river drains into either the Pacific Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico , but rather they created a series of inland lakes . The region was developed for large-scale irrigated cotton agriculture . During the Mexican Revolution , the region was the site of fierce fighting . Following the military phase of the Revolution , the region was part of the agrarian reform under President Lázaro Cárdenas . The dam named for Cárdenas now controls flooding of the rivers , but the groundwater resources are no longer recharged as a result . It is the 8th largest metropolitan area in Mexico .
Coahuila ( Spanish pronunciation : [ koaˈwila ] ( listen ) ) , formally Coahuila de Zaragoza ( American Spanish : [ koaˈwila ðe saɾaˈɣosa ] ( listen ) ) , officially the Free and Sovereign State of Coahuila de Zaragoza ( Spanish : Estado Libre y Soberano de Coahuila de Zaragoza ) , is one of the 32 states which comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico . Coahuila borders the Mexican states of Nuevo León to the east , Zacatecas to the south , and Durango and Chihuahua to the west . To the north , Coahuila accounts for a 512 kilometres ( 318 mi ) stretch of the Mexico-United States border , adjacent to the U.S. state of Texas along the course of the Rio Grande ( Río Bravo del Norte ) . With an area of 151,563 square kilometres ( 58,519 sq mi ) , it is the nation 's third-largest state . It comprises 38 municipalities ( municipios ) . In 2010 , Coahuila 's population is 2,748,391 inhabitants . The five largest cities in Coahuila are the state capital city of Saltillo ; the second largest is Torreón ( largest metropolitan area in Coahuila and 9th largest in Mexico ) ; the third largest is Monclova ( a former state capital ) ; the fourth largest is Ciudad Acuña ; and the fifth largest is Piedras Negras .
Durango ( Spanish pronunciation : [ duˈɾaŋɡo ] ( listen ) ) , officially named Estado Libre y Soberano de Durango ( English : Free and Sovereign State of Durango ) ( Tepehuán : Korian ) ( Nahuatl : Tepēhuahcān ) , is one of the 32 states which make up the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico , situated in the northwest of the country . With a population of 1,632,934 , Durango has Mexico 's second-lowest population density , after Baja California Sur . The capital city , Victoria de Durango , is named after the first president of Mexico , Guadalupe Victoria .
Santiago de Querétaro ( Spanish pronunciation : [ sanˈtjaɣo ðe keˈɾetaɾo ] ) , known simply as Querétaro City , is the capital and largest city of the state of Querétaro , located in central Mexico . It is part of the macroregion of Bajío . It is located 213 kilometers ( 132 mi ) northwest of Mexico City , 63 kilometers ( 39 mi ) southeast of San Miguel de Allende and 200 kilometers ( 120 mi ) south of San Luis Potosí . The city of Querétaro is divided into seven boroughs : Josefa Vergara y Hernández , Felipe Carrillo Puerto , Centro Histórico , Cayetano Rubio , Santa Rosa Jáuregui , Félix Osores Sotomayor and Epigmenio González . In 1996 , the historic center of Querétaro was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO . It is a strong business and economic centre and a vigorous service city that is experiencing an ongoing social and economic revitalization . Querétaro has seen an outstanding industrial and economic development since the mid-1990s . Querétaro metropolitan area has the 2nd highest GDP per capita among Mexico 's metropolitan areas with 20,000 USD after Monterrey . The city is the fastest-growing in the country , basing its economy on IT and data centers , logistics services , aircraft manufacturing and maintenance , call centers , the automotive and machinery industries , and the production of chemicals and food products . The region of Querétaro has a rapidly growing vineyards agriculture and hosts the famous wine producer from Spain Freixenet . Wine production in Querétaro is now the second largest in Mexico after that of the Baja California region . All this has caused the city and the metropolitan area to attract many migrants from other parts of Mexico .
Querétaro ( Spanish pronunciation : [ keˈɾetaɾo ] ) , officially the Free and Sovereign State of Querétaro ( Spanish : Estado Libre y Soberano de Querétaro , formally Querétaro de Arteaga ) , is one of the 32 federal entities of Mexico . It is divided into 18 municipalities . Its capital city is Santiago de Querétaro . It is located in North-Central Mexico , in a region known as Bajío . It is bordered by the states of San Luis Potosí to the north , Guanajuato to the west , Hidalgo to the east , México to the southeast and Michoacán to the southwest . The state is one of the smallest in Mexico , but it is also one of the most heterogeneous geographically , with ecosystems varying from deserts to tropical rainforest , especially in the Sierra Gorda , which is filled with microecosystems . The area of the state was located on the northern edge of Mesoamerica , with both the Purépecha Empire and Aztec Empire having influence in the extreme south , but neither really dominating it . The area , especially the Sierra Gorda , had a number of small city-states , but by the time the Spanish arrived , these had all been abandoned , with only small agricultural villages and seminomadic peoples inhabiting the area . Spanish conquest was focused on the establishment of the Santiago de Querétaro , which still dominates the state culturally , economically and educationally .
Greater San Luis Potosí is the urban conglomerated which results of the fusion of the cities of San Luis Potosí and Soledad with other communities around the zone . This metropolitan area is the 11th largest in Mexico and has a population of 1.07 million . Greater San Luis Potosí is formed by the communities and cities of :
San Luis Potosí ( Spanish pronunciation : [ san ˈlwis potoˈsi ] ( listen ) ) , officially the Free and Sovereign State of San Luis Potosí ( Spanish : Estado Libre y Soberano de San Luis Potosí ) , is one of the 32 states which comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico . It is divided in 58 municipalities and its capital city is San Luis Potosí City . It is located in North-Central Mexico and is bordered by seven other Mexican states : Nuevo León to the north ; Tamaulipas to the north-east ; Veracruz to the east ; Hidalgo , Querétaro and Guanajuato to the south ; and Zacatecas to north-west . In addition to the capital city , the state 's largest cities include Ciudad Valles , Matehuala , Rioverde , and Tamazunchale .
Mérida ( Spanish pronunciation : [ ˈmeɾiða ] ( listen ) ) is the capital and largest city in Yucatan state in Mexico , as well as the largest city of the Yucatán Peninsula . The city is located in the northwest part of the state , about 35 kilometres ( 22 miles ) off the coast of the Gulf of Mexico . The city is also the municipal seat of the Municipality of Mérida , which includes the city and the areas around it . According to the 2015 census , the population of Mérida was 892,363 , ranking 14th among the most populous Mexican cities . The Greater Mérida metropolitan area includes the municipalities of Mérida , Umán and Kanasín and had a population of 1,035,238 in the 2010 census . The municipality 's area is 858.41 km2 ( 331.43 sq mi ) . Among the four cities that share the same name around the world , it is the largest -the other three being in Spain , Venezuela , and the Philippines . The city , like much of the state , has heavy Mayan , Spanish , French , British , Lebanese and to a lesser extent Dutch influences . Mérida has the highest percentage of indigenous population within any large city in Mexico . The Maya are approximately 60% of the population .
Yucatán ( /ˌjuːkəˈtɑːn/ , also UK : /ˌjʊk-/ , US : /-ˈtæn , ˌjuːkɑːˈtɑːn/ , Spanish : [ ɟʝukaˈtan ] ( listen ) ) , officially the Free and Sovereign State of Yucatán , [ c ] is one of the 32 states which comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico . It is divided into 106 municipalities , and its capital city is Mérida . It is located on the north part of the Yucatán Peninsula . It is bordered by the states of Campeche to the southwest and Quintana Roo to the southeast , with the Gulf of Mexico off its north coast . Before the arrival of Spaniards to the Yucatán Peninsula , the name of this region was Mayab . In the Mayan language , ma ' ya'ab is translated as a few . It was a very important region for the Mayan civilization , which reached the peak of its development here , where the Mayans founded the cities of Chichen Itza , Izamal , Motul , Mayapan , Ek ' Balam and Ichcaanzihóo ( also called T'ho ) , now Mérida . After the Spanish conquest of Yucatán , the Peninsula was a single administrative and political entity , the Captaincy General of Yucatán . Following independence and the breakup of the Mexican Empire in 1823 , the first Republic of Yucatán was proclaimed , which was then voluntarily annexed to the Federal Republic of United Mexican States on December 21 , 1823 . On March 16 , 1841 , as a result of cultural and political conflicts around the federal pact , Yucatán declared its independence from Mexico . forming a second Republic of Yucatán . Eventually on July 14 , 1848 , Yucatán was forced to rejoin Mexico .
Aguascalientes ( Spanish pronunciation : [ ˌaɣwaskaˈljentes ] ( listen ) ) is the capital of the state of Aguascalientes and is its most populous city , with a metropolitan population of 1,000,000 . It is located in North-Central Mexico . It is part of the macroregion of Bajío , which is among the safest and most prosperous regions in Mexico . It was part of the kingdom of Nueva Galicia . In 1835 Aguascalientes became the capital of the Free and Sovereign State of Aguascalientes . Aguascalientes has been called the cleanest city in Latin America . Aguascalientes is experiencing an ongoing social , economic , and aesthetic revitalization process . Aguascalientes has a population which includes Japanese , Koreans , and Germans . It stands on the banks of the Aguascalientes river , 1880 meters above sea level , at 21°51′N 102°18′W / 21.850°N 102.300°W / 21.850 ; -102.300 . It is the municipal seat for the Aguascalientes Municipality . The Aguascalientes metropolitan area includes the municipality of Jesús María and San Francisco de los Romo . It was a Chichimeca Indian territory .
Aguascalientes ( Spanish pronunciation : [ ˌaɣwaskaˈljentes ] ( listen ) ; lit . Hot Waters ) , officially the Free and Sovereign State of Aguascalientes ( Spanish : Estado Libre y Soberano de Aguascalientes ) , is one of the 32 states which comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico . At 22°N and with an average altitude of 6230ft ( 1950m ) above sea level it is predominantly of semi-arid climate ( Bhs and Bhk ) , and it is located in the northern part of the Bajio region , in north-central Mexico , bordered by Zacatecas to the north , east and west , and by Jalisco to the south . As of 2019 , Aguascalientes has a population of 1.4 million inhabitants , most of whom live in its capital city . Its name means hot waters and originated from the abundance of hot springs originally found in the area . The demonym for the state 's inhabitants is hidrocálido or aguascalentense . Aguascalientes is one of the smallest states of Mexico , either by population or land , being the 27th most populated state and the 29th biggest states by area , nonetheless , it is the 4th state by population density , and its economic development in recent years have located it as the 7th state by Human-Development Index and the 8th with highest GDP per capita . Aguascalientes was historically known for its former railroad and textile industry , as well as wine making , an industry that remains stilll today . Aguascalientes is currently known for its industrial and economic development . In the 2010 's decade , Aguascalientes became the fastest-growing state in the country for the whole decade . Aguascalientes is also well known for its San Marcos Fair ( Feria Nacional de San Marcos ) , which is considered as the largest fair in Mexico and one of the largest in Latin America .
Mexicali ( English : /ˌmɛksɪˈkæli/ ; Spanish : [ mexiˈkali ] ( listen ) ) is the capital city of the Mexican state of Baja California and seat of the Municipality of Mexicali . The City of Mexicali has a population of 689,775 , according to the 2010 census , while the population of the entire metropolitan area reaches 996,826 ; making the city and metropolitan area the second most populous in Baja California . The city maintains a highly educated and skilled population , as it has modernized and become an important population center in the desert region . Mexicali 's economy has been historically based on agricultural products , and they remain a large sector of the economy . However , its economy has gradually gone from being agricultural to include industry , mainly maquiladoras - duty-free factories in which parts from the United States are imported , assembled , and then returned to the United States as finished products . International companies including Honeywell , GKN Aerospace , Kellogg 's , Gulfstream , UTC Aerospace Systems , SunPower , Rockwell Collins , LG Electronics , National Oilwell Varco , Mitsubishi , Autolite , Nestlé , Coca-Cola , Robert Bosch , and Goodrich Corporation have built maquiladora plants in the city . Mexicali became the national center for the aerospace industry in Mexico when Rockwell Collins established an operation there in 1966 . Rockwell Collins is the oldest company under the maquiladora program nationwide . Founded on March 14 , 1903 , Mexicali is situated on the Mexico-United States border adjacent to its sister city Calexico , California , with which it forms a dual-state , international population center , Calexico-Mexicali .
Cuernavaca ( Spanish pronunciation : [ kweɾnaˈβaka ] ( listen ) ; Classical Nahuatl : Cuauhnāhuac [ kʷawˈnaːwak ] near the woods , modern Nahuatl pronunciation ( help·info ) ) is the capital and largest city of the state of Morelos in Mexico . The city is located around a 90 min drive south of Mexico City using the Federal Highway 95D . The name Cuernavaca is derived from the Nahuatl phrase Cuauhnāhuac and means surrounded by or close to trees . The name was Hispanicized to Cuernavaca ; Hernán Cortés called it Coadnabaced in his letters to Charles V , Holy Roman Emperor , and Bernal Díaz del Castillo used the name Cuautlavaca in his chronicles . The coat-of-arms of the municipality is based on the pre-Columbian pictograph emblem of the city which depicts a tree trunk ( cuahuitl ) with three branches , with foliage , and four roots colored red . There is a cut in the trunk in the form of a mouth , from which emerges a speech scroll , probably representing the language Nahuatl and by extension the locative suffix -nāhuac , meaning near . Cuernavaca has long been a favorite escape for Mexico City and foreign visitors because of its warm , stable climate and abundant vegetation . The municipality was designated a Forest Protection Zone by President Lazaro Cardenas in 1937 to protect the aquifers , the vegetation and the quality of life of residents both in Mexico City and locally . The city was nicknamed the City of Eternal Spring by Alexander von Humboldt in the 19th century . Aztec emperors had summer residences there , and considering its location of just a 1½-hour drive from Mexico City , today many Mexico City residents maintain homes there . Cuernavaca is also host to a large foreign resident population , including large numbers of students who come to study the Spanish language .
Morelos ( Spanish pronunciation : [ moˈɾelos ] ( listen ) ) , officially the Free and Sovereign State of Morelos ( Spanish : Estado Libre y Soberano de Morelos ) , is one of the 32 states which comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico . It is divided into 36 municipalities and its capital city is Cuernavaca . Morelos is a landlocked state located in South-Central Mexico . It is bordered by the states of México to the north-east and north-west , Puebla to the east , and Guerrero to the southwest . Mexico City is situated north of Morelos . Morelos is the second-smallest state in the nation , just after Tlaxcala . It was part of the very large province , then State of Mexico until 1869 , when Benito Juárez decreed that its territory would be separated and named in honor of José María Morelos y Pavón , who defended the city of Cuautla from royalist forces during the Mexican War of Independence . Most of the state enjoys a warm climate year-round , which is good for the raising of sugar cane and other crops . Morelos has attracted visitors from the Valley of Mexico since Aztec times . The state is also known for the Chinelos , a type of costumed dancer that appears at festivals , especially Carnival , which is celebrated in a number of communities in the state . It is also home to the Monasteries on the slopes of Popocatépetl , a designated World Heritage Site .
Saltillo ( American Spanish : [ salˈtiʝo ] ( listen ) ) is the capital of the northeastern Mexican state of Coahuila and the municipal seat of the municipality of the same name . As of the 2015 census , Saltillo had a population of 807,537 people , while the population of itsmetropolitan area was 923,636 inhabitants , making Saltillo the largest city and the second-largest metropolitan area in the state of Coahuila , and the 19th most populated metropolitan area in the country . Saltillo is one of the most industrialized areas of the country and has one of the largest automotive clusters in Mexico , with plants such as Grupo Industrial Saltillo , General Motors , Fiat Automobiles , Chrysler , Daimler AG , Freightliner Trucks , Delphi , Plastic Omnium , Magna , and Nemak operating in the region .
The city of Chihuahua ( Spanish pronunciation : [ tʃiˈwawa ] ) is the state capital of the Mexican state of Chihuahua . As of 2017 [ update ] , the city of Chihuahua had a population of 878,062 inhabitants . while the metropolitan area had a population of 1,036,806 inhabitants . Among cities in Mexico , the city of Chihuahua is highly ranked in human and social development . According to the UNCP report on human development , Chihuahua municipality 's HDI is 0.840 as of 2015 - this is equal or higher than some Western European countries , together the literacy rate in the city is among the highest in the country at 99% . Another report about competitiveness from the CIDE organization ranks Chihuahua as the second most competitive city in the country just behind Monterrey and ahead of Mexico City . This report also ranks Chihuahua as the most Socially Competitive city in the country . The predominant activity is industry , including domestic heavy , light industries , consumer goods production , and to a smaller extent maquiladoras . The city is served by the General Roberto Fierro Villalobos International Airport .
The Tampico metropolitan area is the third most populous metropolitan area in the state of Tamaulipas , in the country of Mexico . Its in-state metropolitan area of Tamaulipas counts with the municipalities of Tampico , Ciudad Madero , Altamira . On the other hand , the out-of-state municipalities include Pueblo Viejo and Pánuco , from the state of Veracruz . The metropolitan area of Tampico currently has a population of approximately 864,584 .
Tamaulipas ( Spanish pronunciation : [ tamau̯ˈlipas ] ( listen ) ) , officially the Estado Libre y Soberano de Tamaulipas ( English : Free and Sovereign State of Tamaulipas ) , is one of the 32 states which comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico . It is divided into 43 municipalities and its capital city is Ciudad Victoria . Located in northeastern Mexico , it is bordered by the states of Veracruz to the southeast , San Luis Potosí to the southwest , and Nuevo León to the west . To the north , it has a 370 km ( 230 mi ) stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border along the state of Texas , and to the east it is bordered by the Gulf of Mexico . The name Tamaulipas is derived from Tamaholipa , a Huastec term in which the tam- prefix signifies place ( where ) . No scholarly agreement exists on the meaning of holipa , but high hills is a common interpretation . Another explanation of the state name is that it is derived from Ta ma ho'lipam ( place where the Lipan prey ) . In addition to the capital city , Ciudad Victoria , the state 's largest cities include Reynosa , Matamoros , Nuevo Laredo , Tampico , and Mante .
Veracruz ( American Spanish : [ beɾaˈkɾus ] ( listen ) ) , formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave ( American Spanish : [ beɾaˈkɾuz ðe iɣˈnasjo ðe la ˈʝaβe ] ) , officially the Free and Sovereign State of Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave ( Spanish : Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave ) , is one of the 32 states which comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico . It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is Xalapa-Enríquez . Veracruz is bordered by the states of Tamaulipas to the north , San Luis Potosí and ( Richard ) Hidalgo to the west , Puebla to the southwest , Oaxaca and Chiapas to the south , and Tabasco to the southeast . On its east , Veracruz has a significant share of the coastline of the Gulf of Mexico . The state is noted for its mixed ethnic and indigenous populations . Its cuisine reflects the many cultural influences that have come through the state because of the importance of the port of Veracruz . In addition to the capital city , the state 's largest cities include Veracruz , Coatzacoalcos , Córdoba , Minatitlán , Poza Rica , Boca Del Río and Orizaba .
Morelia ( Spanish pronunciation : [ moˈɾelja ] ; from 1545 to 1828 known as Valladolid ) is a city and municipality in the north central part of the state of Michoacán in central Mexico . The city is in the Guayangareo Valley and is the capital and largest city of the state . The main pre-Hispanic cultures here were the Purépecha and the Matlatzinca , but no major cities were founded in the valley during this time . The Spanish took control of the area in the 1520s . The Spanish under Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza founded a settlement here in 1541 with the name of Valladolid , which became rival to the nearby city of Pátzcuaro for dominance in Michoacán . In 1580 , this rivalry ended in Valladolid 's favor and it became the capital of the colonial province . After the Mexican War of Independence , the city was renamed Morelia in honor of José María Morelos , who hailed from the city . In 1991 , the city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its well-preserved colonial buildings and layout of the historic center .
Michoacán , formally Michoacán de Ocampo ( Spanish pronunciation : [ mitʃoaˈkan de oˈkampo ] ( listen ) ) , officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Michoacán de Ocampo ( English : Free and Sovereign State of Michoacán de Ocampo ) , is one of the 32 states which compose the Federal Entities of Mexico . The state is divided into 113 municipalities and its capital city is Morelia ( formerly called Valladolid ) . The city was named after José María Morelos , one of the main heroes of the Mexican War of Independence . Michoacán is located in Western Mexico , and has a stretch of coastline on the Pacific Ocean to the southwest . It is bordered by the states of Colima and Jalisco to the west and northwest , Guanajuato to the north , Querétaro to the northeast , the State of México to the east , and Guerrero to the southeast . The name Michoacán is from Nahuatl : Michhuahcān [ mit͡ʃˈwaʔkaːn ] from michhuah [ ˈmit͡ʃwaʔ ] ( possessor of fish ) and -cān [ kaːn ] ( place of ) and means place of the fishermen referring to those who fish on Lake Pátzcuaro . In pre-Hispanic times , the area was the home of the Purépecha Empire , which rivaled the Aztec Empire at the time of Spanish encounter . After the Spanish conquest , the empire became a separate province which became smaller over the colonial period . The state and several of its residents played a major role in the Mexican War of Independence . Today , the state is still home to a sizable population of Purépecha people as well as minor populations of Otomi and Nahua . The economy is based on agriculture , fishing , mining and some industry . The major tourism draw for the state is the Lake Pátzcuaro-Tzintzuntzan-Quiroga area , which was the center of the Purépecha Empire , also the national or state parks which include the winter grounds of the monarch butterflies ( Mariposas Monarca ) and the park where the Cupatitzio River has its main source .
Culiacán ( Spanish pronunciation : [ kuljaˈkan ] ( listen ) ) is a city in northwestern Mexico . It is the largest city in and the capital of the state of Sinaloa . It is also the seat of Culiacán Municipality . It had an urban population of 785,800 in 2015 while 905,660 lived in the entire municipality . While the municipality has a total area of 4,758 km2 ( 1,837 sq mi ) , the city itself is considerably smaller , measuring only 65 km2 ( 25 sq mi ) . The city is located in a valley at the confluence of the Tamazula and Humaya Rivers , where the two meet to form the Culiacán River , 55 m above sea level . It is in the center of the state , at about the same distance to the two other urban centers of the state : Los Mochis to the north and Mazatlán to the south .
Culiacán ( Spanish pronunciation : [ kuljaˈkan ] ( listen ) ) is a city in northwestern Mexico . It is the largest city in and the capital of the state of Sinaloa . It is also the seat of Culiacán Municipality . It had an urban population of 785,800 in 2015 while 905,660 lived in the entire municipality . While the municipality has a total area of 4,758 km2 ( 1,837 sq mi ) , the city itself is considerably smaller , measuring only 65 km2 ( 25 sq mi ) . The city is located in a valley at the confluence of the Tamazula and Humaya Rivers , where the two meet to form the Culiacán River , 55 m above sea level . It is in the center of the state , at about the same distance to the two other urban centers of the state : Los Mochis to the north and Mazatlán to the south .
Sinaloa ( Spanish pronunciation : [ sinaˈloa ] ( listen ) ) , officially the Estado Libre y Soberano de Sinaloa ( English : Free and Sovereign State of Sinaloa ) , is one of the 32 states which comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico . It is divided into 18 municipalities and its capital city is Culiacán Rosales . It is located in Northwestern Mexico . It is bordered by the states of Sonora to the north , Chihuahua and Durango to the east ( separated from them by the Sierra Madre Occidental ) and Nayarit to the south . To the west , Sinaloa faces Baja California Sur across the Gulf of California . The state covers an area of 58,328 square kilometers ( 22,521 sq mi ) , and includes the Islands of Palmito Verde , Palmito de la Virgen , Altamura , Santa María , Saliaca , Macapule and San Ignacio . In addition to the capital city , the state 's important cities include Mazatlán and Los Mochis .