| Keyword | Description |
|---|---|
| Fertility Rate | The average number of children born to a woman in her lifetime. |
| Median Age | The age that divides a population into two equal groups, half are younger and half are older. |
| Intercensal Survey | A survey conducted between two official censuses to gather population data. |
In late 2025, Mexico’s population reached over 130.9 million, marking an almost 4% increase from five years before. This data was collected by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) during their 2025 Intercensal Survey. Despite this growth, Mexico’s population is expanding at a slower rate, and the median age is increasing. It now sits at 32 years, up from 29 in 2020, meaning half the population is younger than 32, and the other half is older.
Mexico’s fertility rate, which measures how many children on average women have, has dropped to 1.2 in 2024 from 1.9 in 2019. Areas like Mexico City have even lower rates, while places like Chiapas have higher rates. Experts say a fertility rate of 2.1 is needed to keep the population stable without considering migration. If Mexico’s fertility rate and immigration don’t increase, the population may decline in the future.
President Claudia Sheinbaum noted that this trend is not unique to Mexico but is seen worldwide. The Finance Ministry warns that fewer young people could lead to fewer taxpayers, which might become challenging as more seniors need pensions.
Interestingly, only 0.9% of the population in Mexico was born in another country, with the majority coming from the United States. The survey shows Mexico is becoming an older nation, with fewer children and a growing number of adults.
Bridging words
These words sound similar in English and Spanish: Why not practice them now?
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| Population | Población |
| Median | Mediana |
| Statistics | Estadísticas |
Time to discuss
- Why might people choose to have fewer children nowadays?
- What are some possible effects of an aging population on a country?
- How does immigration impact population growth?
Let’s Write
Answer the following questions in one paragraph.
- What are the main reasons for the decline in Mexico’s fertility rate?
- How might changes in population size affect a country’s economy?
