Mexico: A Country Profile

Capital: Mexico City (Ciudad de Mexico), located in the Federal District (Distrito Federal) with a population estimated at 8.8 million in 2008.

Major Cities: The Greater Mexico City metropolitan area encompasses Mexico City and several adjacent suburbs, including the populous cities of Ecatepec de Morelos (1.8 million residents in 2005) and Netzahualcoyotl (1.2 million).

The total population of the Greater Mexico City metropolitan area is estimated at about 16 million.

Other major cities include Guadalajara (1.6 million), Puebla (1.3 million), Ciudad Juarez (1.2 million), Tijuana (1.1 million), and Monterrey (1.1 million).

Independence: September 16, 1810 (from Spain). Public Holidays: New Year's Day (January 1); Constitution Day (February 5); Birthday of Benito Juarez (March 21); International Labor Day (May 1); Independence Day (September 16); Discovery of America (October 12); Anniversary of the Revolution (November 20); Christmas (December 25); and New Year's Eve (December 31).