Fun Facts about Mexico For Kids

Mexico is such a fun and colourful country and we want you to know all the fun facts. We have pulled together all the fun facts about Mexico so that you can wow everyone at school. After reading this you will know about the best foods, how many people live in Mexico and even what animals you can see there.

Here are some top things you need to know about Mexico:

The main language is Spanish as Mexico is a former Spanish colony.
Mexico is the home to the endangered amphibian, the axolotl.
Mexico City sinks approximately 10 cm every year.

Where is Mexico?

Mexico is a part of the North American continent and sits just underneath the United States of America. As well as sharing a border with America, it also shares a physical border with Guatemala and Belize and a maritime border with Cuba and Honduras.

Mexico has a coastline on the Pacific Ocean, as well as the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.

The capital city is called Mexico City and it has a population of more than 8 million people.

How many people live in Mexico?

There are more than 130 million people living in Mexico, making it the 10th most populated country in the world.

How big is Mexico?

Mexico is approximately 1.9 million km² in size, making it the 14th largest country in the world. It is split into 32 states.

What language do they speak in Mexico?

More than 93% of people in Mexico speak Spanish due to three centuries of Spanish rule. Other languages spoken include Nahuatl, Maya and Mixtec.

What currency do they use?

In Mexico, they use the Mexican Peso as their currency.

Geography of Mexico

Mexico is a land of diverse geography. In the north of Mexico there are expansive deserts while in the centre there are many mountains. The highest mountain in Mexico is Pico de Orizaba with a height of 5,636 m.

Mexico is situated on the Ring of Fire and is home to many volcanoes, both active and extinct.

Mexico has approximately 100 islands, many of which have white sandy beaches and are popular with tourists.

Mexico City is actually built on a lake and sinks around 10 cm each year. The city sits at an altitude of 2,240m making it one of the highest altitude cities in the world.

The Yucatan Peninsula juts out into the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. There you can find beautiful beaches and marine life. The Yucatán Peninsula is also home to many Mayan ruins and pyramids. There are more than 200 ruins that are open to the public, including The Chichen Itza Pyramid, one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.

Mexico has many pyramids that were built by the Aztec and Mayan civilisations before the Spanish arrived. You can still see many of these pyramids today, however some have been overgrown and now look like big hills!

The Aztecs and the Mayans

The Mayan civilisation existed in Mexico from 1500 BC to 600 AD and was predominantly around the Yucatan Peninsula. The Aztec civilisation followed in the 1300s till the 1500s before the Spanish arrived in the early 16th century.

Which foods are popular in Mexico?

Mexican food is popular in many countries around the world. It is full of taste and flavour and is a big part of Mexican culture. Corn (including corn tortillas), beans and meat are common components of many meals.

Tamales

Tamales are little pockets of corn dough that are filled with something sweet or savoury, wrapped in banana leaves then steamed. Yum! They are the perfect travel snack.

Guacamole

Made from mashed up avocados, onion and lemon juice, this garnish is a staple in Mexico and goes well with corn tortillas.

Chilaquiles

This breakfast dish is made from corn tortillas covered with salsa, eggs (fried or scrambled) and pulled chicken. Cheese, cream and beans can also be added.

Tostadas

Tostadas are deep fried corn tortillas topped with any number of toppings, including meat, seafood, beans and cheese.

Soft drinks

Mexico is a big consumer of soft drinks like Coca Cola. It is said that every year there are around 160L of soft drink per person consumed in Mexico!

What animals are found in Mexico?

With the many landscapes that can be found in Mexico comes a diverse range of animals.

The Axolotl

The axolotl, commonly known as the Mexican walking fish, is actually not a fish. It is an amphibian that lives its entire life in water and is in danger of extinction. It can only be found in Lake Xochimilco in Mexico, as well as some of the canals of Mexico City. It is endangered due to a number of factors including high levels of pollution and overfishing.

Howler Monkeys

These monkeys sound like dinosaurs from Jurassic Park! They are actually the loudest of all monkeys and their roar or bark can be heard more than 4 km away! They roar like this to let other monkeys know that this is their territory.

Music

Music is a big part of Mexican culture and is diverse and varied.

A mariachi band is a traditional band made up of two or more members, dressed in regional cultural dress (including a sombrero hat) and playing string instruments. They often play at birthdays and weddings.

Which sports are played in Mexico?

Football (soccer) is one of the most popular sports in Mexico, followed by baseball and boxing. The Football World Cup was hosted in Mexico in both 1970 and 1986.

Last minute fun facts

The Mexican flag is red, white and green and has an eagle and eating a snake on it.
The Olympic Games were held in Mexico City in 1968.
The official name of Mexico is the United Mexican States.

So there you have it. All the most interesting facts about Mexico that you might need to know.

If you are looking for a costume for a Mexican dress up day, make sure you take a look at these mariachi costumes!