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Mexico vs United States
Side-by-side comparison of Mexico and United States from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Mexico
Latin America & Caribbean · nation age 216 years
United States
North America · nation age 250 years
In short
United States scores 72.3 in the NationsTree Index (30th in the world) and Mexico scores 52.6 (76th), a gap of 19.7 points. Their trees are 35 m and 115 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
United States has 2.6 times the population of Mexico. United States is 5.0 times larger than Mexico by land area. United States has an economy 9.0 times the size of Mexico (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Mexico 131.9 million and United States 341.8 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $90,027 in United States and $25,868 in Mexico (2025, international dollars). People in United States live on average 3.6 years longer (78.9 vs 75.3 years).
Of 39 indicators reported by both countries, Mexico ranks higher in the world on 7 and United States on 32. Mexico is clearly stronger in main industries and trade. United States is clearly stronger in military, institutions & safety and science & innovation.
As a nation, United States is the older of the two (statehood since 1776, 250 years), compared with Mexico (since 1810). Over the last five years Mexico improved faster (direction score 57 vs 24 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Mexico and United States.
Mexico
0.25%
79th of 110
United Statesbetter
3.45%
5th of 110
Rule of lawInstitutions & safety
Mexico
39.4
175th of 207
United Statesbetter
71.7
47th of 207
Access to electricityInfrastructure & digital
Mexico
99.8%
126th of 215
United Statesbetter
100.0%
1st of 215
Control of corruptionInstitutions & safety
Mexico
29.0
164th of 207
United Statesbetter
65.5
44th of 207
Central government debtEconomy
Mexicobetter
50.3%
24th of 55
United States
115.8%
53rd of 55
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
United States has been ahead of Mexico in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1992.
United States has been ahead of Mexico in GDP per person (PPP), GDP (PPP), life expectancy and population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
MexicoUnited States All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Mexico | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 1,957,19413th/216 · 2024 | 9,831,5103rd/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 1,943,95013th/216 · 2024 | 9,147,4203rd/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 131.9 m11th/217 · 2025 | 341.8 m3rd/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 0.83%112th/217 · 2025 | 0.52%134th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 67.3138th/216 · 2024 | 37.2166th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 80.0%58th/217 · 2025 | 80.2%57th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 24.1%102nd/217 · 2025 | 17.1%152nd/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 8.5%113th/217 · 2025 | 18.4%45th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $1.83 trn14th/210 · 2025 | $30.77 trn1st/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $3.41 trn13th/199 · 2025 | $30.77 trn2nd/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $2.89 trn13th/199 · 2025 | $26.29 trn2nd/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $13,88992nd/210 · 2025 | $90,02711th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $25,86890th/199 · 2025 | $90,02712th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $13,73082nd/201 · 2025 | $88,8106th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 0.6%186th/210 · 2025 | 2.2%139th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 3.8%113th/180 · 2025 | 2.9%87th/180 · 2024 |
| Unemployment % | 2.7%27th/187 · 2025 | 4.2%70th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 50.3%24th/55 · 2024 | 115.8%53rd/55 · 2024 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 61.7%119th/189 · 2025 | 124.4%179th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -4.9%147th/192 · 2025 | -7.1%173rd/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 3.9%116th/197 · 2025 | 0.9%172nd/197 · 2021 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 30.6%51st/200 · 2025 | 17.6%145th/200 · 2021 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 20.0%19th/192 · 2025 | 10.5%93rd/192 · 2021 |
| Services % of GDP | 58.9%93rd/200 · 2025 | 76.3%16th/200 · 2021 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $726.56 bn16th/182 · 2025 | $3.22 trn2nd/182 · 2024 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $738.16 bn14th/182 · 2025 | $4.11 trn1st/182 · 2024 |
| Exports % of GDP | 39.6%85th/183 · 2025 | 11.0%173rd/183 · 2024 |
| Imports % of GDP | 40.3%102nd/183 · 2025 | 14.0%179th/183 · 2024 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 79.9%94th/183 · 2025 | 25.0%180th/183 · 2024 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 3.0%87th/170 · 2025 | 17.3%38th/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 81.2%17th/171 · 2025 | 54.9%63rd/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 7.5%125th/171 · 2025 | 9.0%118th/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 2.4%99th/171 · 2025 | 3.0%87th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 19.3%34th/168 · 2024 | 24.3%23rd/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -0.5%80th/191 · 2025 | -3.8%127th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 2.4%85th/196 · 2025 | 1.0%145th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 3.6%84th/209 · 2021 | 1.3%110th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 2.07%37th/197 · 2021 | 0.61%53rd/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.09%61st/197 · 2021 | 0.36%43rd/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.02%46th/195 · 2021 | 0.17%25th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 1.36%40th/209 · 2021 | 0.10%70th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.11%113th/209 · 2021 | 0.04%133rd/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 10.3%103rd/206 · 2024 | 16.6%65th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 3,18080th/183 · 2022 | 8,43754th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 51.1 m3rd/194 · 2020 | 45.0 m4th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $11.45 bn15th/175 · 2020 | $84.21 bn1st/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 2.6%118th/168 · 2020 | 3.9%93rd/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 36.1 m5th/107 · 2020 | 60.5 m2nd/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 75.3105th/217 · 2024 | 78.961st/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 13.192nd/196 · 2024 | 6.553rd/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 2.5971st/174 · 2022 | 3.6839th/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 1.0117th/145 · 2022 | 2.767th/145 · 2022 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 78%150th/193 · 2024 | 94%66th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 69.0%84th/153 · 2024 | 96.6%21st/153 · 2024 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 103.1%48th/173 · 2024 | 97.5%72nd/173 · 2022 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 48.2%32nd/55 · 2022 | — |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 12.6%111th/217 · 2025 | 28.5%46th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 5.5%118th/193 · 2023 | 16.7%3rd/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 95.6%36th/98 · 2024 | — |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 48.2%81st/150 · 2024 | 79.4%29th/150 · 2022 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.78981st/193 · 2023 | 0.93817th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 42.694th/108 · 2024 | 41.891st/108 · 2024 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 1.6%57th/108 · 2024 | 1.1%52nd/108 · 2024 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 99.8%126th/215 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 43.0%118th/150 · 2024 | 97.6%39th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 62.7%70th/144 · 2024 | 97.0%17th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 83.1%89th/186 · 2024 | 94.7%28th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 116102nd/210 · 2024 | 113111th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 21.784th/208 · 2024 | 38.929th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.8063rd/164 · 2022 | 3.9016th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | — | 148,5531st/82 · 2021 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 78.8 m15th/161 · 2023 | 941.6 m1st/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 3.64124th/203 · 2024 | 13.62189th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 13.0%127th/212 · 2021 | 10.9%142nd/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 16.696th/200 · 2023 | 7.025th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 34.2%100th/214 · 2024 | 33.8%102nd/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 1,49876th/149 · 2024 | 6,45410th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 48.6121st/205 · 2025 | 76.732nd/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 29.0164th/207 · 2025 | 65.544th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 39.4175th/207 · 2025 | 71.747th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 55.0163rd/207 · 2025 | 60.3136th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 51.5115th/205 · 2025 | 72.831st/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 52.5119th/205 · 2025 | 69.659th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 24.9131st/145 · 2023 | 5.8100th/145 · 2023 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $13.65 bn30th/156 · 2025 | $954.39 bn1st/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 0.7%134th/156 · 2025 | 3.1%27th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 2.5%128th/154 · 2025 | 8.3%37th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 341,00019th/170 · 2020 | 1.4 m5th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.64%99th/168 · 2020 | 0.84%84th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 9.0 m111th/163 · 2025 | 745.0 m13th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 1.0 m2019 | 14.0 bn1st/65 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.25%79th/110 · 2024 | 3.45%5th/110 · 2023 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 1,17228th/137 · 2024 | 270,2952nd/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 18,98226th/197 · 2023 | 430,8432nd/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Mexico or United States?
United States has the larger population: 341.8 m (2025) compared with 131.9 m for Mexico (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Mexico or United States?
United States is larger: 9,831,510 km² (2024) compared with 1,957,194 km² for Mexico (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Mexico or United States?
United States has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $30.77 trn intl. (2025) compared with $3.41 trn intl. for Mexico (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Mexico or United States?
United States has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $90,027 intl. (2025) compared with $25,868 intl. for Mexico (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Mexico or United States?
United States has the higher life expectancy at birth: 78.9 years (2024) compared with 75.3 years for Mexico (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Mexico or United States?
United States spends more on the military: $954.39 bn (2025) compared with $13.65 bn for Mexico (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Mexico or United States?
United States: 72.3 points (30th in the world); Mexico: 52.6 points (76th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Argentina
Australia
Canada
Chile
Colombia
Indonesia
Italy
BermudaSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Mexico vs United States — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/mexico-vs-united-states. Data as of 26 October 2026.