Population of Thailand 2014

Based on the total number of births, total number of deaths, net migration rate, and the population of 2013, the current population of the Kingdom of Thailand is estimated to be about 67,149,778, which makes up about 0.93% of the world’s total population. It ranks 20th in the population rankings, behind the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but ahead of France. Thailand is the twelfth-most populous country in Asia. At the end of 2013, Thailand’s population was recorded as 67,010,502. Therefore, since the start of 2014, there has only been a population increase of about 136,276, which indicates a growth rate of 0.2%. Based on the total land area and the total population, the population density of Thailand is estimated to be about 130.87 people per square kilometer or 338.94 people per square mile.

Geography of Thailand 2014

The total land area of Thailand is 513,120 square kilometers or 198,120 square miles, making it the 51st largest country in terms of total area. Relatively speaking, it is larger than Spain, but smaller than Yemen. Northern Thailand is the mountainous region of the country. The highest point in the region is Doi Inthanon in the Thanon Thong Chai Range, reaching 2,565 meters or 8,415 feet. Central Thailand is mainly composed of the Chao Phraya river valley. The river valley helps sustain the agricultural sector of the country. Southern Thailand consists of the Kra Isthmus and the Malay Peninsula. The country is characterized by a tropical climate and frequent monsoons. Lastly, the Gulf of Thailand is a significant source of tourism and industry, especially due to the large number of ports, including the entrance to Bangkok’s Inland Seaport.

Government of Thailand 2014

Thailand is a unitary government operating as a constitutional monarchy under a parliamentary democracy. The monarch of Thailand, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, is the world’s longest reigning monarch. Even though the king, realistically, has very little power, he is a figurehead and a symbol of the Kingdom. He is considered to be the Head of State and the head of the House of Chakri. However, the Head of the Government is the Prime Minister, who is typically the leader of the largest party or the largest coalition party in the lower house of the Parliament. The lower house selects the Prime Minister and then the King appoints him or her. As the leader of the Executive Branch, he or she is the leader of the Cabinet, having the authority to appoint or remove any Minister or Officer as he or she pleases. The current Prime Minister is Yingluck Shinawatra, who is the first female Prime Minister of Thailand. The Parliament is known as the National Assembly of Thailand and is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Education in Thailand 2014

According to UNICEF, the total adult literacy of Thailand from 2008-2012 is estimated to be about 93.5%. Education is a large part of Thai society. As of 2006, education was 27% of the government’s budget. The education system is broken up into four stages, three of which are compulsory. The first stage consists of the first three years in elementary school for ages 6-8, which is named Prathom 1-3. The second stage consists of the last three years of elementary school for ages 9-11, which is named Prathom 4-6. The third stage consists of the first three years of secondary school for ages 12-14, which is named Matthayom 1-3. The last stage and the last years of secondary school are optional. However, the government does provide free education up through the completion of this last stage. The upper secondary level, named Matthayom 4-6, is for those of ages 15-17. The purpose of this level is to either prepare the students for a career or for the university. Thus, there are academic, vocational, and comprehensive tracks. The academic track is for those that plan to attend a university, while the vocational track is intended for those planning to delve into a career. The comprehensive track is a combination of both programs, intended for students that have not completely decided yet. In order to be admitted to the fourth stage, students must pass through an entrance exam. Then, after each level, he or she must pass the National Education Test to graduate. The government funds the public schools; however, if students may choose, they may pay tuition in order to attend private schools, such as Catholic schools. One fallback of the Thai education system is the usage of rote learning, which utilizes the technique of repetition in order to help the students memorize the information. Some view this technique as unproductive because the students are simply memorizing instead of actually learning. Lastly, the government emphasizes the importance of the English language, thus making the English language a compulsory subject to study and learn in school.

Homeless Population in Thailand

Health Care in Thailand 2014

The Ministry of Public Health oversees the universal health care that has been granted to Thai citizens since 2002. As of 2012, the life expectancy of Thai citizens is 74.2 years, with women generally outliving men. Also, the infant mortality rate is 11 deaths per 1,000 babies; the under-five mortality rate is 13 deaths per 1,000 children. According to the World Health Organization, about 24% of people fie from communicable diseases, 55% of die from non-communicable diseases, and 22% die from injuries. In 2011, about 95.8% of people used improved drinking water sources. Also, about 93.4% of the population used improved sanitation facilities.

The universal health care comprises three programs: a civil service system for civil servants and their families, Social Security system for private employees, and Universal Coverage provided for all others that need the coverage. The World Health Organization reports that 99.5% of the population has health protection. As of 2004, 65% of health expenditures came from the government. Lastly, the Ministry of Public Health operates the public hospitals, but the Medical Registration Division in the Department of Health operates the private hospitals. There are an estimated 316 private hospitals compared to over 1,000 public hospitals.

Economy of Thailand 2014

Thailand exports about $105 billion worth of goods and services every year. In fact, it is considered to be the largest rice exporter in the world. They export over 6.5 million tons of rice every year. In fact, about 55% of farmable land is used to produce rice. They also export textiles, footwear, rubber, cars, and computers. The Gross Domestic Product in terms of Purchasing Power Parity of Thailand is worth $602 billion, which gives Thailand the second largest economy in Southeast Asia after Indonesia. Currently, about 49% of the labor force is employed in the agricultural industry. According to UNICEF, in 2011, the poorest 40% share about 18% of household income, while the richest 20% share 47% of household income. Lastly, tourism makes up about 6% of the economy.

Other Resources

Thailand Population 2013

Population of Vietnam 2014

Based on the total number of births, total number of deaths, net migration rate, and the population of 2013, according to the United States Census Bureau, the population of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam for July 1, 2014 is estimated at 93,421,835, which makes up about 1.3% of the world’s total population. As of July 1, 2013, the population was estimated at 92,477,857. Thus, since last July, the population will have grown by 943,978 people or by a growth rate of about 1.02%. The last census was conducted in 2009 and it recorded the population at 85,789,573. Thus, since the last census, the population will have grown by 7,632,262 people or by an average annual growth rate of 1.78%. Based on the total land area and the total population of the country, the population density of Vietnam is 301.35 people per square kilometer or 776.34 people per square mile.

Government of Vietnam 2014

Vietnam is one of the four remaining single-party socialist states, emphasizing communism. The central and sole party in Vietnam is the Communist Party of Vietnam as established by the 1992 Constitution of Vietnam. The General Secretary of the Communist Party performs most of the administrative and executive functions of the government, which include establishing state policies, organizing the Communist Party, and making appointments. Ironically, while the country is officially a communist state, the Vietnamese economic policies have increasingly echoed capitalism in recent years. While the General Secretary performs most of the executive functions, the President of Vietnam is, by title, the head of state and the commander-in-chief of the military. He or she also serves as the Chairman of the Council of Supreme Defense and Security. The Prime Minister of Vietnam is then the head of government, serving as the executive over the various deputy prime ministers and heads of the various ministries. There are three deputy prime ministers and 26 ministries in the Vietnamese government.

The legislative body of the government is unicameral, known as the National Assembly of Vietnam. It consists of 500 members, emanating from the different parts of the country. The current Chairman of the National Assembly is Nguyen Sinh Hung, a member of the Communist Party. While the Communist Party is the sole party in the country, there are about 42 independent party members in the National Assembly. The National Assembly is the superior political body over the executive and judicial branches. The National Assembly appoints all ministers and deputies. Lastly, the highest court of appeal is the Supreme People’s Court of Vietnam. Justices serve five-year terms in the Supreme People’s Court. The current Chief Justice is Truong Hoa Binh. Lastly, as of February 2014, about 700 prison inmates are on death row.

Water Access in Vietnam 2014

In 2002, an estimated 3 million people living in the Red River Delta were considered poor. Many effects of their poverty included water-related infections and diseases, along with poor personal hygiene. In 2004, 48% of rural households in Vietnam had access to clean water, but 82% of urban households had such access. Also, only about 16% of rural households had access to water that met clean water standards. These households in rural areas were subject to using untreated water from wells and ponds and they used sanitation facilities that were poorly maintained and constructed. Thus, organizations realized that there must be some major water project conducted in order to fix these issues among the poor and rural households. The water improvement project lasted from 2005 to 2013. It gave almost 1.3 million people access to improved water sources and now 100% of poor households have access to a water supply and some form of sanitation facility. Many households also received some form of a low-interest loan in order to help them repair or replace over 48,000 hygienic toilets and sanitation facilities. As a result, instead of 25% of households with such toilets, now 87% of rural and poor households have such toilets. Over 650 public sanitation facilities were constructed for schools and health stations. Lastly, many households began to more frequently hygienically wash their hands, especially before food preparation and over 96% use some sort of soap or detergent for washing hands.

Education in Vietnam 2014

Education in Vietnam is broken up into five levels: preschool, primary, intermediate, secondary (high school), and higher education. Students attend primary school for five years, intermediate school for four years, and secondary school for three years. Primary school typically begins at age six and is compulsory for all ages. While about the net enrollment ratio is 96%, there is a disparity of enrollment among minority ethnicities. There are five standard subjects throughout primary school: Vietnamese language, Mathematics, Morality, Arts, and Physical Education. There are a couple other subjects that the students study, based on the specific age of the student. Intermediate school typically contains some of the same subjects, but takes a deeper study of the physical sciences, such as physics and chemistry. They also study a foreign language, typically English or French, technology, and even have some vocational training courses. After completing the years in high school, the students must pass the High Graduation Examination, which is a requirement for graduation. Overall, the principle goal of education in Vietnam is to improve the general knowledge of its people, to train quality human resources, and to nurture and foster talent.

As of February 2014, the prime minister was named the chair for the national committee for education reforms. The committee looks to study and implement education and training reforms. Some potential reforms could include increasing university and training institution autonomy, investing in teacher training, and increasing partnerships between universities, training institutions, and businesses. Overall, though, the literacy and numeracy rates in the country have been quite high. As of 2012, the adult literacy rate was 93.4% and the youth male literacy rate was 97.5%, while the youth female literacy rate was 96.7%.

Vietnam Growth

Health and Health Statistics in Vietnam 2014

Vietnam has been working on improving its health care system and health insurance for all its citizens. It has implemented social care policies since 1992. But, in 2008, Vietnam passed a health insurance law that expected to grant universal health coverage to all its citizens by 2014. Health care administration is broken up into three levels throughout the country. The Ministry of Health is the main authority in the health sector, implementing policies for the whole nation. Below the Ministry of Health are 63 provincial health bureaus that operate under Provincial People’s Committees as a part of the provincial governments. Then, below the provincial level is the primary level, which consists of health centers and stations, along with the health workers.

As of 2012, the under-five mortality rate is 23 deaths per 1,000 children. The infant mortality rate is 18 deaths per 1,000 infants, while the neonatal mortality rate is 12 deaths per 1,000 babies. About 5.1% of children are born with low birth weight. About 0.4% of the population is estimated to have a positive diagnosis of HIV. Thus, about 373,687 people have been diagnosed with HIV. While there has been progress in fighting the diseases, malaria and tuberculosis are still both prominent and active diseases throughout the country. An increased sense of hygiene and an increase in vaccinations will help reduce these rates. Lastly, the overall life expectancy is 75.8 years. According to the World Health Organization in 2012, women are expected to live around 80 years, while men are only expected to live 71 years.

Population of Spain 2014

Based on the total number of births, total number of deaths, net migration rate, and the population as of 2013, the current population of the Kingdom of Spain is estimated to be about 47,171,105. The Spanish population makes up only 0.65% of the total world population and ranks 29th in population rankings, behind the Colombia, but ahead of the Ukraine. It is also considered to be the sixth-most populous country in Europe. At the end of 2013, the population of Spain was estimated to be about 46,926,963. Therefore, since the end of 2013, there has been a population increase of about 244,142 or a population growth rate of about 0.52%. Based on the total land area and the total current population, the population density of Spain is estimated to be about 93.23 people per square kilometer or 241.45 people per square mile.

Geography of Spain 2014

The total land area of Spain is about 505,992 square kilometer or 195,365 square miles, making it the 52nd largest country in the world. Spain is smaller than France, but larger than the state of California. It borders Portugal, Gibraltar, France, and Morocco. The major geographic feature of Spain is mountains. The main mountain ranges are the Pyrenees, Cordillera Cantabrica, and the Sierra Morena. The highest peak in the Iberian Peninsula is on the Mulhacen, which is in the Sistema Penibetico range, reaching 3,478 meters. However, the highest point in Spain is the Teide, which is a volcano in the Canary Islands, reaching 3,718 meters or 12,198 feet. The most populated island is the Tenerife and the least populated island is the Ons. Lastly, the coastal regions are made up of alluvial plains.

Government of Spain 2014

Since the adoption of the new Constitution in 1978, the government of Spain has been a constitutional monarchy. Also, once the Constitution was adopted, the country became very decentralized, establishing seventeen autonomous communities and two autonomous cities. Each community and city has its own government, budget, and administration. Despite these autonomies, the country is a unified nation, specifically through the monarch, King Juan Carlos I. King Juan Carlos I has served as the monarch of the country since November 22, 1975. Other than a national symbol of unity, the king serves as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces and as a moral authority and is considered to be the Head of State. The Head of Government is the Prime Minister, nominated by the King and confirmed by the Council of Ministers. Since November 20, 2011, the Prime Minister has been Mariano Rajoy Brey. The Prime Minister is the person in charge of all domestic and foreign policies. Lastly, the legislative branch is a bicameral legislation. The two houses are the Congress of Deputies and the Senate. The Congress of Deputies has 350 members and the Senate has 259 members. Representatives in both houses serve four-year terms. The Spanish government takes pride in the gender equality that exists throughout the government.

Language in Spain 2014

The Constitution of Spain mandates that it is the personal requirement of every Spaniard to know the Spanish language, which is known as Castilian in the Constitution. However, it also states that it respects the different cultures and traditions, including languages, of the citizens. Thus, the country is openly multilingual. Other than Spanish, the country recognizes official languages that are spoken frequently in the various autonomous regions. Some of the regional languages are Basque, spoken in the Basque Country and Navarre, Catalan, spoken in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, and the Valencian Community (Catalan is known as Valencian in this region), and Galician, spoken in Galicia. 2% of the population speaks Basque, 17% speaks Catalan (Valencian), and 7% speaks Galician. Lastly, English and German tend to be spoken in the tourist regions of the country along the Mediterranean coasts and islands.

Immigration in Spain 2014

As of 2011, the immigrant population made up 12.2% of the Spanish population. The total number of immigrants is over 5.5 million people. However, due to the recent economic crisis in the country, many immigrants have left the country in order to find more opportunities. In 2008, the government attempted to incentivize immigrants to return to their home countries in order to free up job opportunities for native Spaniards. The plan was entitled, “Plan of Voluntary Return”, and it allowed the immigrants to continue to receive the unemployment benefits from Spain if they returned to their home country. However, the program failed and only around 1,500 immigrants bought into the idea. The countries with the largest number of immigrants are Romania, Morocco, and the United Kingdom. There are only 850,000 Romanian immigrants and over 750,000 Moroccan immigrants. Lastly, Spain has the second largest number of immigrants in terms of percentage in the European Union, behind Cyprus. However, in terms of numbers, Spain has the highest number of immigrants.

Education in Spain 2014

Based on the Fundamental Law of Education in the Constitution, education is required for all students from ages six to sixteen years, but is also free for those students as well. Around 67% of the schools are state schools, 26% are private schools that receive state funding, and 7% are completely private schools. There are four major levels of education: pre-school, primary school, compulsory secondary education, and post-compulsory schooling. If the parents wish to send their children to pre-school, they are able to do so free of charge. After completing the compulsory secondary education, if students wish to continue to the next level, they must be awarded a Secondary Education Certificate, which shows that the student was successful in his compulsory secondary studies. In the post-compulsory schooling, students can decide whether they want to pursue University studies or Vocational studies. Based on that decision, students obtain a specific curriculum that applies to their desired choice. Then in order to move from post-secondary to the University, students must pass the University Entrance Exam. A typical degree at a University lasts four years. The youth literacy rate among males is 99.5% and the youth literacy rate among females is 99.7%. Also, the net enrollment ratio for primary school is 99.7%. Lastly, the total adult literacy rate is measured to be 97.7% of the population.

Spain’s Population Change

Health Care in Spain 2014

As of recent, the health care industry has taken some major changes, affecting the majority of the population. In 2012, public health care expenditures were cut by 13.7%, and in 2013, the expenditures were cut by 16.2%. The government also decided that any non-registered immigrants living in Spain could not receive care, unless it was for an emergency. However, the definition of the term emergency is left fairly ambiguous. One controversy in regards to this law is the lack of vaccination among children of migrants. The failure to vaccinate these children could mean the spread of a highly contagious disease. Also, due to the new law, patients must pay for parts of their treatments and medications, which is a deterrent for patients to even take their medications because they cannot afford them. As of 2012, the life expectancy in Spain was 82 years. Lastly, the under-five mortality rate is about 5 deaths per 1,000 children and the infant mortality rate is about 4 deaths per 1,000 infants.

Population of Japan 2014

Based on the total number of births, total number of deaths, net migration rates, and the population of 2013, the current population of Japan is estimated to be about 127,052,765. As a result, Japan is the tenth-most populous country in the world, behind Russia, but ahead of Mexico. Japan is one of the few larger countries that is experiencing a population decline instead of a population increase. At the end of 2013, the population was estimated to be about 127,143,577. Therefore, since the end of 2013, there has been a decline of about 91,000 people. The decline in population mainly comes as a result of the age of the population. There is a large portion of the population that is over the age of 65 years. In 2013, around 24% of the population was over the age of 65 years. Based on the population and the land area, the population density of Japan is about 336.17 people per square kilometer or 870.67 people per square mile.

Geography of Japan

Japan is made up of 6,852 islands, which in total are known as the Japanese archipelago and which stretch along the Pacific coast of East Asia. The main islands are the following: Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. Another large group of Japanese islands is known as the Ryukyu Islands. Honshu is the largest island and is typically known as the mainland of the country. Overall, over 70% of the land is deemed as unsuitable for living due to the high concentrations of forests and mountains. As a result, the remaining areas that are suitable for living are quite dense in terms of population. Because the island has 108 active volcanoes, many earthquakes and tsunamis occur as a result. The most recent earthquake was a 9.0 magnitude earthquake, which resulted in a tsunami afterwards, on March 11, 2011.

Climate of Japan

The islands of Japan are divided into six climate zones: Hokkaido, Sea of Japan, Central Highland, Seto Inland Sea, Pacific Ocean, and the Ryukyu Islands. Hokkaido is the most northern region and is characterized by its humidity. It has long and cold winters, but very warm summers. The region does not receive an abnormal amount of rain, but it does receive a heavy amount of snow in the winter. The Sea of Japan region is along the western coast of Honshu. The region receives heavy snowfall during the winter and mainly cool temperatures in the summer. However, hot temperatures in this region during the summer come as a result of foehn wind. The Central Highland region is characterized by its humidity. There is a large difference between temperatures during the summer and winter, along with differences between day and night. Despite the low levels of precipitation, winters receive much snow.
Due to the mountains in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions, there is mild weather all year in the Seto Inland Sea region. The Pacific Ocean region experiences humid and subtropical climates. The winters are fairly mild, but the summers are hot and humid. The last region, the Ryukyu Islands, experience a subtropical climate. The winters are fairly warm, but their winters are hot. There is a high level of precipitation along with a high level of humidity. This climate is what results in the beautiful blooming of the spring cherry blossoms and the fall colors of leaves, which are typically portrayed in artwork. Overall, the average temperature in Japan is 41.2°F. The average summer temperature, though, is 77.4°F. Lastly, typhoon season is in the end of summer and the beginning of the fall.

Economy of Japan

The Japanese economy is ranked as the third largest in terms of nominal Gross Domestic Product, the fourth largest in terms of Purchasing Power Parity, and is the second largest developed economy. The currency is the Japanese Yen. The agricultural sector of the economy makes up only 1.4% of the total GDP, which may be because only 12% of the land is suitable for farming. The sector is highly regulated by the government, evident through the 777.7% tariff on rice imports. Some major agricultural imports include wheat and soybeans. The service sector in Japan accounts for about 75% of its total economy. As of 2013, it was home to almost 13% of the Forbes Global 2000. In 2012, Japan was the fifth most visited country in Asia and the Pacific. In fact, 2013 blew the number of visitors of 2012 out of the water, totaling 11.25 million visitors. Lastly, as of January 30, 2014, the unemployment rate in Japan is 3.7%, which showed a 0.3% decrease from November 2013.

Health Care in Japan

Japan has a universal health care system through which every citizen can receive care. Having health insurance is mandatory, despite the fact that there is no penalty for not having it. Around 10% of the population does not have health insurance. The government regulates all of the medical fees, preventing the facilities from overcharging or making a profit. All hospitals and health care facilities are run as non-profits. Depending on a person or family’s income, a person/family is either responsible for 10%, 20%, or 30% of the medical costs. The government pays the other portion of the costs. Some health concerns in Japan include the high suicide rates, smoking, and pollution. Suicide is the leading cause of death for those citizens under the age of 30. 65% of the suicides were as a result of job loss. Some other factors include social pressure and depression. Despite these health concerns, Japanese women have the second highest life expectancy of any other country in the world. Lastly, according to the United Nations, Japan has the third lowest infant mortality rates.

Education in Japan

The literacy rate of Japan is 99%, which came as a result of the essential role that education has played in Japanese society, especially since the end of World War II. Education is required from ages 6 to 15, which include elementary and lower secondary schools. In the junior school (lower secondary), the students study the Japanese language, social studies, mathematics, science, music, fine arts, health, and physical education. They also encourage learning foreign languages, especially English. In 2005, about 94% of junior high school graduates attended high school. There are universities and colleges that students can attend after high school. In fact, as of 2010, over 2.8 million students were attending a college or university. Lastly, as of 2011, 33 of Japan’s universities ranked in the Top 100 Asian Universities.

Japanese Population Risking Extinction

Transportation in Japan

Japan has approximately 1.2 million kilometers of paved roads. The road network throughout the country is considered to be the main form of transportation. Despite this fact, only about 50% of the distance traveled in Japan is taken by cars or roads. Another large part of Japanese transportation is its railway and train system. Japan has over 250 high-speed trains, which are known for their safety and timeliness. Also, there are 173 airports, one of which, Haneda Airport, is the second busiest airport in all of Asia and the largest airport in Japan. Lastly, Nagoya Port accounts for 10% of Japan’s trade and is the largest and busiest port in the country.

Population of Mexico 2014

Based on the total number of births, total number of deaths, net migration rate, and the population of 2013, the current population of the United Mexican States is estimated to be about 123,278,559. The Mexican population makes up about 1.71% of the entire world’s population and ranks 11th in population rankings, behind Japan, but ahead of the Philippines. However, because of the rate that Mexico’s population is growing and the rate that Japan is decreasing, it will not be long before Mexico overtakes it in the population rankings. Mexico is the second-most populous country in North America, behind the United States, but ahead of Canada. At the end of 2013, the population was 122,332,399. Therefore, since the start of 2014, there has been an approximate growth of 946,160 people, or a growth rate of about 0.77%. Based on the total population and the total area, the population density of Mexico is estimated to be about 62.5 people per square kilometer or 161.87 people per square mile.

Geography of Mexico

Mexico is made up of thirty-one individual and sovereign states, each of which has its own constitution and government. However, they all fall under the jurisdiction of the Mexican Federal government. Mexico is located in North America to the south of the United States and to the north of Central America. Its total land area, 1,972,550 square kilometers or 761,606 square miles, make it the 14th largest country in terms of land area. The Rio Grande determines the northern border of Mexico with the United States and the borders between Guatemala and Belize determine the southern borders of Mexico. Mexico is made up of two mountain rages: Sierra Madre Oriental and Sierra Madre Occidental. The Sierra Nevada, which is also known as the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, crosses through the center of the country. Lastly, the highest point in Mexico is the Pico de Orizaba, which reaches 5,700 meters or 18,701 feet.

Mexican Government

Mexico is a federation with a representative, democratic, and republican government. The Mexican Constitution was ratified in 1917 and established the three levels of government: the Federal Union, state governments, and municipal governments. The Federal Union is broken up into three branches: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. The President of the United Mexican States, currently Enrique Pena Nieto, who has veto power over laws passed by the legislative branch and is the commander-in-chief of the Mexican military, heads the Executive Branch. The Legislative Branch is a bicameral Congress, composed of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. Congress makes laws, declares war, establishes taxes and the budget, and approves any diplomatic appointment. The Chamber of Deputies is made up of 300 deputies, while the Senate is made up of 128 Senators. The Judicial Branch is the Supreme Court of Justice, which has eleven judges that the President appoints. Lastly, the three major political parties in Mexico are the National Action Party, the Institutional Revolutionary Party, and the Party of the Democratic Revolution. The current President is a member of the Institutional Revolutionary Party.

Mexican Economy

Mexico is considered to have the 14th largest nominal Gross Domestic Product and the 10th largest Gross Domestic Product by Purchasing Power Parity. As a result, it is considered to be an upper middle-income economy and country. However, despite this economic status, the number of people living in poverty has increased. From 2006 to 2010, the number of people that were considered to be in moderate or extreme poverty increased from 35% to 46% of the population. In fact, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development ranked Mexico second in the economic disparity between the rich and the poor. Mexico has the second largest electronics industry in the world and it also produces more automobiles than any other North American nation.

Transportation in Mexico

Mexico contains 366,095 kilometers or 227,481 miles of roads, but only 116,802 kilometers or 72,577 miles are paved. However, despite the large difference in unpaved and paved roads, Mexico has the largest paved-road network in Latin America. The Secretary of Communications and Transport had proposed and started a high-speed train project, which was projected to cost about $25 billion. The train is supposed to connect Mexico City to Guadalajara. Lastly, Mexico has 233 airports, but 35 have about 97% of the total passenger traffic. Mexico City International Airport is the largest Latin American airport and the 44th largest airport in the world.

Mexican Cuisine

Due to the various early setters in the region, current Mexican cuisine has received influences from many different cultures, especially Columbia and Spain. In general, Mexican food tends to include rice, beef, maize, avocado, chili pepper, beans, and many other ingredients. However, due to geographical and climate differences, each region has its own specialty. Northern Mexico is known for beef, goat, and ostrich dishes. Central Mexico is known for carnitas and tamales. Southeastern Mexico typically makes spicy vegetable and chicken dishes. Lastly, in the regions near the Pacific Ocean or Gulf of Mexico, seafood dishes tend to be very popular.

Demographic Challenge in Mexico

Health Care in Mexico

Since the start of the 21st century, Mexico has taken many steps in improving its health care system. In December of 2006, the government established Health Insurance for a New Generation, which essentially granted insurance to babies. In May of 2009, the government established Universal Health Care for Pregnant Women. Then, in 2012, the entire United Mexican States established a universal healthcare system. Because of the universal healthcare system, health care is either completely free or subsidized for all citizens, if they choose to use the public health system. Typically, a visit to the doctor’s office will cost $25 and a night’s stay in a hospital will cost $30. Private hospitals and private insurance policies still exist and can be used if a person is willing to pay for it. In fact, private facilities account for 13% of the country’s total facilities. Lastly, 97% of the population has access to potable water and 90% of the country has access to sanitized water.

Education in Mexico

Education in Mexico has three main stages, two of which are considered compulsory: primary, junior high school, and high school. Primary school is made up of grades one through six. Some primary schools are bilingual, helping the students master another prominent language. The Spanish word for “school”, escuela, describes primary school. Junior high school is grades seven through nine. During this portion of schooling, students are introduced to specific topics such as Chemistry or World History. High school, which is not mandatory for students, is grades ten through twelve. During the first few semesters, the students take a common curriculum. However, near the end of the program, students can take specialized electives, such as philosophy or economics. Students can also enter into a vocational training program to train them for skilled labor jobs in the market. Lastly, only about 23% of Mexican youth (ages 23-35 years) have an undergraduate degree from a college or university.

Other Resources

Mexico Population 2013