Booking Travel/Tours

Internationally Important Mexico

by Kerry Walter - December, 2007

There are about 170 countries around our shared planet, and Mexico is indeed a powerhouse in many respects. In this simple analysis, Mexico and the United States are compared against all other countries in 23 chosen areas of criterion. The data for this report was provided by The Economist: Pocket World in Figures.*

Here is the list of 23 criterions with the rankings for Mexico and U.S, and following is a brief summary of findings. Note: the U.S. numbers are presented for comparison and contrast for this analysis.

1) Biggest Economies

U.S - 1

Mexico - 13

2) Biggest Economies - Purchasing Power

U.S - 1

Mexico - 12

3) Biggest Exporters

U.S - 2

Mexico - 17

4) Biggest Trader of Goods

U.S - 3

Mexico - 14

5) Official Reserves

U.S - 5

Mexico - 12

6) Largest Manufacturing Output

U.S - 1

Mexico - 10

7) Largest Services Output

U.S - 1

Mexico - 9

8) Foreign Direct Investment

U.S - 2

Mexico - 13

9) Largest Energy Producers

U.S - 1

Mexico - 10

10) Largest Oil Consumers

U.S - 1

Mexico - 14

11) Longest Railway Networks

U.S - 1

Mexico - 10

12) Most Rail Freight

U.S - 1

Mexico - 11

13) Most Air Travel

U.S - 1

Mexico - 25

14) Most Tourist Arrivals

U.S - 3

Mexico - 8

15) Largest Tourist Receipts

U.S - 1

Mexico - 14

16) Largest Number of National Parks & Nature Reserves

U.S - 3

Mexico - 15

17) Cinema Attendees

U.S - 2

Mexico - 8

18) Music Sales

U.S - 1

Mexico - 11

19) Lowest Death Rates

U.S - Higher Death Rate, Not on List

Mexico - 17

20) Lowest Divorce Rates

U.S - Higher Divorce Rate, Not on List

Mexico - 9

21) Global Competitiveness/ Govt.

U.S - 19

Mexico - 44

22) Top Business Environments

U.S - 6

Mexico - 40

23) Economies – GDP Growth for the Years 1999 - 2005

U.S - 3.4% - Mexico - 3.6%

Summary

The first remarkable thing is that in 22 of the direct rating comparisons above, Mexico is ranked within the top 10 in 8 measures, and in the top 11-15 in 9 more. In other words, Mexico has to be taken seriously as one of the most important counties in the world. And in the 23^rd measure, GDP Growth, or Gross Domestic Product Growth, Mexico actually ranks ahead of the United States at a healthy 3.6% growth as measured over the six years ending in 2005.

Mexico is a large economy, with serious purchasing power, and with strong exports and huge volumes of goods passing through its borders, ports, and market infrastructures. Mexico has the 12^th highest level of asset reserves in the world. The country has an impressive output of manufacturing & services, and is number 13 in the amount of direct foreign investment it receives. Mexico also moves a serious amount of rail freight across a lengthy and extensive railroad system.

Mexico gets her share of air travel, while having large numbers of tourists visiting, with substantial income generated from tourism. Mexico is number 15 in the world in terms of the number of national parks and nature reserves, and has a bunch of folks going to movie theaters and buying music!

We can see from the numbers that the Mexican people should take pride in the fact that they have lower death rates than the United States, as well as in Mexico’s very low rates of divorce.

Finally, areas that are shown by these numbers as needing improvement are Mexico’s global competitiveness (as it relates to effectiveness of government), and it’s standing as a top global business environment (relative to other nations of the global marketplace). But with so many positive economic and statistical measures in her favor, Mexico’s future looks to be one that is bright and full of promise.

* Profile Books, London, 2008