10 Fun Facts about Mexico That Will Spark Your Wanderlust

Every Cinco de Mayo, my family celebrated with music, laughter, and a colorful mix of traditions we only half understood—but fully enjoyed. I always looked forward to the dancing, the papel picado fluttering like butterflies overhead, and the stories shared by neighbors who had traveled through Mexico.

As I got older, curiosity kicked in. What else was hiding behind those mariachi tunes and festive parades? Spoiler: a lot. From volcanoes that pop up overnight to towns that change color with the seasons, Mexico is full of unexpected wonders—and I’m here to share some of the coolest ones with you.

In this article, I’ll share my favorite fun facts about Mexico.

1. Mexico City is the largest metropolitan area with 21.8 million people

Mexico City, Mexico, expanded from the ruins of Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital founded in 1325, to become North America’s largest metropolis. The core city contains 9.2 million residents and 170 museums, ranking second globally after London’s 240 museums.

Mexico City is built on an ancient lakebed at 2,240 meters above sea level. The city sinks 50 centimeters each year as groundwater pumping causes the ground to collapse. The city will sink the height of a 10-story building by 2174 if this continues.

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Largest Metropolitan Areas in the World

2. Mexican Cuisine was added to the UNESCO list of Immaterial World Cultural Heritage

One of the interesting facts about Mexico is that Mexican food is recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Traditional dishes in Mexican cuisine like mole, tamales, and Chiles en Nogada are central to Mexican culture and tell the story of the people and culture.

Chiles en Nogada, represents the colors of the Mexican flag.

Mole is a complex sauce with over 30 ingredients that blends native ingredients like chili peppers and chocolate with Spanish colonial influences like nuts and spices. Each family recipe is different.

Chiles en Nogada

3. Mexico has 68 recognized national languages

Mexico has 68 recognized languages, including 63 indigenous languages. These are the top five most spoken languages in Mexico.

4. Mexico’s Dia de los Muertos turns grieving into a 2-day remembrance festival

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) fills Mexican homes and cemeteries with celebrations from November 1 to 2 each year (one day after Halloween).

Families build ofrendas, altars containing photos, favorite foods and marigolds, to welcome returning spirits of loved ones. The tradition dates to 3,000-year-old rituals of the Aztec, Toltec, and Nahua peoples.

5. Mexico fought three wars to shape its modern nation

Mexican Catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo launched the War of Independence on September 16, 1810, leading 90,000 indigenous and mestizo followers against Spanish colonial rule. The 11-year war ended in 1821 when Mexico gained independence and established a republic in 1824.

French Emperor Napoleon III invaded Mexico in 1861 with 6,000 troops, seeking to establish a French empire in the Americas. Mexican forces defeated the French army at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, though French occupation continued until 1867.

The Mexican Revolution began on November 20, 1910, when Francisco I. Madero challenged President Porfirio Díaz’s 31-year dictatorship.

The decade-long conflict killed 1.5 million people and produced the 1917 Constitution, which established many of Mexico’s current democratic and land reform policies.

Celebration of cinco de mayo wearing traditional attire

6. Mexico consumes the most Coca-Cola per capita in the world

Mexico leads the world in Coca-Cola consumption. Many Mexicans enjoy it as a staple beverage, often accompanying meals.

Top 5 consumer-countries of Coca-Cola in the world per capita:

1. Mexico – 634 servings
2. United States – 403 servings
3. Brazil – 280 servings
4. Canada – 259 servings
5. South Africa – 247 servings

(A “serving” refers to an 8-ounce (240 ml) portion of Coca-Cola)

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7. Frida Kahlo‘s self-portraits revolutionized Mexican art

Frida Kahlo painted 143 works from her Mexico City home. Fifty-five self-portraits were the body of her work which merged Mexican folk art with European surrealism, prominently featuring traditional Tehuana dresses, pre-Hispanic symbols, and autobiographical elements.

Mexico added Kahlo to its currency in 2010, making her one of four women featured on Mexican banknotes, alongside writer Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, feminist Hermila Galindo, and revolutionary Carmen Serdán.

The Frida Kahlo Museum in Mexico City’s Coyoacán district displays her preserved home and studio, Casa Azul.

Casa Azul | Museo Frida Kahlo

• Address: Londres 247, Col. Del Carmen, Coyoacán, CDMX, México, 04100
• Hours:
  • Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 06:00 PM
  • Thursday to Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Closed on Mondays

8. Mexico has more Spanish speakers than any other country in the world

Mexico has 120 million native Spanish speakers, the largest number of Spanish speakers in the world, surpassing Spain.

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9. Mexico has the oldest university in North America

The Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico was founded in 1551 as the first university in North America, under control of the Spanish government and Catholic Church.

It was closed in 1865, but in 1910, its successor school, the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) was established. UNAM is Mexico’s most prestigious public research universities, known for its UNESCO World Heritage Site main campus and the academic heft it carries across Mexico and the world.

The Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico

10. Americans party harder on Cinco de Mayo than Mexicans do

Mexico’s calendar has nine major holidays, though only Cinco de Mayo became more celebrated abroad than at home. Mexico’s biggest celebration is for Independence Day El Grito ceremonies.

References:

UNESCO

museofridakahlo.org.mx