ia), McAllen (Texas),
Midland (Texas), Orlando, Oxnard (California), Philadelphia,
Portland (Oregon), St. Louis, Salt Lake City, San Bernardino, San
Jose, Santa Ana (California), Seattle, Tucson

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Jeffery DAVIDOW

embassy: Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, 06500 Mexico,
Distrito Federal

mailing address: P. O. Box 3087, Laredo, TX 78044-3087

telephone: [52] (5) 209-9100

FAX: [52] (5) 208-3373, 511-9980

consulate(s) general: Ciudad Juarez, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Tijuana

consulate(s): Hermosillo, Matamoros, Merida, Nuevo Laredo, Nogales

Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side),
white, and red; the coat of arms (an eagle perched on a cactus with
a snake in its beak) is centered in the white band

Mexico Economy

Economy - overview: Mexico has a free market economy with a mixture
of modern and outmoded industry and agriculture, increasingly
dominated by the private sector. The number of state-owned
enterprises in Mexico has fallen from more than 1,000 in 1982 to
fewer than 200 in 2000. The ZEDILLO administration privatized and
expanded competition in seaports, railroads, telecommunications,
electricity, natural gas distribution, and airports. A strong export
sector helped to cushion the economy's decline in 1995 and led the
recovery in 1996-2000. Private consumption became the leading driver
of growth in 2000, accompanied by increased employment and higher
real wages. Mexico still needs to overcome many structural problems
as it strives to modernize its economy and raise living standards.
Income distribution is very unequal, with the top 20% of income
earners accounting for 55% of income. Trade with the US and Canada
has tripled since NAFTA was implemented in 1994. Mexico completed
free trade agreements with the EU, Israel, El Salvador, Honduras,
and Guatemala in 2000, and is pursuing additional trade agreements
with countries in Latin America and Asia to lessen its dependence on
the US.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $915 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 7.1% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $9,100 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5%

industry: 27%

services: 68% (2000)

Population below poverty line: 27% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%:
1.8%

highest 10%: 36.6% (1996)