Mexico is the country in North America south of the United States. The United Mexican States incorporates 32 socially and geographically diverse states and Mexico City.
Mexican society, as in other Latin American countries, is characterized by extreme wealth and poverty. The bustling capital city, constantly built and rebuilt on the ruins of past civilizations, is today one of the most populous cities and metropolitan areas in the world. The central part of the country is in sharp contrast to the small communal villages in the south, where indigenous groups live much like their ancestors. The remains of the great pre-Columbian civilizations contrast with the colonial cities. Mexico is a mix of indigenous heritage and European culture brought by the Spaniards.
