How many states does Mexico have?

Mexico has 31 states. Together with Mexico City, which is a separate federative entity rather than a state, they make up 32 federal entities.

Each Mexican state has its own constitution, government, governor, and state congress. States are further divided into municipalities, which handle many local administrative responsibilities. The number of municipalities has changed over time as new ones have been created or boundaries have been reorganized.

The frequent answer of 32 comes from counting all of Mexico’s top-level federative entities. Mexico City was formerly the Federal District, but constitutional reforms that took effect on January 29, 2016, gave it a status broadly equivalent to that of a state while retaining its distinct legal designation.

Mexico’s federal structure developed after independence and was formalized under the Constitution of 1824, which established a federal republic. The modern distinction matters in trivia: the country has 31 states, but 32 federal entities when Mexico City is included.