Mexico is the North American country with the second-highest population. Only the United States has more people, while Canada ranks below Mexico despite its much larger land area.
Mexico’s population is concentrated in major urban and industrial regions, especially the Valley of Mexico, where Mexico City and its surrounding metropolitan area form one of the world’s largest urban zones. Other large population centers include Guadalajara, Monterrey, Puebla, and Tijuana.
A common mix-up is confusing population with area. Canada is the second-largest country in the world by land area and is geographically much larger than Mexico, but its colder climate and lower population density mean it has fewer residents. Mexico is also the most populous Spanish-speaking country in the world.
Population rankings can change gradually as countries grow at different rates, but Mexico’s position behind the United States is the standard answer for North America. In commonly used geographic definitions, the comparison includes the three large mainland countries: the United States, Mexico, and Canada.