History of Mexico in Timeline

Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a North American country bordering the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast. It has extensive coastlines on the Pacific Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico. Covering 1,972,550 km2, it's the thirteenth-largest country by land area. With over 130 million people, Mexico is the tenth-most populous globally and has the largest number of native Spanish speakers. Mexico City serves as its capital and largest city, a major metropolitan area worldwide.

1900: Mexican population

In 1900, the Mexican population was a little more than 13 million.

1910: Díaz announces he won't run in the elections

In 1910, Porfirio Díaz gave an interview where he said he was not going to run in the 1910 elections, setting off a frenzy of activity.

1910: Uprisings Against Díaz

In 1910, the Mexican Revolution began with uprisings against Díaz after the fraudulent 1910 election.

1910: Mexican Revolution Begins

In 1910, the Mexican Revolution began, leading to the overthrow of Porfirio Díaz.

1910: Establishment of the National Autonomous University of Mexico

In 1910, the National Autonomous University of Mexico was officially established, becoming one of the most important institutes of higher learning in Mexico.

1910: Start of the Mexican Revolution

The Mexican Revolution began in 1910.

May 1911: Díaz's Resignation

In May 1911, Díaz resigned, marking a key moment in the Mexican Revolution.

1911: End of the Porfirian Era

In 1911, the Porfirian era (el Porfiriato) ended in Mexico after four decades of civil unrest and war.

February 1913: Military Coup Overthrows Madero's Government

In February 1913, a military coup overthrew Madero's government, leading to Madero's murder.

March 1913: Wilson Refuses to Recognize Huerta's Regime

In March 1913, Woodrow Wilson refused to recognize Huerta's regime and allowed arms sales to the Constitutionalists.

1914: Defeat of the Federal Army

In 1914, a coalition of anti-Huerta forces defeated the Federal Army, leaving only revolutionary forces.

1915: Villa Defeated

After Villa was defeated by revolutionary forces in 1915, he led an incursion raid into Columbus, New Mexico, prompting the US to send troops in an unsuccessful attempt to capture Villa.

1916: Constitutional Convention

In 1916, the winners of the Mexican revolution met at a constitutional convention to draft the Constitution of 1917.

February 1917: Constitution of 1917 Ratified

In February 1917, the Constitution of 1917 was ratified.

1917: Germany Attempts to Incite War

In 1917, Germany attempted to get Mexico to side with it, sending a coded telegram to incite war between the US and Mexico, but Mexico remained neutral in the conflict.

1917: Adoption of the 1917 Constitution

In 1917, the 1917 Constitution was adopted in Mexico after the Mexican Revolution.

1917: Constitutional Limits on the Catholic Church

In 1917, the Constitution of Mexico put limits on the role of the Catholic Church in the country.

1917: Constitution of 1917

In 1917, the current constitution, Estados Unidos Mexicanos was used.

1919: Zapata Assassinated

In 1919, Carranza had Zapata assassinated.

1920: Overthrow of Carranza

In 1920, Obregón and two other Sonoran revolutionary generals drew up the Plan of Agua Prieta, overthrowing Carranza.

1920: End of Mexican Revolution

The Mexican Revolution ended in 1920 after a decade of conflict.

1920: Álvaro Obregón presidency

The post-revolutionary period (1920) was characterized by revolutionary generals serving as presidents, including Álvaro Obregón (1920–24).

1921: Census Reporting Population Loss

The 1921 census reported a loss of about 1 million inhabitants due to the Mexican Revolution.

1924: Plutarco Elías Calles presidency

In 1924, Plutarco Elías Calles became president (1924–28).

1925: Publication of La Raza Cósmica

In 1925, José Vasconcelos defined Mexico and Latin America to be the melting pot of all races in his book La Raza Cósmica (The Cosmic Race).

The Cosmic Race / La raza cosmica (Race in the Americas)

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1928: Obregón assassinated

In 1928, Obregón won the elections but was assassinated by a Catholic activist, causing a succession crisis.

1929: Institutes integrated into UNAM

From 1929 to 1973, twelve institutes were integrated into UNAM.

1929: Founding of the Institutional Revolutionary Party

In 1929, Calles founded the Institutional Revolutionary Party, which dominated Mexico for the rest of the 20th century.

1929: Founding of the PRI

In 1929, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) was founded to unite factions of the Mexican Revolution.

1934: Lázaro Cárdenas presidency

In 1934, Lázaro Cárdenas became president (1934–40).

1938: Mexican oil expropriation

The Mexican oil expropriation took place in 1938, which nationalized the U.S. and Anglo-Dutch oil company known as the Mexican Eagle Petroleum Company, which would result in the creation of the state-owned Pemex.

1939: Founding of the PAN

In 1939, the National Action Party (PAN) was founded as a conservative party.

1940: Manuel Avila Camacho presidency

In 1940, Manuel Avila Camacho became president (1940–46).

1943: Release of María Candelaria

In 1943, the film María Candelaria by Emilio Fernández was released.

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1946: Election of Miguel Alemán

From 1946 with the election of Miguel Alemán, Mexico embarked on a program of development, known as the Mexican miracle.

1946: María Candelaria awarded Palme d'Or

In 1946, María Candelaria was one of the first films awarded a Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

1947: Luis Buñuel begins filmmaking in Mexico

In 1947, Spanish-born director Luis Buñuel realized some of his masterpieces in Mexico.

1949: Release of Los Olvidados

In 1949, Luis Buñuel released the film Los Olvidados in Mexico.

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1950: Population Growth Rates

Between 1950 and 1980, Mexico had growth rates of over 3%.

1952: Foundation of Ballet Folklórico de México

In 1952, the Ballet Folklórico de México was founded.

1958: Government radio stations for indigenous education

From 1958 to 1965, bilingual government radio stations broadcasting in Spanish and indigenous languages were a tool for indigenous education.

1959: Creation of the Mexican Academy of Sciences

In 1959, the Mexican Academy of Sciences was created to coordinate scientific efforts between academics.

1961: Release of Viridiana

In 1961, Luis Buñuel released the film Viridiana in Mexico.

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1962: DINA S.A. begins building buses and trucks

In 1962, DINA S.A., a domestic car industry company, started building buses and trucks.

1965: Mexicans Migrated to the United States

Between 1965 and 2015, more than 16 million Mexicans migrated to the United States.

1965: Luis Buñuel ends filmmaking in Mexico

In 1965, Spanish-born director Luis Buñuel ended filmmaking in Mexico.

1968: Summer Olympics and Tlatelolco Massacre

In 1968, Mexico hosted the Summer Olympics, leading to student unrest and the Tlatelolco Massacre.

1968: Treaty of Tlatelolco

In 1968, Mexico signed the Treaty of Tlatelolco, pledging to use its nuclear technology only for peaceful purposes.

1968: 1968 Protests in Mexico

In 1968, protests occurred in Mexico, culminating in the counterculture rebellion, La Onda (the wave).

1968: Mexico City hosted the XIX Olympic Games

Mexico City hosted the XIX Olympic Games in 1968, the first Latin American city to do so.

1970: Mexico Hosted FIFA World Cup

Mexico hosted the 1970 FIFA World Cup.

1973: Institutes integrated into UNAM

From 1929 to 1973, twelve institutes were integrated into UNAM.

1978: Death of Carlos Chávez

In 1978, Carlos Chávez, the well-known Mexican composer of the twentieth century, passed away.

1979: Establishment of a National Network of Bilingual Radio Stations

Since 1979, the Instituto Nacional Indigenista has established a national network of bilingual radio stations.

1980: Population Growth Rates

Between 1950 and 1980, Mexico had growth rates of over 3%.

1980: Luis Barragán wins Pritzker Prize

In 1980, Luis Barragán won the Pritzker Prize, the highest award in architecture.

1980: Oil Exports

In 1980, oil exports accounted for 62% of Mexico's total exports.

1980: Literacy Rate in Mexico

In 1980, the literacy rate in Mexico was 82.99%.

1982: Mexican population grew

In 1982, Mexico's population grew to 70 million.

1986: Mexico Hosted FIFA World Cup

Mexico hosted the 1986 FIFA World Cup.

1987: Teotihuacan Designated UNESCO World Heritage Site

In 1987, Teotihuacan was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

December 1988: Salinas Takes Oath of Office

In December 1988, Salinas took the oath of office amidst protests in Mexico City over the stolen election.

1989: Founding of the PRD

In 1989, the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) was founded as a left-wing party.

1990: Telmex Privatization

In 1990, Telmex (Teléfonos de México), previously a government monopoly, was privatized.

1990: PRI Described as "Perfect Dictatorship"

In 1990, the PRI was described by Mario Vargas Llosa as the "perfect dictatorship", but there had been major challenges to the PRI's hegemony.

1992: Amendment to Article 2 of the Constitution of Mexico

In 1992, the Article 2 of the Constitution of Mexico was amended to define Mexico as a pluricultural country and specifically to emphasize the role of indigenous Mexicans.

1992: Release of Como agua para chocolate

In 1992, the film Como agua para chocolate was released.

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January 1994: NAFTA and Zapatista Uprising

On January 1994, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was finalized. On the same day, the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) in Chiapas began an armed rebellion against the federal government.

1994: Mexico Joins OECD

In 1994, Mexico joined the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

1994: Signing of NAFTA

In 1994, Mexico signed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), marking a shift towards neoliberalism, amidst unrest in Chiapas.

1995: Mario J. Molina Shares Nobel Prize

In 1995, Mexican chemist Mario J. Molina shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work in atmospheric chemistry.

1996: San Andrés Accords

In 1996, the San Andrés Accords which granted autonomy, recognition, and rights to the indigenous population of Mexico, were created.

1997: Church Service Attendance by Catholics

In 1997, 47% of Catholics in Mexico attended church services weekly.

1999: Economic Growth Peak

By 1999, macroeconomic reforms started by Ernesto Zedillo led to economic recovery and growth peaked at 7%.

1999: Release of Sex, Shame, and Tears

In 1999, the film Sex, Shame, and Tears was released.

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2000: Oil Exports

By 2000, oil exports accounted for only 7% of Mexico's total exports, a significant drop from 62% in 1980.

2000: Vicente Fox Wins Presidency

In 2000, the incumbent PRI party lost the presidential election to Vicente Fox of the opposing conservative National Action Party (PAN).

2000: Projected Population

It was expected that by 2000 there would be 120 million people living in Mexico.

2000: Journalists Killed/Disappeared Since 2000

More than 100 journalists and media workers have been killed or disappeared since 2000, with most of these crimes remaining unsolved.

2001: Release of Y tu mamá también

In 2001, the film Y tu mamá también was released.

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2002: Electronics Exports Growth

Between 2002 and 2012, electronics exports grew 73%.

2002: Second Fastest Deforestation Rate

In 2002, Mexico had the second-fastest rate of deforestation in the world.

2002: Release of The Crime of Father Amaro

In 2002, the film The Crime of Father Amaro was released.

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March 2003: Creation of the National Indigenous Languages Institute

In March 2003, the National Indigenous Languages Institute was created to promote and protect Mexico's indigenous languages.

2003: Anti-Discrimination Laws

Anti-discrimination laws regarding sexual orientation have existed in Mexico since 2003.

2005: Mexico presented candidature of its gastronomy for World Heritage Site of UNESCO

In 2005, Mexico presented the candidature of its gastronomy for World Heritage Site of UNESCO, the first time a country had presented its gastronomic tradition for this purpose.

2005: Solar PV Panels Installed

In 2005, there were only 115,000 square meters of solar PV (photo-voltaic) panels installed in Mexico.

2006: Telmex Expansion

By 2006, Telmex had expanded its operations to Colombia, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and the United States.

2006: Poverty rate increase

From 2006 to 2010, the portion of Mexican population who live in poverty rose from 19% to 46% (52 million people).

2006: Felipe Calderón Wins Disputed Election

In 2006, Felipe Calderón from the PAN was declared the winner of the presidential election with a narrow margin over Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who contested the election.

2006: Trade with US and Canada

In 2006, trade with the US and Canada accounted for almost 50% of Mexico's exports and 45% of its imports.

2006: Start of Mexico's Drug War

Mexico's drug war has been ongoing since 2006.

2006: Start of conflict between drug trafficking syndicates

Since 2006, approximately 127,000 deaths have been caused by ongoing conflict between drug trafficking syndicates.

2007: Increased Disappearances

Most of the 100,000 people officially listed as missing as of May 2022 have disappeared since 2007, when President Calderón attempted to stop the drug cartels.

2007: Missing People Since 2007

Since 2007, 130,000 people have disappeared and considered missing.

2008: Average income in urban areas of Mexico

According to a 2008 report the average income in an urban area of Mexico was $27,000, while in rural areas just miles away was, it only $8,000.

2008: Contribution to the UN Budget

In 2008, Mexico contributed over 40 million dollars to the United Nations regular budget.

2008: Remittances from Mexican citizens

In 2008, remittances from Mexican citizens working in the US dipped during the Great Recession.

November 2010: Mexican Gastronomy Recognized by UNESCO

In November 2010, Mexican gastronomy was recognized as Intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO.

2010: Foreigners Settled in Mexico

Around 2010, nearly 1 million foreigners had settled in Mexico.

2010: Trade Deficit with the United States

During the first three quarters of 2010, the United States had a $46 billion trade deficit with Mexico.

2010: Poverty rate increased

From 2006 to 2010, the portion of Mexican population who live in poverty rose from 19% to 46% (52 million people).

2010: Chile Joins OECD

In 2010, Chile gained full membership of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

2011: Electronics Exports to US

In 2011, Mexico exported $71 billion worth of electronics to the US, making it the second-largest exporter of electronics to the US.

2012: Morena Party Founded

After the 2012 elections, Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) founded the new political party MORENA.

2012: Electronics Exports Growth

Between 2002 and 2012, electronics exports grew 73%.

2012: PRI Returns to Power

In the 2012 presidential election, the PRI won the presidency again with the election of Enrique Peña Nieto, although he did not have a legislative majority.

2013: Telecommunications Reform

In 2013, a major reform of the telecommunications industry occurred in Mexico, with the creation of new broadcast television channels.

September 2014: Iguala Mass Kidnapping

The mass kidnapping of 43 students in Iguala on September 26, 2014, triggered nationwide protests.

2014: Crime Victims

Mexico's National Geography and Statistics Institute estimated that in 2014, one-fifth of Mexicans were victims of some sort of crime.

2015: Mexicans Migrated to the United States

Between 1965 and 2015, more than 16 million Mexicans migrated to the United States.

2015: English Proficiency in Mexico

In 2015, a high level of English proficiency was limited to 5% of the population in Mexico.

2015: Indigenous Languages Spoken in Mexico

In 2015, an estimated 8.3 million citizens in Mexico spoke indigenous languages, with Nahuatl spoken by over 1.7 million people.

2016: Kia and Audi open factories

In 2016, Kia opened a $1 billion factory in Nuevo León, and Audi opened an assembling plant in Puebla.

2016: Mexico City Political Division

In 2016, Mexico City, formerly known as the Federal District, dropped this designation and began the process of achieving greater political autonomy.

2017: Tourism in Mexico

As of 2017, Mexico was the 6th most visited country and had the 15th highest income from tourism globally.

2017: Mexican population

In 2017, the Mexican population grew to 123.5 million inhabitants.

2018: Poverty rate decrease

Between 2018 and 2022, the poverty rate had decreased by 6%, from 42% to 36% (from 52 to 47 million people).

2018: AMLO Wins Presidential Election

In 2018, Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) won the presidential election with over 50% of the vote.

2018: Mexican Expatriates Destinations

In 2018, among the remaining 2% of Mexican expatriates not residing in the U.S., the most popular destinations are Canada (86,780), primarily the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, followed by Spain and Germany.

2018: Land Use Statistics

In 2018, an estimated 54.9% of land in Mexico was agricultural, with varying percentages for arable land, permanent crops, pasture, and forest.

2018: Completion of SEGH-CFE 1 project

In 2018, the SEGH-CFE 1 project in Puerto Libertad, Sonora, was completed, with a capacity of 46.8 MW from 187,200 solar panels.

2018: Daily minimum wages were set

In 2018, the daily minimum wages are set at 88 pesos.

2018: Literacy Rate in Mexico

In 2018, the literacy rate in Mexico was 94.86%.

2018: MORENA Becomes Ruling Party

Since 2018, the National Regeneration Movement (Morena) has been the ruling party.

April 2019: Daniela Soto-Innes Named Best Female Chef

In April 2019, Daniela Soto-Innes was named the best female chef in the world by The World's Best 50 Restaurants.

2019: OECD's poverty line

According to the OECD's poverty line, in 2019, 20% of Mexico's population lived in poverty.

2019: Mexicans Living Outside Mexico

In 2019, an estimated 11.7 million Mexicans lived outside Mexico, in addition to 13.5 million born abroad and another 12 million descendants.

2019: Dissolution of Federal Police

In 2019, the Mexican Federal Police was dissolved and replaced by the National Guard.

2019: Formation of the National Guard

In 2019, the National Guard was formed from the disbanded Federal Police and military police.

2019: Villanueva Solar Park Opened

In 2019, the Villanueva solar park in Coahuila opened and became the largest solar power plant in the Americas, with a capacity of 828 MW.

2019: Forest Landscape Integrity Index Ranking

Mexico had a 2019 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 6.82/10, ranking it 63rd globally.

February 2020: First Confirmed COVID-19 Case

In February 2020, the first confirmed case of COVID-19 occurred in Mexico.

2020: Crime Statistics

A 2020 report by the BBC gives statistics on crime in Mexico, with 10.7 million households with at least one victim of crime.

2020: Religious Demographics in Mexico

According to the 2020 census, there were 58,876 Jews in Mexico.

2020: Largest number of native Spanish speakers

As of 2020, Mexico is home to the largest number of native Spanish speakers.

2020: Life expectancy increased

In 2020, Life expectancy increased to 75 years.

2020: Foreigners Settled in Mexico

In 2020, an estimated 1.2 million foreigners settled in Mexico, an increase from 2010.

2020: Arrest of Ex-CEO of Pemex

In 2020, as part of a push against corruption, the ex-CEO of Pemex, Emilio Lozoya Austin, was arrested.

2020: Literacy Rate in Mexico

In 2020, the literacy rate in Mexico was 95.25%.

2020: Metropolitan Areas in Mexico

In 2020, there were 48 metropolitan areas in Mexico, in which close to 53% of Mexico's population lives.

2021: New Immigrants Received in Mexico

In 2021, Mexico officially received 68,000 new immigrants, a 16% increase from the prior year.

2021: Remittances during COVID-19 pandemic

In 2021, remittances from Mexican citizens working in the US dipped during the COVID-19 pandemic but are now topping other sources of foreign income.

May 2022: Missing People Listed

As of May 2022, 100,000 people are officially listed as missing in Mexico.

2022: Sixth Most-Visited Country

As of 2022, Mexico is the sixth most-visited country in the world, with 42.2 million international arrivals.

2022: National Guard Personnel

As of 2022, the National Guard numbered 110,000 personnel.

2022: Poverty rate decrease

Between 2018 and 2022, the poverty rate had decreased by 6%, from 42% to 36% (from 52 to 47 million people).

2022: Newest Oil Refinery Built

In 2022 Mexico builds the newest oil refinery.

2022: Mexico's estimated population

In 2022, Mexico's estimated population was 129,150,971 people.

2022: Environmental Protection Law Report

In the 2022 report, it was noted environmental protection laws have improved in major cities but remain unenforced or unregulated in rural regions.

2023: Military Expenditure

As of 2023, military expenditures are a small fraction of GDP, at around 0.6%.

2023: Greenhouse Gas Emitters

In 2023 Mexico was in the top 15 highest greenhouse gas emitters, contributing over 5 million tonnes, or 1.4% of the global total.

2023: CONEVAL reports a decrease in the poverty rate

In 2023, CONEVAL reported that between 2018 and 2022, the poverty rate had decreased by 6%, from 42% to 36%.

2023: Elena Reygadas Named Best Female Chef

In 2023, Elena Reygadas was named the best female chef in the world.

2023: Gross National Income

The World Bank reported in 2023 that the country's gross national income was the second highest in Latin America after Brazil at US$1.7 trillion.

October 2024: Claudia Sheinbaum Sworn In

On October 1, 2024, Claudia Sheinbaum was sworn in as the first woman to lead Mexico, after winning the presidential election.

2024: Armed Forces Personnel

As of 2024, there are approximately 220,000 armed forces personnel, including the Army, Air Force, and Navy. The National Guard has roughly 110,000 personnel.

2024: Daily minimum wages are set

In 2024, the daily minimum wage was set at $248.93 Mexican pesos (US$13.24) in 2024 ($375 in the country's northern border).

2024: MORENA Wins Second Term

The National Regeneration Movement (Morena) won a second term in the 2024 general election.

April 2025: Mexico's Economy in April 2025

As of April 2025, Mexico has the 13th largest economy by purchasing power parity (PPP) (US$3.4 trillion), and a GDP per capita of US$26,000.

August 2025: Demonstrations Over Missing People

In August 2025, demonstrations were held all around Mexico, in protest over the 130,000 people who have disappeared and considered missing since 2007.