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 maritime boundaries with the Pacific Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico. Covering 1,972,550 km2, it's the 13th 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 is its capital and largest city, ranking among the world's most populous metropolitan areas and also marks it as the northwesternmost country in Latin America.

1900: Mexican population

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

1910: Start of the Mexican Revolution

Around 1910, the Mexican Revolution began, lasting until 1920 and greatly impacting population growth.

1910: Mexican Revolution

During the Mexican Revolution (1910–20), Corridos were particularly popular.

1910: Establishment of UNAM

The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) was officially established in 1910.

May 1911: Díaz's Resignation

In May 1911, President Díaz resigned amidst scattered uprisings against him after the fraudulent 1910 election.

1911: End of the Porfiriato

In 1911, The 35-year rule of Liberal General Porfirio Díaz ended.

February 1913: Military Coup and Madero's Overthrow

In February 1913, a military coup d'état overthrew Madero's government, with the support of the U.S.

March 1913: Wilson Refuses to Recognize Huerta's Regime

In March 1913, Democrat Woodrow Wilson was inaugurated as president and refused to recognize Huerta's regime.

1914: Defeat of the Federal Army

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

1915: Battle of Celaya

In 1915, Carranza's general Alvaro Obregón defeated Pancho Villa in the Battle of Celaya.

1916: Constitutional Convention

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

February 1917: Ratification of the 1917 Constitution

In February 1917, the winners of the Mexican Revolution ratified the Constitution of 1917.

1917: Constitution of 1917

Although the Constitution of 1917 put limits on the role of the Roman Catholic Church in Mexico, Roman Catholicism remains the country's dominant religious affiliation.

1917: Calles enforced anticlerical articles of the 1917 Constitution

Calles strictly enforced anticlerical articles of the 1917 Constitution, which ended with an agreement.

1917: German Telegram

In 1917, Germany sent a coded telegram to Mexico attempting to incite war between the U.S. and Mexico.

1917: Adoption of the 1917 Constitution

In 1917, Mexico adopted the 1917 Constitution as a result of the Mexican Revolution.

1917: Use of Estados Unidos Mexicanos

In 1917, the Constitution used the name Estados Unidos Mexicanos, translated as "United Mexican States".

1919: Assassination of Emiliano Zapata

In 1919, President Carranza had peasant leader Emiliano Zapata assassinated.

1920: End of the Mexican Revolution

Around 1920, the Mexican Revolution ended, having greatly impacted population growth since 1910.

1920: Overthrow and Death of Carranza

In 1920, Obregón and other Sonoran revolutionary generals overthrew Carranza, who died fleeing Mexico City.

1920: Obregón Presidency Begins

In 1920, Álvaro Obregón began his presidency, marking the beginning of the post-revolutionary period.

1921: Census reports population loss

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

1924: Calles Presidency Begins

In 1924, Plutarco Elías Calles began his presidency, succeeding Álvaro Obregón.

1925: Publication of La Raza Cósmica

In 1925, José Vasconcelos defined Mexico and Latin America as 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: Assassination of Obregón

In 1928, Obregón was assassinated by a Catholic activist, causing a political crisis of succession.

1929: Integration of institutes 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 to manage presidential succession.

1929: Beginning of the Maximato

In 1929, the period known as the Maximato began, during which Calles remained the key political figure.

1934: Cárdenas Presidency Begins

In 1934, Lázaro Cárdenas began his presidency and expelled Calles from the country.

1934: End of the Maximato

In 1934, the Maximato ended during the presidency of Lázaro Cárdenas.

1936: Foundation of National Polytechnic Institute

In 1936, the National Polytechnic Institute was founded in Mexico.

March 1938: Mexican Oil Expropriation

In March 1938, the Mexican government carried out the Mexican oil expropriation, nationalizing the Mexican Eagle Petroleum Company.

1939: Founding of the National Action Party (PAN)

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

1940: Avila Camacho Presidency Begins

In 1940, Manuel Avila Camacho began his presidency, succeeding Lázaro Cárdenas.

1940: Beginning of Ávila Camacho's Presidency

In 1940, Manuel Ávila Camacho began his presidency, marking a more moderate period and improved relations with the U.S.

1943: María Candelaria film release

In 1943, Emilio Fernández directed film María Candelaria was released.

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1946: Election of Miguel Alemán

From 1946, with the election of Miguel Alemán, Mexico embarked on an aggressive program of economic development.

1946: End of Revolutionary Generals as Presidents

In 1946, Manuel Avila Camacho's term ended, marking the end of revolutionary generals serving as Presidents of Mexico.

1946: María Candelaria awarded Palme d'Or

In 1946, María Candelaria by Emilio Fernández, was one of the first films awarded a Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, the first time the event was held after World War II.

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1947: Luis Buñuel started realizing masterpeices in Mexico

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

1949: Los Olvidados film release

In 1949, Luis Buñuel realized his masterpiece Los Olvidados.

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1950: Population growth rate

Between 1950 and 1980, the country registered growth rates of over 3%.

1952: Ballet Folklórico de México Founded

In 1952, the Ballet Folklórico de México was founded and performs music and dance of the prehispanic period through the Mexican Revolution.

1958: 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: Viridiana film release

In 1961, Luis Buñuel realized his masterpiece Viridiana.

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

In 1962, DINA S.A. started building buses and trucks in Mexico.

1965: Mexican migration to the United States

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

1965: Luis Buñuel realizes masterpeices in Mexico

In 1965, Luis Buñuel realizes masterpeices in Mexico.

1968: Treaty of Tlatelolco

In 1968, Mexico abandoned the possibility of manufacturing nuclear weapons with the Treaty of Tlatelolco, pledging to use its nuclear technology only for peaceful purposes.

1968: Tlatelolco Massacre and Summer Olympics

In 1968, Mexico hosted the Summer Olympics. Demonstrations resulted in the Tlatelolco Massacre, where an estimated 300 protesters were killed.

1968: 1968 Protests

In 1968, native rock culture merged into the larger countercultural and political movement culminating in protests.

1968: Tlatelolco Massacre

In 1968, the Tlatelolco massacre occurred amidst political unrest, with government forces killing protestors.

1968: Mexico City Hosted XIX Olympic Games

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

1970: Mexico Hosted 1970 FIFA World Cup

Mexico hosted the 1970 FIFA World Cup.

1973: Integration of institutes into UNAM

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

1978: Death of Carlos Chávez

Carlos Chávez (1899–1978), the most well-known Mexican composer of the twentieth century, died in 1978.

1979: Instituto Nacional Indigenista

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

1980: Population growth rate

Between 1950 and 1980, the country registered growth rates of over 3%.

1980: Oil Exports

In 1980, oil exports accounted for 61.6% of Mexico's total exports.

1980: Literacy rate in Mexico

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

1980: Luis Barragán won Pritzker Prize

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

1982: Mexican population

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

1986: Mexico Hosted 1986 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 Office Amidst Protests

In December 1988, Carlos Salinas took the oath of office as president of Mexico, amidst massive protests in Mexico City due to allegations of electoral fraud during the election.

1989: Founding of the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD)

In 1989, the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD), a left-wing party, was founded as the successor of the coalition of socialists and liberal parties.

1990: Privatization of Telmex

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

1990: PRI Described as "Perfect Dictatorship"

In 1990, the PRI was famously described by Mario Vargas Llosa as the "perfect dictatorship", although by this time the PRI's hegemony had already faced major challenges.

1992: Amendment to the Constitution of Mexico

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

1992: Como agua para chocolate film release

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

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January 1994: NAFTA Implemented and Zapatista Rebellion Begins

On January 1, 1994, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was implemented. On the same day, the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) in Chiapas began an armed peasant rebellion against the federal government.

1994: NAFTA Signing and Zapatista Uprising

In 1994, Mexico signed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Zapatista uprising took place.

1994: Mexico Joins the OECD

Mexico joined the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in 1994.

1995: Mario J. Molina wins Nobel Prize

In 1995, Mexican chemist Mario J. Molina shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Paul J. Crutzen and F. Sherwood Rowland for their work in atmospheric chemistry.

1996: San Andrés Accords

The 1996 San Andrés Accords granted autonomy, recognition, and rights to the indigenous population of Mexico, following the Zapatista Army of National Liberation's push against the mestizaje ideology.

1999: Economy Growth Peak

By the end of 1999, the Mexican economy had rapidly recovered from the peso crisis and economic growth peaked at almost 7%.

1999: Sex, Shame, and Tears film release

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

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2000: Oil Exports

By 2000, oil exports accounted for only 7.3% of Mexico's total exports.

2000: PRI Loses Presidential Election

In 2000, after 71 years of rule, the incumbent PRI lost the presidential election to Vicente Fox of the National Action Party (PAN).

2000: Expected population

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

2000: Journalists Killed or Disappeared

Since 2000, more than 100 journalists and media workers have been killed or disappeared in Mexico, with most cases remaining unsolved.

2001: Slowdown of Mexican Economy

After the economic slowdown of 2001, Mexico's economy began to recover.

2001: Y tu mamá también film release

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

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2002: Growth of Mexican Electronics Exports

Between 2002 and 2012, the Mexican electronics exports grew 73%.

2002: Second Fastest Rate of Deforestation

In 2002, Mexico had the second fastest rate of deforestation in the world, only behind Brazil.

2002: The Crime of Father Amaro film release

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 the use of the country's indigenous languages.

2003: Anti-Discrimination Laws Enacted

Since 2003, anti-discrimination laws regarding sexual orientation have existed in Mexico.

2004: Mexico's Economic Growth

In 2004, Mexico experienced economic recovery and grew by 4.2 percent.

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

In 2005, Mexico presented the candidature of its gastronomy for World Heritage Site of UNESCO.

2005: Mexico's Economic Growth

In 2005, Mexico's economy continued to grow, reaching 3.0 percent.

2005: Solar PV panel usage in Mexico

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

2006: Telmex expands operations

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

2006: Poverty Rises in Mexico

From 2006 to 2010 the portion of Mexicans who live in poverty rose from 18%–19% to 46%.

2006: Calderón Declared Winner of Presidential Election

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

2006: Mexico's Economic Growth

In 2006, Mexico's economic growth accelerated to 4.8 percent.

2006: Mexico's trade with US and Canada

In 2006, trade with the United States 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, ongoing since 2006, has resulted in over 120,000 deaths and approximately 37,000 missing persons.

2006: Drug Trafficking Syndicates Conflict

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

2007: Goldman Sachs Report on Mexico's Economy

According to a Goldman Sachs report published in 2007, by 2050 Mexico will have the 5th largest economy in the world.

2007: Rise in Missing Persons

Most of the 100,000 people officially listed as missing in Mexico as of May 2022, have gone missing since 2007, coinciding with President Calderón's efforts to stop the drug cartels.

2008: UN Report on Income Disparity in Mexico

According to a 2008 UN report the average income in a typical urbanized area of Mexico was $26,654, while the average income in rural areas just miles away was only $8,403.

2008: Great Recession dips remittances

During the 2008 Great Recession, remittances from Mexican citizens working in the United States dipped.

2008: Contribution to United Nations Budget

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

August 2010: Mexico becomes 9th largest holder of US debt

In August 2010, Mexico surpassed France to become the 9th largest holder of US debt.

November 2010: Mexican gastronomy recognized as Intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO

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

2010: Skin color surveys

According to a 2010 survey, more than 40% of Mexican people identified with light skin tones.

2010: Foreigners settled in Mexico

As of 2010, nearly 1 million foreigners settled in Mexico.

2010: CONEVAL publishes first nationwide poverty report

From 2006 to 2010 (the year on which the CONEVAL published its first nationwide report of poverty) the portion of Mexicans who live in poverty rose from 18%–19% to 46%.

2010: Chile Gained Full Membership in the OECD

In 2010, Chile gained full membership in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

2011: Mexico's Electronics Exports to the U.S.

In 2011, Mexico was the second-largest exporter of electronics to the United States, exporting $71.4 billion worth of electronics.

2012: López Obrador Founds MORENA Political Party

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

2012: Growth of Mexican Electronics Exports

Between 2002 and 2012, the Mexican electronics exports grew 73%.

2012: PRI Wins Presidency Again

In 2012, the PRI won the presidency again with the election of Enrique Peña Nieto, although without a legislative majority.

2013: Telecommunications Industry Reform

In 2013, there was a major reform of the telecommunications industry, with the creation of new broadcast television channels.

September 2014: Mass Kidnapping of Students in Iguala

On September 26, 2014, the mass kidnapping of 43 students in Iguala triggered nationwide protests against the government's weak response and widespread corruption.

2015: Mexican migration to the United States

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

September 2016: Kia and Audi open factories in Mexico

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

2016: Mexico City achieves greater political autonomy

In 2016, Mexico City dropped its designation as the Federal District and began the process of achieving greater political autonomy by becoming a federal entity with its own constitution and congress.

2017: Skin color surveys

According to 2017 surveys by Mexico's Council to Prevent Discrimination, 28-29% of Mexican people identified with light skin tones.

2017: Mexico's Tourism Ranking

As of 2017, Mexico was the 6th most visited country in the world and had the 15th highest income from tourism, which is the highest in Latin America. In the 2017 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report, Mexico was ranked 22nd in the world, which was 3rd in the Americas.

2017: Mexican population

In 2017, Mexico's population was 123.5 million.

December 2018: Completion of SEGH-CFE 1 solar project

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

2018: Andrés Manuel López Obrador Wins Presidential Election

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

2018: Land Usage Statistics

In 2018, an estimated 54.9% of land in Mexico was agricultural; 11.8% was arable; 1.4% was in permanent crops; 41.7% was permanent pasture; and 33.3% was forest.

2018: Literacy rate in Mexico

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

2018: Daily Minimum Wage

In 2018, the minimum wage was set at 88.15 pesos.

2018: Decrease in Mexico's poverty rate

Within the period between 2018 and 2022, CONEVAL registered a 5.6% decrease in the poverty rate.

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: Poverty Rate in Mexico

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

2019: Mexicans living outside Mexico

As of 2019, an estimated 11.7 million Mexicans live outside Mexico.

2019: Forest Landscape Integrity Index

In 2019, Mexico had a Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 6.82/10, ranking it 63rd globally out of 172 countries.

2019: Dissolution of the Mexican Federal Police

In 2019, the Mexican Federal Police was dissolved by a constitutional amendment 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 of the Army and Navy.

2019: Villanueva solar park opens

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

February 2020: First Confirmed Case of COVID-19 in Mexico

On February 28, 2020, the first confirmed case of COVID-19 was reported in Mexico.

December 2020: COVID-19 Vaccination Begins in Mexico

In December 2020, the COVID-19 vaccination program started in Mexico.

2020: Crime Statistics in Mexico

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: Mexico's census results

According to Mexico's 2020 census, 19.4% of the population identifies as indigenous, 6.1% speaks an Indigenous language, and 2.04% are Afro-Mexicans.

2020: Census results for religious minorities

According to the 2020 census, there are 58,876 Jews in Mexico, 7,982 Muslims, and 36,764 Mexicans reported belonging to a spiritualist religion.

2020: Foreigners settled in Mexico

As of 2020, an estimated 1.2 million foreigners settled in Mexico.

2020: Literacy rate in Mexico

As of 2020, the literacy rate in Mexico is 95.25%.

2020: Arrest of Ex-CEO of Pemex

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

2020: Life expectancy

In 2020, life expectancy in Mexico increased to 75 years.

2020: Metropolitan areas in Mexico

In 2020, there were 48 metropolitan areas in Mexico, in which close to 53% of the country's population lives. Greater Mexico City had a population of 21.8 million.

2020: Religion census

The 2020 census indicates that 77.8% of the Mexican population identifies as Roman Catholic, while 11.2% belong to Protestant/Evangelical Christian denominations, and 8.1% declared having no religion.

2021: COVID-19 pandemic dips remittances

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, remittances from Mexican citizens working in the United States dipped again.

2021: New immigrants received by Mexico

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

May 2022: Missing Persons Listed

As of May 2022, 100,000 people are officially listed as missing in Mexico, most since 2007.

2022: Skin color surveys

According to 2022 surveys by Mexico's Council to Prevent Discrimination, 28-29% of Mexican people identified with light skin tones.

2022: Mexico's population estimate

According to Mexico's National Geography and Statistics Institute, the country's estimated population in 2022 was of 129,150,971 people.

2022: Tourism in Mexico

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

2022: National Guard Personnel Count

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

2022: New oil refinery being built

In 2022, Mexico was building a new oil refinery.

2022: Environmental Protection Laws Improvement

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

2022: Full Recognition of Same-Sex Marriage

Since 2022, Mexico has fully recognised same-sex marriage.

2022: Decrease in Mexico's poverty rate

Within the period between 2018 and 2022, CONEVAL registered a 5.6% decrease in the poverty rate.

2023: Military Expenditures

As of 2023, Mexico's military expenditures are approximately 0.6% of GDP.

2023: CONEVAL reports decrease in Mexico's poverty rate

In 2023, CONEVAL reported that Mexico's poverty rate had been decreasing in recent years, registering a 5.6% decrease between 2018 and 2022, although the extreme poverty rate rose slightly and access to healthcare services decreased significantly.

2023: Elena Reygadas named best female chef

In 2023, Elena Reygadas was named the best female chef by The World's Best 50 Restaurants.

2023: Mexico's greenhouse gas emissions

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

2023: World Bank reports Mexico's gross national income

In 2023, the World Bank reported that Mexico's gross national income in market exchange rates was the second highest in Latin America after Brazil at US$1,744,711.4 million.

April 2024: Mexico's GDP

As of April 2024, Mexico had the 12th largest nominal GDP (US$1.848 trillion) and the 12th largest by purchasing power parity (US$3.303 trillion), with a GDP in PPP per capita of US$24,971.

October 2024: Claudia Sheinbaum Becomes First Woman President

In October 2024, Claudia Sheinbaum was sworn in as Mexico's president, becoming the first woman to lead the country.

2024: Armed Forces Personnel Count

As of 2024, there are approximately 220,000 armed forces personnel: 160,000 Army; 10,000 Air Force; and 50,000 Navy, including about 20,000 marines. The National Guard has roughly 110,000 personnel.

2024: Mexico's Global Innovation Index Ranking

In 2024, Mexico was ranked 56th in the Global Innovation Index.

2024: Daily Minimum Wage

In 2024, the daily minimum wage in Mexico will be $248.93 Mexican pesos (US$13.24), with a higher rate of $375 in the country's northern border.

2026: Mexico to Co-Host 2026 FIFA World Cup

Mexico will co-host, along with Canada and the United States, the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

2030: Mexico's emission reduction target

By 2030, Mexico has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 35%, with an increased target of 40% conditional upon external support, and aims to cut black carbon emissions by 51% unconditionally and 70% with additional support.