A beautiful view of the San Pedro Garza García skyline in Mexico.
Metropolitan areas of Mexico are groups of nearby towns and cities that work closely together, usually centered around a big main city. This idea of metropolitan areas in Mexico started in the 1940s as more and more people moved to cities. Because so many people were moving and cities were growing fast, the way we think about these big city areas keeps changing. Experts in Mexico look at these areas regularly to understand how they are growing and what they need.
Identifying metropolitan areas in Mexico
One of the first studies to explain how to identify groups of cities that work closely together in Mexico was published in 1978. It described a metropolitan area as the land around a main city and nearby areas that are closely connected to it.
Later studies in 1993 and 2004 helped create official rules to decide which areas count as metropolitan. In 2018, the rules were updated again. Today, Mexico has 74 of these areas, where about 75.1 million people live — more than half of the country’s population.
Metropolitan areas beyond municipal borders
In northern states of Mexico, there are usually fewer, larger areas called municipalities. In central and southern states, there are more, smaller municipalities. Because of this, metropolitan areas in the north often include fewer municipalities than those in the central and southern parts.
Financial situation of metropolitan areas in Mexico
Figuring out the money matters for big city areas in Mexico can be tough. These areas have lots of people and many different jobs, making things complex. The Federal government of Mexico sends money to the Municipalities of Mexico, but these big areas are facing problems with their ability to collect taxes and are owing more money. The reasons why changing local taxes is hard in these areas aren’t very clear.
List of metropolitan areas in Mexico by population
Official names, sizes, and the number of municipalities for each metropolitan area in Mexico are listed here. The populations are from the 2020 and 2010 censuses.
The way people live in Mexico, especially in cities, has changed a lot because of the strong economic ties between places in northern Mexico and the United States. This change is linked to the growth of factories and the effects of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
Metropolitan areas along the border with the United States are closely connected with cities in the U.S. For example, the San Diego – Tijuana metropolitan area includes San Diego County in the U.S. and the municipalities of Tijuana, Playas de Rosarito, and Tecate in Mexico. In 2009, the total population of this area was just over 5 million, making it the largest area shared between the two countries. The National Population Council (CONAPO) identifies these areas as places with cities of at least 200,000 people that grow together with cities of the US.
A megalopolis is a long line of connected cities and areas that work closely together. One good example is the Northeast Megalopolis in the United States. In 1996, a plan called the Programa General de Desarollo Urbano del Distrito Federal first used this idea for the Mexico City megalopolis, also known as the "megalopolis of central Mexico." This idea was later expanded by PROAIRE, a group that looks after the environment in the big city area.
In the Spanish language, this area is called the corona regional del centro de México (regional ring). It includes many big cities and areas around the Valley of Mexico, such as Puebla, Cuernavaca, Toluca, Pachuca, Tlaxcala, Tulancingo, Tula, Cuautla, and Tianguistenco.
A beautiful view of Mexico City's Reforma avenue and Chapultepec park with tall buildings lining the street.A beautiful panoramic view of Guadalajara, Mexico, showing modern skyscrapers and urban architecture at Puerta de Hierro.A beautiful cathedral in Puebla, Mexico, showcasing impressive architecture and history.A beautiful view of Toluca city with the snow-capped Nevado de Toluca mountain in the background.Aerial view of the Paseo de los Héroes riverside walkway in Tijuana, showcasing the city's skyline and natural surroundings.A scenic view of León, Guanajuato, showcasing its beautiful landscape and landmarks.A historic aqueduct in the beautiful city of Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico.A scenic view of the Monumento a la Mexicanidad and the Río Bravo in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico.A beautiful fountain shaped like a half-sphere in Plaza Mayor, Torreón, Mexico.A map showing the Laredo-Nuevo Laredo Metropolitan Area across the Mexico-United States border.
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