Mexico
North America · North America
Booming expat scene and a serious food culture; safety varies sharply by region.
Digital Nomad
Ideal destination
At a Glance
📈Mexico's Human Development Index
0.781
High human development#76 of 191 countries worldwide, #11 of 23 in North America.
Higher than 61% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →Mexico
Mexico is a country of extraordinary breadth, from the Aztec and Maya archaeological sites of the centre and south, to the canyons of the northwest, the Caribbean coast of the Yucatán, the food culture of Oaxaca, and one of the world's great megacities in Mexico City. The culture is a vibrant fusion of indigenous, Spanish, and contemporary influences, deeply expressive in its art, food, and festivals. Those who explore beyond the resort zones will find one of the richest travel destinations on earth.
- Has more Spanish speakers than Spain — the global centre of the language by population.
- Cacao and chocolate were invented here — Aztecs used cacao as currency.
- Mexico City is built on what was an island in a lake — Tenochtitlan's engineering is still visible underground.
- Día de Muertos is UNESCO-recognised — celebrates death in ways Western culture finds striking.
Quick Facts
Capital
Mexico City
Language
Spanish
Currency
$ MXN
Area
1.94M km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
94Mbps
Mobile
44Mbps
Digital Nomad Visa
Min. Income
$4,630/mo
Duration
48 months
Renewable
Yes
Application Fee
~$12,236
~$720
GDP / Capita
$14K
PPP / Capita
$26K
Inflation
3.8%
Unemployment
2.7%
Innovation (GII)
30.5
GNI / Capita
$14K
Tax Revenue
14.8%
FDI Inflows
2.4%
Education Spend
4.1%
Cost of Living
42.6
Price Level Index
35th pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.666 → 0.781 (+0.115)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
Thinking about Mexico for real?
The matcher weighs your budget, timeline and dealbreakers against the same data on this page, then answers with the places that actually fit.
Find your match →Neighbouring Countries
Mexico head-to-head
💬Quick answers
What is Mexico's Human Development Index?
Mexico's Human Development Index is 0.781 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #76 of 191 countries.
Is Mexico safe?
Mexico scores 2.65 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #137 of 160 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.
How expensive is Mexico?
Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Mexico at 42.6 (New York = 100); that is #77 cheapest of 143 countries with data.
What is life expectancy in Mexico?
Life expectancy at birth in Mexico is 75.3 yrs (World Bank), ranked #86 of 195 countries.
What is the quality of life in Mexico?
Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Mexico at 125.3, ranked #58 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.