What is the capital of Mexico?
Mexico City sits in the Valley of Mexico at about 2,240 metres, built on the site of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan on the bed of a drained lake.
Mexico City is the capital and seat of government of Mexico, a role it has held since 1521. Mexico itself has an estimated population of 131,946,900 (2025).
Mexico City is also the largest city in Mexico, which is the usual arrangement, though it is far from universal: see the countries where capital and largest city differ.
Mexico City at a glance
| City population | 9,209,944 (2020 census) |
|---|---|
| Metropolitan area | 21,804,515 (2020 census) |
| Country | 🇲🇽 Mexico |
| Capital since | 1521 |
| Largest city in Mexico | Mexico City |
| Time zone | UTC−06:00 (CST) |
| Currency | Mexican peso (MXN) |
About Mexico City
Mexico City has been the capital of Mexico since 1521, the Spanish rebuilt the city on the ruins of Tenochtitlan after 1521, and it has been the capital ever since, through colonial New Spain and independent Mexico.
Mexico City is Mexico's largest city and the most populous city in North America.
Built on a drained lake bed, parts of the city are slowly sinking as groundwater is pumped from beneath it.
City facts sourced from Wikipedia: Mexico City.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Mexico?
Is Mexico City the largest city in Mexico?
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When did Mexico City become the capital of Mexico?
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Capitals of neighbouring countries
See the full profile of Mexico on its country page, or browse every capital city.
Capital and country data from open datasets; city and metropolitan populations are hand-curated per city and cited where they are shown. Populations of countries come from the World Bank (SP.POP.TOTL). Full sources and vintage on the data page. Last updated . Report a correction.