Ciudad Juárez: A Major City in Chihuahua, Not a State

Ciudad Juárez (Cd. Juárez) is not a state. It is a major border city in the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua.

Key Facts

• State: Chihuahua (largest state in Mexico by area).
• Location: On the Rio Grande (Río Bravo), directly across from El Paso, Texas, USA.
• Population: ~1.5 million (metro, 2023)—6th largest metro in Mexico.
• Economy: Maquiladora (export manufacturing) hub—automotive, electronics, medical devices. Major inland port of entry.
• Notable: El Paso–Juárez is the 2nd largest binational metro on the US-Mexico border (after San Diego–Tijuana).

Common Confusion

"Chih." is the standard abbreviation for the state of Chihuahua. "Cd. Juárez, Chih." = Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua (state). Similar to "El Paso, TX."