Is Mexico in South America or Central America? It's North America.

Mexico is in North America — specifically, the southern portion of the continent.

Geographic Classification

• Continent: North America (shared with USA, Canada, Greenland, Bermuda, St. Pierre & Miquelon).
• Region: Often grouped in Middle America (Mexico + Central America) or Latin America (cultural/linguistic).
• Not Central America: Central America = 7 countries south of Mexico: Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama.
• Not South America: Begins at Colombia (Darién Gap).

Why the Confusion?

• Cultural ties: Spanish language, colonial history, Catholicism align with Central/South America.
• Regional bodies: Mexico belongs to OAS, CELAC, Pacific Alliance (with Chile, Colombia, Peru) — bridging north and south.
• US-centric view: "America = USA" leads to "Mexico = Central America" mental shortcut.

Key Facts

• Capital: Mexico City (19.2M metro) — highest elevation megacity (2,240 m).
• Area: 1.96M km² (13th world).
• Borders: USA (north), Guatemala & Belize (south), Pacific (west), Gulf of Mexico/Caribbean (east).

Mexico is geographically North American, culturally Latin American, politically bridging both.