FIFA 2014 World Cup Ranking: 20

Star Player: Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez

Javier was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco. He's known for playing forward for Manchester United, and also his nickname Chicharito which means "little pea".  Keep an eye on him- Javier is the third highest goalscorer of all time for the Mexican national team.

COUNTRY STATS

Gross Domestic Product (GDP): $1.178 trillion

GDP per capita (PPP): $9,740

Government Structure: Presidential system, Federal Republic, Constitutional Republic

Corruption Index: 34 (ranked 106/177)

Maternal Mortality Ratio:: 49 of 100,000 

Percentage of Females in Parliament:: 36.8%

Religious Demographics: Roman Catholic 83%, Protestant 2%, Jehovah's Witness 2%, Other Evangelical 5%, none 5%

Literacy Rate: 93.5% of population

Health Barriers:

Access to Improved Drinking Water Source: 96%

Use of Improved Sanitation Facilities: 87%%

HIV prevalence rate: 0.3%

Youth % of populous (15-24) : 18.1%

Contraceptive Prevalence: 70.9%

Development History of Mexico:

Mexico is considered an upper-middle-income country who's economy has shown steady (but slow) growth over time. 

Today, nearly half of its population lives below the national poverty line, with many living in extreme poverty. Over 60% of Mexico's extreme poor live in rural areas, often relying on subsistence agriculture.

Mexico's development is constrained by numerous environmental factors, such as deforestation, and limited water/ contaminated water. Only by improving its water and forest management systems can Mexico hope to reach its full potential of growth.