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Republic of Yucatan

República de Yucatán (Spanish)

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Flag

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Motto: Con fuerza y con valor, todo es posible
(With strength and with courage, everything is possible)

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Anthem
Nuestra bella Yucatán
(Our beautiful Yucatan)

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Location

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Population: 39,787,000
(37th)

Density: 104.21 km² (269.92 mi²)
(112nd)

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Capital: Mérida (21°N, 89.6° W)
and largest city

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Official Language: none

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National Language(s): Spanish, English and 26 other Mayan languages

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Ethnic Groups
54.81% Mestizos
33.46% Amerindians
10.54% Whites
0.72% Afro-Yucatecs
0.47% Asians

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Religion
89.1% Christian
– 54.3% Roman Catholic
– 31.9% Protestant
– 2.9% Other Christan
10.1% Irreligion
0.8% Others

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Demonym: Yucatec

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Government:
- President: Sara Rodríguez
- Vice President: Axel Cisneros
- Speaker of the House: Natalia Herrera
- Chief Justice: Manuel Fierro

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Legislature: Congress
- Upper House: Senate
- Lower House: Chamber of Representatives

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Independence: from Mexico
Declared: 16 March 1841
First constitution: 16 May 1841
Treaty of Mérida: 24 July 1843
Current constitution: 1 June 1908

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Total Area: 381,768 km²
(147,401 mi²) (62nd)
Water Area: 7,754 km²
Water %: 2.0

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Elevation
Highest Point: Volcán Tajumulco (4,202 m)
Lowest Point: Caribbean Sea (0 m)

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GDP (PPP):
Total: $1.769 trillion (18th)
Per capita: $44,469 (27th)

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GDP (nominal):
Total: $866.4 billion (18th)
Per capita: $21,777 (64th)

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Gini: 32.6 (medium)

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Human Development Index: 0.864 (very high)

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Currency: Yucatec sol

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Time Zone: UTC–6

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Date Format DD-MM-YYYY

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Drives on the right

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Calling code +502

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ISO 3166 Code YC

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Internet TLD .yc

This factbook is part of a series on the

Republic of Yucatan

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All Topics:

La República de Yucatán

Republic of Yucatan

Yucatan (Spanish: Yucatán [ɟʝukaˈtan] listen); Mayan: Yúukatan), officially the Republic of Yucatan (Spanish: República de Yucatán), is a federal republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the Gulf of Mexico, on the south by Pacific Ocean, on east by the Caribbean Sea, on the west by Mexico, and on the southeast by El Salvador and Honduras. Yucatan covers 381,768 square kilometres (147,401 sq mi) and has an estimated population of 38,620,000 people. It is a federation comprising 12 states with Mérida as the capital city as well its largest settlement. Other major urban areas include Cancún, Guatemala City, Villahermosa, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Mixco and Villa Nueva.

The Maya civilization, one of the six major Mesoamerican civilizations, is historically traced to the territory of modern-day Yucatan. In the 16th century, most of this area was conquered by the Spanish as part of the viceroyalty of New Spain while what is now Belice became a British colony. After Mexico achieved independence from Spain, Yucatan seceded from the country in 1841 and was fully recognized two years later.

The country endured a turbulent beginning with several internal and external conflicts, one of them being the conquest of what is now the state of Tabasco in 1846. Years of political stability followed as new reforms were instituted. After the agreed annexation of Guatemala in 1863, Yucatan experienced an authoritarian dictatorship that was under control of Jorge Carrasco. The end of the oppressive rule was marked by strained relationships with other Central American nations leading to a war against the Greater Republic of Central America in 1897. The victory in said conflict later established Yucatan as a regional powerhouse and subsequent territorial purchases established the basis for a major economic increase and the Constitution of 1908. Yucatan's golden era lasted until the outburst of the Great Depression and has since established itself as a significant nation in the Americas through major social, economic, political and cultural reforms.

Yucatan has been classified as both a developing and developed country. It ranks 45th on the Human Development Index but has been considered a newly industrialized state. It has the world's 19th-largest economy by nominal GDP and the 18th-largest by PPP, with Mexico being its largest economic partner. Yucatan's economy, area, population and politics make it a regional power and a middle power, and is often identified as an emerging power. Historically, Yucatan has struggled with widespread inequality, poverty and crime, but those issues have largely been decreasing over the last few decades through the aforementioned reforms.

Yucatan has 11 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, making it the joint-sixth highest in the Americas and 26th in the world. Yucatan is also a megadiverse country and a biodiversity hotspot. Yucatan receives a significant number of tourists every year; it was the 12th most-visited country in the world in 2019 with 35 million international arrivals. Yucatan is a member of the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, G20, NAFTA, and ALADI among others.

Etymology

Main article: Etymology of Yucatan

The etymology of Yucatan is largely debated. Two main theories are commonly attributed to Diego López de Cogolludo, a Franciscan historian that lived in the 17th century. The first one involves Francisco Hernández de Córdoba, who first arrived to the peninsula in 1517, and the possibility of an inquiry to which the local populace to which they answered "I don't understand" in Yucatec Mayan. This response probably sounded like "Yucatan" to the Spaniards. This version was also repeated by Motolinia and Francisco López de Gómara, two 16th century historians. The second theory is linked to the yuca crop as written by Bernal Diaz del Castillo, who came along Córdoba in 1517. Other theories indicate that the namesake comes from the Chontal word yokat'an which means speaker of the Chontal Maya language. Another language-related theory involves an incorrect Nahuatl term yokatlan, which wrongly translates to "place of richness".

History

Main article: History of Yucatan

Pre-Columbian Yucatan
The first evidence of human inhabitation in Yucatan dates to around 18,000 BC at the earliest. Obsidian arrowheads are the main type of archeological evidence that suggests this. However, it was the Maya who were the first advanced civilization that inhabited the area. The Maya developed their first civilization in the Preclassic period, typically dating to 2600 BC in what's today the state of Belice. At around 1800 BC, settlements were established around the Soconusco region in the Pacific coast as the Maya were already cultivating crops such as maize, beans, squash, and chili pepper. This period was also notable for the introduction of pottery and fired clay figurines.

During the Middle Preclassic Period, small villages began to grow to form cities starting in around 750 BC. Nakbe in the state of Petén is the earliest well-documented city in the Maya lowlands. The northern lowlands of Yucatán were also widely settled during this same period. It was until the 3rd century BC when a developed script was already being used in Petén. Around the same time, other cities such as Tikal and El Mirador were major centers. In the highlands, Kaminaljuyu emerged as a principal city in the Late Preclassic, while Takalik Abaj and Chocolá were two of the most important cities on the Pacific coast, and Komchen grew to become an important site in northern Yucatán. The Late Preclassic cultural florescence collapsed in the 1st century AD and many of the great Maya cities of the epoch were abandoned.

The Classical Maya period was characterized by large-scale construction, urbanism, monumental inscriptions, and intellectual and artistic development in the southern lowland regions. The largest cities had populations ranging from 50,000 to 120,000 and were linked to networks of subsidiary sites. Teotihuacan in central Mexico influenced cities throughout the Maya region, leading to political dominance and rivalry with Calakmul. In AD 378, Sijak Kʼakʼ intervened at Tikal and other cities, leading to the establishment of a new dynasty. Tikal became the most powerful city in the central lowlands, and rivalry with Calakmul led to periods of florescence and decline.

In the highlands, Kaminaljuyu was already a sprawling city, while Coba was the most important capital. In the southeast, Copán was the most important city, founded in 426 by Kʼinich Yax Kʼukʼ Moʼ. Copán's dynasty reached its peak during Uaxaclajuun Ubʼaah Kʼawiil (695–738), but his reign ended when he was captured by his vassal, king Kʼakʼ Tiliw Chan Yopaat of Quiriguá. Palenque and Yaxchilan were the most powerful cities in the Usumacinta region.

During the 9th century AD, the central Maya region experienced a major political collapse, marked by the abandonment of cities, the ending of dynasties, and a northward shift in activity. This period, known as the Terminal Classic, saw increased activity in the northern cities of Chichen Itza and Uxmal, while cities in the northern Yucatan Peninsula remained inhabited even after the southern lowlands stopped raising monuments.

Classic Maya social organization was based on the ritual authority of the ruler, rather than central control of trade and food distribution. By the 9th and 10th centuries, this system collapsed, with the northern Yucatán reverting to individual rule and the southern Yucatan and central Petén reducing kingdoms and population. Stelae were no longer raised, and squatters moved into abandoned royal palaces.

A significant Maya presence remained into the Postclassic period, as the population concentrated near permanent water sources. The region's activity shifted to the northern lowlands and the Maya Highlands, with Chichen Itza and its neighbors declining dramatically in the 11th century. The rise of Mayapan in the 12th century led to new cities forming new trade networks and cities were relocated across the highlands and neighboring Pacific coast, with Qʼumarkaj, the capital of the Kʼicheʼ kingdom, becoming one of the most important cities in the Highlands. Local governments were often organized as joint rule by a council, with one member acting as a supreme ruler and the other serving as advisors.

Mayapan was abandoned around 1448, following a period of political, social, and environmental turbulence similar to the Classical collapse. The city's abandonment was followed by prolonged warfare, disease, and natural disasters in the Yucatán Peninsula, which ended shortly before Spanish contact in 1511. Early Spanish explorers reported wealthy coastal cities and thriving marketplaces.

European colonial era
Beginning as early as in 1502, the area started to become explored by Spanish fleets, including those in Columbus' fourth voyage. He arrived on the Bay Islands off the coast of Honduras and sent his brother Bartholomew to scout the island. As he explored the island, a large canoe approached, apparently en route to the island. Carved from one large tree trunk and powered by twenty-five naked rowers, a curious Bartholomew seized and boarded it. It turned out to be a Maya trading canoe from Yucatan, carrying well-dressed Maya and a cargo of textiles, ceramics, spices and weaponry. Also among the cargo were a small number of women and children that were most likely slaves. They looted the cargo and seized the elderly Maya captain to serve as an interpreter. This was the first recorded contact between Europeans and the Maya. News of this encounter most likely passed along the Maya trade routes which coincided with the the first prophecies of bearded invaders sent by Kukulkan.

Over the next two decades, several Spanish fleets sailed across the Caribbean, west from Cuba, to try and establish the Yucatan Peninsula under Spanish control. Expeditions led by Pedro de Valdivia, Francisco Hernández de Córdoba and Juan de Grijalva failed but ultimately led to the discovery of natural wealth, especially gold, among these unknown lands. During the last expedition led by Grijalva, rumours of a wealthy, golden empire spread from the local populace to the Spaniards, who left in search of this land; the Aztec Empire.

As a result of these rumours, Hernán Cortés set sail with another fleet in 1519. From Cozumel he continued around the peninsula to Tabasco where he fought a battle at Potonchán. Afterwards, Cortés continued onward to conquer the Aztec Empire. Five years later, in 1524, Cortés led a sizeable expedition to Honduras, cutting across southern Campeche and through Petén. In 1527, Francisco de Montejo set sail from Spain with a small fleet. He left garrisons on the east coast, and subjugated the northeast of the peninsula. When he returned, his garrisons had almost been eliminated and explored southwards before looping back around the entire peninsula to central Mexico.

In 1531, the Spanish moved their base of operations to Campeche, where they repulsed a significant Maya attack. After this battle, the Spanish founded a town at Chichen Itza in the north. In mid-1533, the local Maya rebelled and laid siege to the small Spanish garrison, which was forced to flee. From late-1534 to early-1535, the Spanish retreated from Campeche to Veracruz. In 1535, peaceful attempts to incorporate Yucatan into the Spanish Empire failed after a renewed Spanish military presence at Champotón, the last Spanish outpost in Yucatán, forced the friars out. In 1541–42, the first permanent Spanish town councils in the entire peninsula were founded at Campeche and Mérida. When the powerful lord of Mani converted to the Roman Catholic religion, his submission to Spain and conversion to Christianity encouraged the lords of the western provinces to accept Spanish rule. In late-1546, an alliance of eastern Maya states launched an unsuccessful uprising against the Spanish. They were defeated in a single battle, which marked the final conquest of the northern portion of the Yucatán Peninsula.

Over the next 50 years, Spanish generals placed their attention on the Petén area. The polities of Petén in the south remained independent and received many refugees fleeing from Spanish jurisdiction. In 1618 and 1619, two unsuccessful Franciscan missions attempted the peaceful conversion of the still pagan Itza. In 1622, the Itza slaughtered two Spanish parties trying to reach their capital Nojpetén. Between 1638 and 1695, the Maya living in the area of Tipu enjoyed autonomy from Spanish rule but in 1696, Spanish soldiers used Tipu as a base from which they pacified the area and supported missionary activities. In 1697, the Spanish conquered the Itzá, and in 1707, the Spanish forcibly resettled the inhabitants of Tipu to the area near Lake Petén Itzá. The political center of the Maya province of Dzuluinicob ceased to exist at the time that British colonists were becoming increasingly interested in settling the area. With the Captaincy General of Guatemala and Yucatán already secured, the Spanish now faced constant threats from local and external forces.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, Spain tried to maintain a monopoly on trade and colonization in its New World colonies, but other European powers were increasingly attracted to the region by the potential for trade and settlement. These powers resorted to smuggling, piracy, and war in their efforts to challenge and weaken Spain. In the 17th century, the Dutch, English, and French encroached on Spain's New World possessions.

Starting early in the 17th century, in southeastern Mexico and on the Yucatán Peninsula, English buccaneers began cutting logwood which was used in the production of a textile dye. The English began using the coastline as a base from which to attack Spanish ships. However, the English did not found permanent settlements until the early 1700s.

Mexican Independence and subsequent secession
In 1821, Mexico consummated their independence against Spain. For the southeast, this meant that the area limited influence on the affairs of the new country. The war had also lifted the spirits of Yucatecs, and created a feeling that liberty was better than to remain under the centralized Mexican rule. Rumors circulated around Mexico City of the feeling in the Yucatan Peninsula, causing federal authorities to detain and arrest those that conspired against Mexico. The following year, plans to proclaim independence were placed on hold as the Yucatec delegation was able to find a compromise with Mexican authorities. In December 1822, Antonio López de Santa Anna and General Guadalupe Victoria sought to abolish the monarchy and transform Mexico into a republic. This led to Victoria becoming the first president of Mexico and Santa Anna becoming governor of Yucatán in May 1823 and the territory joining as the Federated Republic of Yucatán on December 23, 1823 on the condition that Yucatan was allowed some autonomy. However, by 1835, Yucatan had lost this autonomy that was granted as Mexican centralists had gained power. This angered Yucatecs and revived the feelings for independence. In 1836, Mexico waged a war against Texas. The Mexican defeat combined with the fact a native Yucatec had served in the Texan War of Independence inspired locals in Yucatan who believed independence was definitely possible. Years later, on 12 February 1840, members of the newly created Yucatec Army took Valladolid in the first act of independence. Six days later, troops made their way to Mérida and proclaimed the independence of the Yucatecan territory. On 6 June 1840, the Campeche surrendered to the Yucatec troops, resulting in the central government of Mexico declaring war on Yucatan. Conflict ensued in the Yucatan Peninsula over the course of the year, ending in a ceasefire on 3 February 1841. A month later, on 16 March, Yucatan formally declared independence from Mexico in a public showing in Mérida.

Over the next two months, politicians in Yucatan drafted a constitution based on the original, which was passed on 16 May. Relations with Mexico remained frosty, and it was not until 24 July 1843 when Mexican authorities officially recognized Yucatan's independence. In 1846, the United States and Mexico engaged in another conflict. With the help of American troops, Yucatec forces invaded Tabasco in 1846, and upon the victory of the United States in 1848, Yucatan formally annexed Tabasco into the country.

Difficult times and wars
Starting in 1850, native tribes in Yucatan started to stage small revolts across the country. These eventually led to the local populace to leave which also diminished the economy. On top of that, Yucatan experienced drastic and sudden changes in leadership as their president Alberto Medina had suddenly passed away in 1853 after winning the elections two years prior while his successor, Javier Mendoza, was assassinated just a year into his presidency in 1854. A few years of political stability followed until the biggest foreign threat to Yucatan came into light, El Salvador. Salvadorian troops began moving north and resulted in a brief war with Guatemala, one of Yucatan's closest allies. Guatemalan troops suffered a heavy defeat at the Battle of Coatepeque which led to then-Guatemalan president Rafael Carrera to sign the Guatemala Pact which made the country a part of Yucatan in 1863. Following Honduras' involvement in the previous battle, they were also seen as an enemy. Then-president Jorge Carrasco was given credit for the deal and boosted his popularity, eventually winning reelection in 1864. Carrasco's second term, though, turned out to be a very authoritarian one. Through corruption and fear, he ruled until his death in 1882. The relationships with El Salvador and Honduras deteriorated greatly, as well as Yucatan's relationship with Mexico as the country was now immersed in a isolating policy. The incoming president, Fabricio Donatello, restructured the country's economic and education policies and tried to fix the broken relationships with its neighbors. Mexico returned to be a close ally although Honduras and El Salvador were still viewed hostile. Ultimately, they reached a breaking point after they merged with Nicaragua to from the Greater Republic of Central America in 1896. Just a few months after the establishment, Yucatan declared war against the new republic and launched an attack in February of 1897. At the request of President Lucas Correa, Mexican president Porfirio Diaz sent some of his own troops to aid Yucatan. Later that year, on August 1897, a demoralized GRCA called for a ceasefire. At this point, Yucatec and Mexican troops had taken around 20,000 km² and started negotiations to end the war. The GRCA agreed to the proposed terms and signed the Treaty of Managua on 5 March 1898 which established the new boundaries as Yucatan had acquired more land. The defeat ultimately led to the dismantling of the Greater Republic of Central America in November 1898.

Golden era
Following the Treaty of Managua, Yucatan became a regional powerhouse. With the help of the Mexican government, Yucatan began transforming its economy from an agriculture-based economy into a more diverse, industrialized economy. The area became a hotspot for European investors, primarily British, that were attracted to the natural beauty of the country. The economic boom combined with the strong friendship with Mexico resulted in the Mexican state of Chiapas being purchased for just 2.5 million dollars in 1903. Just three years later, the Yucatec government made another move purchasing British Honduras, now Belice, from the United Kingdom for 5 million dollars. Both territorial gains were viewed favorable by the local populace as these were among the plots of land where the Mayan civilization had once lived and created a sense of pride throughout the entire country. This was made under the presidency of Angel Robles, who is also notable for being the last Yucatec president under the old constitution. This new document was officially ratified on 1 June 1908 as Ernesto Ramirez became the new leader of Yucatan that same day. One of the main goals of his presidency was to improve the quality of life the Yucatec people. Through health and education reforms, life expectancy and literacy rate soared. Ramirez died in office in 1912 and by the time of his passing, Yucatan was now one of the most influential nations in the area. With the Mexican Revolution brewing across Yucatan's northern neighbor, the country officially took a neutral stance until 1914 when they sided in favor of the revolutionary forces. As World War I also raged across the globe, Yucatan also remained neutral. It was not until 1917 when the United States declared war on Germany when Yucatan officially joined the conflict. A few thousand Yucatec troops enlisted and were subsequent deployed to Europe. By the end of the conflict, Yucatan had established itself as an important ally not only militarily but also economically. Soon after, Yucatan joined the League of Nations as one of the most prominent members. The national economy began to grow even more after the ending of World War I and it seemed like Yucatan was going to keep prospering. However, by the end of the decade, the same growth became stagnant. The end of Felipe Merida's presidency (1926–1931) was notable for widespread unemployment as the country began to feel the devastating effects of the Great Depression.

Great Depression and World War II
With the Great Depression taking toll on Yucatan's employment and economy, the government was desperate to fix the nation. Amidst the crisis, Adrian Vazquez took office but stepped down, renouncing to the presidency three years into his term in 1934. A heated election followed with Samuel Moreno winning. Along his cabinet, he introduced newly formed governmental welfare agencies to help combat the economic recession. By the end of his tenure, Yucatan was already functioning normally, and the employment rate had bounced back once again. That same year, World War II erupted in Europe as Luis Rivera became president of Yucatan. Similar to the First War, Yucatan remained neutral, and did not join until 1944. The country, in the meantime, expanded its economic and social needs to finish restructuring itself after the Great Depression in the 1930s. Starting on July 1944, a few hundred Yucatec troops arrived in France to help in the Liberation of Paris and later freed a couple of German concentration camps along British and American forces. The finalization of the war and subsequent Allied victory in 1945 brought more wealth and global recognition to the country. Due to his role in Yucatan's involvement in the war, Luis Rivera got reelected and led Yucatan into the newly created United Nations. He held office until the end of his second term in 1949.

Postwar Yucatan
After World War II, Yucatan assumed a globalist mentality. Starting with the inclusion of the country into the United Nations, Yucatan began taking an ever-increasing participations in global affairs. The country also kept industrializing and urbanizing while also implementing environmental policies. Despite this growth, inequality soared in rural areas, which later an area of focus for later presidencies. In addition, in the midst of the Cold War, Yucatac stayed neutral, refusing NATO membership in the process in 1963 during the presidency of Cristobal Lopez. Over the next 10 years, the economy kept growing, but with the help of social policies, the levels of inequality across the country started decreasing steadily. Partly to this development, Yucatan started hosting global events such as the 1974 World Fair and sporting events, including the 1974 FIBA World Championship.

Yucatan reached a new milestone after they elected Roberto Kan as their president during the 1974 elections. Kan, an ethnic Maya, gathered most of the votes and his popularity reached record level. Rural communities were increasingly helped during his time in office and new federal laws added protection to essential civil liberties such as freedom of speech. Foreign investment remained a major economic source but it was heavily affected by period hyperactive tropical activity. By 1980, the country's economy had stumbled off its foundations and had to ask for constant foreign loans. It wasn't until midway through Gonzalo Dominguez's presidency (1983–1990) when the economy stated to stabilize, despite the massive drop in oil prices as Yucatan's economy wasn't as dependent on the production of crude petroleum. During this time, tourism levels went through the roof and Yucatan became one of the world's most popular destinations for foreign visitors.

Recent years
After Gonzalo stepped down due to health issues in 1990, the nation elected its first female president, Galilea Molina, that same year. Under her presidency, Yucatan established new federal organizations, including a space agency. A peaceful leader, Molina also advocated for global peace during the Gulf War, rejecting participation in the coalition. In 1994, Yucatan, along Canada, Mexico and the United States, signed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which helped cement and boosted their national economies ever more yet. Upcoming president, Astrid Martinez, continued most of the policies and work initiated by Molina and left office at the turn of the millennium. Her successor, Jesus Aguilar, promoted various federal programs including the founding of a national healthcare system. Aguilar's presidency was also marked by several operations to eliminate corruption in the federal government and to reduce crime, which still was a major issue in the country. Afterwards, Daniela Fernandez and Diego Garcia were the next elected presidents. Between both presidencies, Yucatan experienced an extensive restoration. Thousands of major structures were either reinforced or entirely built. The nation also saw a large amount of refugees entering the country. The Refugee and Citizenship Act, passed by Garcia, allowed refugees to enter the country and reinforced the right to citizenship by birth. At the 2020 presidential elections, Sara Rodriguez was elected as the 30th president of Yucatan.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Yucatan

Yucatan, as the name indicates, covers the entirely of the Yucatan Peninsula and goes into Central America. The country shares land borders with Mexico on the west and and on the southeast by El Salvador and Honduras. Yucatan's marine borders are with the Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Yucatan spans an area of 381,768 square kilometres between latitudes 13.5° and 22° N, and longitudes 94° and 87° W.

The country is primarily flat, covered in lush jungles. Swampy plains can be found near the eastern coast as well as much of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System. Lagoons and cenotes also denote the geography of Yucatan. The country is also home to several rivers, the largest being the Grijalva–Usumacinta which runs through approximately 1,900 kilometers. In addition, the nation has 3,280 km of coastline.

Yucatan's highest peak is Volcán Tajumulco, a stratovolcano located in the Sierra Madre de Chiapas mountain range, at a height of 4,202 meters. These peaks run through the southern and western coast of the country forming several volcanic mountains as the nation is located at the junction of the North American, Cocos and Caribbean plates. Due to these features, Yucatan is especially vulnerable to volcanic eruptions and seismic activity as well hurricanes due to its exposed position in the Caribbean.

Yucatan's exclusive economic zone has 949,620 km², placing it as the 6th largest in Latin America and the 31st largest exclusive economic zone in the world.

Climate

Main article: Climate of Yucatan

Yucatan has mostly a tropical climate with pronounced wet and dry seasons. The flatlands in the Yucatan Peninsula tend to be warmer than the rest of the country with temperatures reaching 31° C all year round. Humidity is also a key component of the climate of Yucatan with the average reaching up to 75% and 80% in some locations.

The inlands and highlands near the mountains tend to be slightly cooler and variably wet than the rest of the country; they have a subtropical highland climate (Cwb). The western portion of Yucatan, which borders Mexico, has milder climate but still somewhat similar to that near the Caribbean. The temperatures peak earlier in March/April and the spring months are considerably drier than in the rest of the country.

Average rainfall varies considerably, from 850 millimetres in the mountainous terrain to around 4,000 millimetres in the southeast end of the country. The dry season runs from late-November to early-March as the country sees from 2 to 8 centimeters of rain in several location although the relative humidity remains elevated. With the start of the hurricane season in the Atlantic, Yucatan's wet season begins running from March all the way to November.

Yucatan's location makes it a target for tropical storms. Over the last 25 years, Yucatan has been hit more than 40 occasions which have claimed over $10 billion in damage. Historically, the area has also been struck by several, devastating hurricanes with the costliest one in recent years being Hurricane Mitch in 1998. Mitch poured countless inches of torrential rain into the Santa Ana and Izabal states in addition to other localities which took the lives of 800 people in the country and $1.7 billion in damage.

The reoccurring severity of the hurricanes and other natural disasters have prompted the government to reinforce structures to withhold their impacts starting with the Disaster Prevention Policy of 1965, which was in turn passed after Hurricane Hattie's destruction of Puerto Valiz four years prior in 1961.

Demographics

Language

Main article: Languages of Yucatan

According to the Constitution, Yucatan has no official language with Spanish serving as the de facto national language as it's spoken by 99% of the population. Yucatec Spanish is very similar to Mexican Spanish as both follow the same phonetic structure. This dialect, however, changes across the country depending on the area and other languages spoken in the given area. Similarly with Mexican Spanish, words of Amerindian origin that retain their original phonology as well as: words of foreign origin.

The federal government also officially recognizes 26 Maya languages and dialects with around 12 million people speaking one of these 26 languages. Yucatec Mayan is the most widespread indigenous languages with around 1.7 million speakers. It is followed by the Quiché (Kiche) and Mam languages with 1.5 and 1.4 million speakers. Kaqchikel and Q’eqchi round off the languages with at least 1 million speakers with 1.3 and 1 million estimated speakers. The preservation of all these languages is the duty of the Ministry of Culture under the National Indigenous Languages Institute, founded in 1977, whose goal initially was to recognize all languages at federal level.

Due to its colonial history with the British, English is also a national language in Yucatan. Predominantly spoken in the state of Belice, it now functions mostly as a foreign language with several other institutions classifying it as a second language for people to learn. French is the most widely taught foreign language. Around 200,000 people enroll in language studies every year.

Ethnicity

Main article: Yucatecs

Religion

Main article: Religion in Yucatan

Health

Main article: Healthcare in Yucatan

Yucatan has a universal health care which began in 2009. It is based on an all-inclusive insurance system available to all citizens covered by the general health insurance program of the National Health Service (Servicio de Salud Nacional SSN). Divided on three sectors, the SSN keeps control on specific groups of people normally divided by age encompassing the SNSJ (Servicio Nacional para la Salud Juvenil; National Service for Juvenile Health) for newborns to age 25, the SSA (Servicio de Salud Adulto; Adult Health Service) for ages 26–55 and the SMAM (Sector Médico para Adultos Mayores; Medical Sector for Elders) from 56 onwards. In addition to the NHS, Yucatan's health system is also partially based on private insurance reminiscent of the years before the 2009 Health Act. In 2019, Yucatan spent around 8.5% of its GDP on healthcare.

According to the Human Development Report from 2020, the average life expectancy at birth is 80.7 years; 82.5 for females and 78.9 for males. Yucatan's infant mortality rate is around 5 per 1,000 births, among the lowest in Latin America.

Yucatec hospitals are typically located in specialized complexes with different buildings holding a variety of medical specialists which are run accordingly to the local government with federal grants. Medicine-oriented high schools and medical schools are also usually located within or near these complexes. As of 2019, Yucatan had around 29 physicians per every 10,000 people.

According to official documents from the Yucatec Department of Health, in 2015, 90% of all deaths were attributed to natural causes related to advanced age, most commonly cancer and respiratory illnesses such as chronic pneumonia. Cardiovascular diseases have not been as prevalent in Yucatan unlike in other countries with a similar level of human development and healthcare quality. AIDS has also not been a major issue for the Yucatec health system; around 50,000 people were known to be infected with the virus in 2018, translating to 0.1% of the population. Data from the WHO has classified 12% of the adult population as overweight or obese.

Education

Main article: Education in Yucatan

Largest Cities

Main article: Largest Cities in Yucatan

Government

Main article: Government of Yucatan

Military

Main article: Yucatec Armed Forces

The Yucatec Armed Forces are composed of four branches – Land Forces (Ejército Terrestre), Navy (Marina), Air Force (Fuerza Aérea), and the National Guard (Guardia Nacional) with the President of Yucatan serving as the commander-in-chief in companion with the Secretary of Defense during wartime. Yucatan does not have compulsory military service with the 1908 constitution indicating that all military service must be fully voluntary "where conscription is allowed in exceptional cases if the homeland is being threatened".

The Armed Forces current employs approximately 178,000 total military personnel, 54,100 of which are in active duty. According to the federal budget of 2020, total defence spending in Yucatan accounted for around 1% of the total national GDP, or approximately $8.2 billion, a figure that has been decreasing since the 1990s. Yucatan's military industry is mainly imported from the United States and Germany while exporting $200 million worth of equipment in 2018 to other nations, primarily Panama and Ecuador.

Yucatan has the capabilities to manufacture nuclear weapons, but abandoned this possibility with the Treaty of Tlatelolco in 1968, pledging to only use its nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. In 1972, Yucatan nuclear scientists successfully refined weapon grade uranium but agreed to trade its uranium deposits to the United States for profit in order to make Yucatan a nuclear weapon-free country in February 2005.

Historically, Yucatan has remained neutral in international conflicts, with the exception of both World Wars. In recent years, despite global tensions and proposals to allow the armed forces to collaborate with the United Nations in peacekeeping missions, Yucatan has stayed firm on their policy of keeping away from international conflicts. Yucatan signed and ratified the UN treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

Foreign relations

Main article: Foreign relations of Yucatan

Yucatec foreign relations are managed under the Department of the Exterior and Foreign Affairs. Yucatan has a rich history in international affairs with the country being one of the founding members of the United Nations as well as other international organizations such as the Organization of Ibero-American States.

A regional powerhouse, Yucatan has also exerted its presence in major economic groups such as the G-20 and the OECD. Its most important ally is Mexico given the history that the two countries share with the United States being its other major ally. These two countries have cooperated with Yucatan and have signed various trade deals including the NAFTA Agreement with Canada, another of Yucatan's crucial allies worldwide. In addition, Yucatan is an observer member of the Caribbean Community. Yucatan is also a member of the Lima Group and a harsh critic of the current Venezuelan government which has been described as a "dictatorship" by the Yucatec government.

Outside of North America, Yucatan boasts having Spain and the United Kingdom as allies. Other major European countries that include France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands have established trade deals and military alliances with Yucatan. Unlike some of its allies, Yucatan has held open talks with Russia and China and established a modest friendship with both nations in an effort to mitigate global friction.

Political divisions

Main article: States of Yucatan

States of Yucatan

Economy

Main article: Economy of Yucatan

As of June 2020, Yucatan has the 19th largest nominal GDP (US$748.3 trillion) and the 18th largest by purchasing power parity (US$1.528 trillion). The GDP in Yucatan has been growing at a steadily pace with an annual average growth of 2.8% in 2018 and 2.9% in 2019. The primary sector in Yucatan, mainly agriculture, is still a considerable part of the country's economy despite its constant decrease since the 1930s as it comprises 9.6% of the economy. The secondary sector, mostly petroleum and automobile manufacturing, contributes 23.1% of the economy. The tertiary sector, the services sector, is the most important part of the economy with a contribution of 67.3% mostly through the vast amount of international tourists that travel to Yucatan every year with a small amount coming from offshore banking amount. Yucatan's GDP in PPP per capita was $44,461, the 30th highest in the world. Yucatan is now firmly established as an upper middle-income country and is expected to continue its economic growth at a rate of 3 to 5 percent every year according to studies published by The International Monetary Fund. By 2050, Yucatan is deemed to potentially enter the top 7 largest economies in the world.

Despite historical widespread inequality, Yucatan now has the lowest level of economic inequality in Latin America and the second-lowest, after Canada, in the Americas as a whole. It is estimated that 2.4% of the population is unemployed while around 15% are living under the national poverty line in 2017 according to the World Bank. A large portion of Yucatan's economic growth is attributed to foreign investors, mostly Mexican and American who make around 80% of all foreign involvement in Yucatan. Yucatan is part of the North American Free Trade Agreement, commonly known as NAFTA, along the United States, Canada and Mexico and a founding member of the Latin American Integration Association (ALADI) trade bloc.

Yucatan's main exports are agricultural and include a large, diverse variety of crops such as avocados, bananas, beans, cacao beans, cantaloupes, cardamon, coconuts, coffee, grapefruit, lemons, maize, mangoes, oranges, palm oil, papayas, peppers, pineapple, potatoes, rice, rubber, sorghum, sugarcane, tomatoes, watermelons, and vanilla. Local mines located in the country's mountain ranges produce gold, silver, zinc, cobalt and nickel.

Despite the Yucatan's shift towards clean energy, the country still partially depends on petroleum and natural gas exports. Starting in 1948, the Yucatec government partnered with Mexico to collaborate on a joint search for fossil fuels in national waters in the Gulf of Mexico without any foreign involvement. Up to date, this joint program has given both nations a significant economic boost.

In addition, Yucatan has important sectors specializing in manufacturing of automobiles, electronics, and textiles. These three industries accounted to more than 50% of the country's exports. Yucatan is also economically diverse on its trading partners importing around one-fourth of its products from Mexico (23.1%) and slightly less than one-fifth (19.5%) from the United States thanks to NAFTA. Canada comes third with 15.8% followed with Spain and the United Kingdom with 8% and 6.9% respectively in the top 5 importing partners. Similarly, it exports domestic products to Mexico (20.5%), Canada (18.2%), the United States (11.6%), France (10.7%), Germany (9.4%) among other nations.

Science and Technology

Main articles: Science and Technology in Yucatan

Communication

Main article: Communications in Yucatan

Energy

Main article: Energy in Yucatan

The electricity generation sector in Yucatan is largely based on fossil fuels, constituting around 70% of Yucatan's energy source in early 2020. Yucatan has collaborated with the Mexican government to extract petroleum and natural gas from the reserves across the Gulf of Mexico. Coal is mined on a small scale with most of it imported from the United States, Yucatan's main energetic partner.

Over the last decades, however, Yucatan's energy policy has shifted towards a cleaner use. Although still pretty dependent on fossil fuels, the country has resorted to use other renewable forms of energy to reduce carbon emissions and to preserve the natural beauty of the country. Current president Sara Rodriguez has made her focus on improving Yucatan's use of clean energy sources and proposed the construction and development of existent and new renewable plants in the nation with aggressive environmental laws with the goal of making Yucatan's energy from a fossil fuel-free nation by 2035.

Yucatan has geothermic plants located at the Sierra Madre de Chiapas mountain range and has installed several, large solar farms throughout the nation which provide 7% of the total energy production. The country has also one of the largest hydroelectric plants in Latin America in the Manuel Moreno Torres Dam located at the Grijalva River in the state of Chiapas. In addition to a few, small wind farms off the coast of Quintana Roo, Yucatan also boasts having a nuclear plant. The complex, located on the outskirts of Mérida, is the largest nuclear plant in Latin America with a capacity of 2,000 MW.

Transport

Main article: Transport in Yucatan

The roadway network in Yucatan is extensive and all areas in the country are covered by it, spanning a total length of 219,800 kilometers (136,577 miles). Yucatan's federal highway system is comprises of 7,830 kilometres; 6,400 km are four-lane highways with the remaining 1,430 having six lanes, including the Trans-Yucatec Highway, which connects Villahermosa with Puerto Valiz over a 1,305-kilometre (870 mi) journey. On recent years, the government of Yucatan announced plans of improving the quality of the nation's roads in the south.

There are currently 4,050 kilometres (2,531 mi) of railways in Yucatan, of which 2,000 km (1,250 mi) are electrified. This system links all 12 provinces, including the capital, and all neighboring countries together. Rail transport in Yucatan comprises of two main types, passenger and cargo, which are then subdivided into light rail and heavy rail, used for intracity and intercity purposes, respectively. In recent years, Yucatan's has been investing in the system along with other foreign companies to make all 4,050 kilometers fully electric to reduce possible environmental effects.

Yucatan has 5 major ports, in addition to several small ones scattered along its coast. Two of these located in Cozumel and Isla Mujeres are solely dedicated to handle passenger traffic while the other three in Cancun, Puerto Valiz and Campeche handle the vast majority of all maritime trade; in 2018, 95% of all sea trade landed on these three docks.

Yucatan has 56 airports, including 10 international airports. Two main airports, the Cancún and Mérida international airports, handle much of the passenger traffic as they serve as entry hubs to the country. In 2019, 71% of the country's total passenger traffic passed through those two airports, around 49.5 million, making them the 4th and 7th busiest airports in Latin America respectively. Other major airports include the Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City with 5.23 million passengers in 2019 and Philip Goldson International Airport in Puerto Valiz with 3.77 million passengers in 2019.

Tourism

Main article: Tourism in Yucatan

In 2019, Yucatan was 12th most visited country in the world with 35 million international visitors and had the 12th highest income from tourism in the world, the highest in Latin America with 22.5 billion dollars, contributing to 3% of the total GDP. The majority of tourists come from Mexico and the United States followed by a large number of countries from Europe and Asia such as Spain and Japan. A small but still notable number also originate from other Latin American countries.

Yucatan is largely frequented for its beaches and coastal resorts that stretch throughout the Caribbean Sea with Cancun being the most popular city from international and domestic tourists for its turquoise waters, sandy beaches and vibrant nightlife. Just south of Cancun, the entire coast all the way to Puerto Valiz, called Riviera Maya is also a very popular touristic destination with luxury hotels, ecological and national parks, and Maya ruins. More of these ruins are also scattered across the nation including Chichén Itzá, one of the 7 wonders of the world.

Visitors are also attracted to Yucatan for its natural landscape and is a moderately popular destination for experienced and amateur hikers that travel to the inland states to the mountainous terrain.

Urban tourism, although not as frequent, is gaining power over Yucatan mainly in the capital, Mérida, and largest city, Guatemala City, for its mix of modern buildings in the north and traditional structures in the south that date to the Spanish colonial era and early post-independence period.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Yucatan

Sports

Main article: Sports in Yucatan

Yucatan's sporting culture revolves around football and its varieties, futsal and beach soccer. It is believed that football was introduced to the country by English and French immigrants at the beginning of the 20th century. Yucatan has qualified for the FIFA World Cup on 14 occasions; reaching the quarterfinals in 2010 in what remains their best performance so far. Yucatan has also been successful at domestic level winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup a record nine times. In futsal, Yucatan won the FIFA Futsal World Cup in 2021 as well the FIFA Beach World Cup on two occasions, in 2019 and 2021.

Outside of football, baseball has a large fanbase in the country. Although still an emerging team worldwide, Yucatan has tasted silverware in international tournaments. Yucatec teams have won the Caribbean Series six times and the national team has participated in the World Baseball Classic once in addition to being a host for 2021. Several Yucatec players have been signed by Major League Baseball teams over the last years.

Since the late 1980s, basketball has also been an increasingly popular sport in Yucatan, although still behind baseball and football. Yucatan hosted the FIBA World Championship in 1974.

Yucatan has also been a regional power in aquatics, athletics, handball, table tennis and volleyball, which was seen at the 2016 Summer Olympics which Yucatan hosted.

Due to their Maya ancestry, Yucatan has kept some of their previous ballgames alive, most notably, pelota maya or Mayan ball. Nowadays, the sport is considered well safer than it originally was with the implementation of modern rules such as a lighter, bouncier ball being employed rather than a hard, rubber ball as it has been known to inflict considerable damage to the player. Similar to volleyball, the objective is to keep the ball alive using only the hips while the team that scores the most points over a specific amount of time is declared the winner. Currently, Mayan ball is known to be practiced widely among Yucatec youth with a small, amateur league running across the country.

Mérida hosted XXXI Olympic Games in 2016, making it the second Latin American city, after Mexico City, to do so. 

Cuisine

Main article: Yucatec Cuisine

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