Updated
Overview
Mexico has 2.5 times the population of Colombia: 131.95 million people against 53.43 million (2025).
Mexico's economy is 4.0 times the size of Colombia's, at $1.83T versus $457.41B.
Per person, Mexico is the wealthier of the two: $13,889 against $8,562 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Mexico | Colombia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $1.83T | $457.41B | 2025 | $1.85T / $418.54B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $13,889 | $8,562 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 0.6% | Higher: 2.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 3.8% | 5.1% | 2025 | 4.7% / 6.6% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.7% | 8.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 54 | 38 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $551 | $499 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $353 | $319 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $6.27 | $8.00 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 131.95 million | 53.43 million | 2025 | 130.74 million / 49.84 million |
| Population growth | 0.8% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 29.6 yrs | 32.5 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.87 | 1.62 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 75.3 yrs | Higher: 77.9 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 80% | 79% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 83% | 79% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,964,375 km² | 1,141,748 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 67.2/km² | 46.8/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 461 Mt | Lower: 93 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 3.5 t | Lower: 1.8 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $16.73B | $15.10B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.9% | 3.4% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 341,000 | 428,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Colombia is growing faster: 2.6% annual GDP growth versus 0.6%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.8% in Mexico and 5.1% in Colombia.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Colombia: a price level of 38 versus 54 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Mexico: $551 against $499 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Mexico is the younger society: median age 29.6 versus 32.5 years.
Life expectancy is 2.6 years longer in Colombia (77.9 vs 75.3).
Geography
By land area, Mexico is 72% larger than Colombia: 1,964,375 km² versus 1,141,748 km².
Military
Defence budgets are of similar magnitude: $16.73B (Mexico) and $15.10B (Colombia).
Relative to its economy, Colombia carries the heavier military burden: 3.4% of GDP versus 0.9%.
Colombia fields the larger armed forces: 428,000 personnel against 341,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Mexico bigger than Colombia?
- Mexico is larger by land area. Mexico covers 1,964,375 km² while Colombia covers 1,141,748 km², so Mexico is 72% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Mexico or Colombia?
- Mexico has the larger population: 131.95 million versus 53.43 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Mexico richer than Colombia?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Mexico is richer: $13,889 against $8,562. Total GDP tells the same story: $1.83T for Mexico versus $457.41B for Colombia.
- Who spends more on their military, Mexico or Colombia?
- Mexico spends more: $16.73B versus $15.10B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).