People and Culture

Demography

Today, 75–80 percent of the Mexican population is estimated to be mestizo (a combination of the indigenous and Spanish-Caucasian races). Only 10–15 percent are considered to be indigenous peoples. For comparison, as recently as 1870, the indigenous made up more than 50 percent of the population. While there are important native communities throughout Mexico, the majority of the country’s indigenous peoples live in the Yucatán Peninsula [1], Oaxaca [2], and Chiapas [3].

Religion

The vast majority of Mexicans are Roman Catholic, especially in the generally conservative Yucatán Peninsula. However, a vigorous evangelical movement gains more and more converts every year.

Language

The farther you go from a city, the less Spanish you’ll hear and the more dialects of indigenous languages you’ll encounter. The government estimates that of the 10 million indigenous people in the country, about 25 percent do not speak Spanish. Of the original 125 native languages, 70 are still spoken, 20 of which are classified as Maya languages, including Tzeltal, Tzotzil, Chol, and Yucatec.

Although education was made compulsory for children in 1917, this law was not enforced in the Yucatán Peninsula until recently. Today, schools throughout the peninsula use Spanish-language books, even though many children do not speak the language. In some of the rural schools, bilingual teachers are recruited to help children make the transition.

The Art

Mexico has an incredibly rich colonial and folk-art tradition. While not considered art to the people who make and use it, traditional indigenous clothing is beautiful, and travelers and collectors are increasingly able to buy it in local shops and markets.

Prices for these items can be high, for the simple fact that they are handwoven and can literally take months to complete. Mercado 28 in Cancún [4], Quinta Avenida in Playa del Carmen [5], and the small shops in Valladolid [6] are especially good places to purchase pottery, carving, and textiles from around the Yucatán and beyond.