Mexico City extends across 607.22 square kilometres and is located in the Valley of Mexico at an altitude of 2,240 meters above sea level. Having once been a lake, the city has become a megacity with the Greater City of Mexico recording a population in excess of 21 million people in 2020, making it the 5th most populous city on Earth.
spotlight on
Mexico City
Mexico City houses many of the country’s most prestigious cultural, sporting and educational centres. The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) is the largest university in Latin America and has one of the biggest campuses in the world. UMAN’s main campus known as Ciudad Universitraria (University City) is a UNESCO World Heritage site that was designed by some of Mexico’s best-known architects: Marion Pani, Eugenio Peschard and Enruiqe del Moral. The buildings feature murals by some of the most recognized artists in Mexican history, Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros and José Chávez Morado. UNAM is also known as the birthplace of the student movement of 1968, which turned into a nationwide rebellion against autocratic rule and began Mexico's three-decade journey toward democracy.
Over time, Mexico City has experienced a great social and environmental transformation, becoming the centre of economic, political, and social-cultural activities in Mexico. A strong trend of population growth and expansion of its territory have given rise to pressing issues that face most large cities around the world in the 21st century, such as intense demand for natural resources, inequality and social marginalization, informal settlements, waste generation, degradation of natural resources, and pollution.
The City of Mexico is a Metropolis member
Representatives from the City of Mexico administration, in collaboration with other local governments, have been participants in two Metropolis pilot projects:
In November 2020, the City of Mexico, along with the metropolitan areas of Barcelona and Valle de Aburra was one of five pilot projects awarded for the 2021-2023 period. “Metropolitan areas dialogue on green infrastructure: overcoming challenges and enhancing benefits" will tackle planning green infrastructure as a nature-based solution to improve well-being and resilience in metropolitan areas.
The Mayor
Clara Brugada was born in Mexico City in 1963. She has a long history of social activism and community organising, particularly in the eastern part of Mexico City.
Brugada studied at Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), where she earned a degree in Economics. She later completed postgraduate studies in Urban Planning and Regional Development.
Brugada has extensive experience in local government and community development. She served as the Mayor of Iztapalapa (Mexico City's most populous borough) for two terms, from 2018 to 2023. During her tenure in Iztapalapa, she became known for implementing innovative social programs and cultural initiatives, including the creation of several "UTOPÍAs" - large public spaces combining cultural, educational, and recreational facilities.
She has been a member of MORENA (Movimiento Regeneración Nacional/National Regeneration Movement) since its founding and has held various positions within the party. Before her role as borough mayor, she served as a federal deputy in the Mexican Congress and was involved in various social movements focused on urban development and community rights.
Clara Brugada assumed office as Mayor of Mexico City in 2024, succeeding Martí Batres. She is the second woman to hold this position, following Claudia Sheinbaum.
Mexico City on the use platform
Below are 3 initiatives being implemented by the City of Mexico that demonstrates effective metropolitan governance, sustainable citymaking and the localization of the SDGs.
City Profile
For a detailed profile on Mexico City including population demographics, administrative structure, industry and economics, click on any of the above case studies and then select "City information".
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