The 20th century saw Mexico transform from a backward agricultural economy to a very industrialized nation in North America. Manufacturing employs about 18% of the workforce and produces about 1/4 of the gross national product (GNP) and most of the country's exports.

Half of Mexico's output is produced within 150km Mexico City, though northern states such as Nuevo Léon, Chihuahua, and Baja California are important too, aided by their proximity to that major export market, the USA, and by their many maquiladoras. Latter ones are factories that import materials, parts and equipment for processing or assembly by inexpensive mexican laborers, then export the products, usually to the USA. 

Maquiladoras employ more that 1 million Mexicans and produce nearly half of Mexico's exports. The border cities of Tijuana and Ciudad Juárez are the capital of maquiladora industry.

About 30% of the workforce is in service industries. Tourism is one the most important of these, with some 20 million foreign visitors a year, and the domestic tourism business is 3x as big.

Agriculture occupies 23% of Mexico's workers but produces only 4% of the national product (NP).