DHL Ranks Mexico 78th in Global Connectedness

Mexico remained 78th in DHL’s global connectedness ranking, as more diversified capital and information links offset weaker trade depth and continued reliance on the United States.

Mexico maintained its position as the world’s 78th-most globally connected economy, as broader international relationships offset weaker trade depth and continued dependence on the United States, according to the DHL Global Connectedness Report 2026.

Mexico’s overall connectedness score stood at 49.5 out of 100 in 2024, slightly below the 49.8 recorded in 2019. Its position remained unchanged at 78th among 180 economies assessed by DHL and the NYU Stern School of Business. The report measures globalization through more than 9 million data points covering trade, capital, information, and people flows. It evaluates both the depth of countries’ international activity relative to their domestic economies and the breadth of those flows across foreign markets.  

The country improved its breadth ranking by seven positions, reaching 53rd globally, but fell five places in depth to 116th. This indicates that Mexico’s international connections are becoming more geographically diverse, even though cross-border flows remain relatively limited compared with the scale of the domestic economy.

US Remains Mexico’s Dominant International Partner

The United States accounted for 59% of Mexico’s combined international flows, making it by far the country’s largest external partner. China ranked second with 6%, followed by Spain with 4%, Canada with 3%, and Germany and Japan with 2% each. The Netherlands, South Korea, Brazil, and Colombia completed Mexico’s 10 largest international relationships, each accounting for approximately 1% to 2% of the total.

The figures underscore both the benefits and the risks of Mexico’s deep integration with the United States. Geographic proximity, the USMCA framework and highly interconnected manufacturing supply chains have supported extensive trade and investment flows. However, the concentration also leaves Mexico exposed to changes in US trade policy, tariffs, and demand.

Overall, 78% of Mexico’s international flows involved the United States and its close geopolitical allies. By comparison, only 6% were linked to China and its closest partners.

Mexico’s trade pillar ranked 106th among 180 countries, falling 12 positions compared with 2019. Its trade score slipped marginally from 48.6 to 48.4.

Goods exports were equivalent to 33% of GDP, while imports represented 35%. Mexico ranked 57th globally for outward goods-trade depth and 84th for inward depth. Services trade was substantially smaller, with exports equal to 3.4% of GDP and imports equivalent to 3.8%.

Mexico’s trade breadth also showed an imbalance. Its exports were relatively concentrated across destination markets, ranking 125th, while imports were more broadly distributed and ranked 46th. The report estimates that Mexico’s outward goods flows achieved 29% of their maximum possible geographic breadth, compared with 57% for imports.

Capital and Information Strengthen Mexico’s Position

The country ranked 38th among the 158 economies with sufficient data, although it slipped three positions from 2019. Its capital connectedness score declined from 52.4 to 51.9. Mexico performed particularly well in the geographic breadth of capital flows, ranking 26th globally. Its inward greenfield investment projects were spread across foreign source markets at 68% of the maximum possible breadth, placing the country 22nd among 174 economies.

Announced inward greenfield foreign direct investment was equivalent to 2.4% of GDP, compared with outward projects representing 0.12%. Foreign direct investment stock in Mexico was equivalent to 39% of GDP, while Mexican investment abroad represented 11%.

Mexico also improved in information connectedness, rising four places to 62nd. Its score increased from 48.4 in 2019 to 48.8 in 2024.

Scientific research collaboration was among the country’s strongest information indicators. International co-authorship links reached 77% of their maximum geographic breadth, placing Mexico 20th globally. This suggests that Mexico’s universities and research institutions maintain connections across a relatively wide set of countries.

People Flows Remain Mexico’s Weakest Pillar

Mexico ranked 119th in the people pillar, down one place from 2019, with an unchanged score of 42.6.

International tourist arrivals represented 0.34 per resident, while outbound tourism reached 0.17 departures per capita. International students accounted for 1.2% of Mexico’s tertiary education enrollment, compared with Mexican students abroad representing 0.79%.

Migration was highly asymmetrical. Mexican emigrants were equivalent to 8.8% of the domestic population, while foreign-born residents represented only 1.3%. People flows were also Mexico’s most geographically concentrated category, with 87% occurring within North America and 91% involving the United States and its close allies.

Mexico ranked first globally in the concentration of people flows, according to the report’s Herfindahl-Hirschman Index, reflecting the overwhelming importance of migration and mobility links with the United States.

Globally, DHL concluded that globalization remained close to its record level through 2025. Goods trade grew faster during the year than in any period since 2017 outside the pandemic disruption and recovery, supported partly by investment in AI infrastructure and companies advancing shipments ahead of US tariff increases.  

DHL also found limited evidence of a broad retreat into regional or politically aligned blocs. Goods trade and greenfield investment crossed their longest average distances on record in 2025, while only a small share of global flows shifted away from geopolitical rivals during the previous decade.