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Quick answerMonterrey is a city in Mexico, with 1,142,952 people inside the city limits in 2020. The wider metropolitan area had about 5.3 million people in 2020. It is best known for the Cerro de la Silla, the Macroplaza and the Industrial capital of Mexico. Its official language is Spanish, and its currency is the Mexican peso.
Monterrey is the capital of Nuevo León state in north-eastern Mexico, with about 1.1 million people inside the city limits and about 5.3 million in the metropolitan area (2020). Set against the Sierra Madre mountains, it is Mexico's industrial capital.
Key facts
| Country | Mexico |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 1,142,952 (2020) |
| Population (metro) | 5,341,177 (2020) · Zona Metropolitana de Monterrey, 2020 census (INEGI) |
| Elevation | 540 m above sea level |
| Time zone | America/Monterrey |
| Language | Spanish |
| Currency | Mexican peso (MXN, $) |
| Coordinates | 25.6844° N, 100.3181° W |
Overview
Monterrey is the capital and largest city of Nuevo León, in north-eastern Mexico, and the centre of the country's second largest metropolitan area after Mexico City. The municipality had 1,142,952 residents in the 2020 census, while the metropolitan area held 5,341,177 people. The city sits at 540 metres above sea level at the foot of the Sierra Madre Oriental, under the saddle-shaped Cerro de la Silla.
The permanent settlement was founded in 1596 by Diego de Montemayor. Monterrey grew slowly as a frontier town until the Monterrey Foundry opened in 1900 and the city became Mexico's industrial heart, home to steel, cement, brewing and glass works. Companies such as CEMEX and FEMSA still have their headquarters here, and the city is one of the wealthiest in Latin America.
Today Monterrey mixes industry with mountain life. The Macroplaza, one of the largest public squares in the world, anchors the historic centre beside the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Fundidora Park, built on the old steelworks, and the Santa Lucia riverwalk draw visitors, while the surrounding peaks attract hikers and climbers.
What Monterrey is known for
- Cerro de la Silla
- Macroplaza
- Industrial capital of Mexico
- Barrio Antiguo
- Museum of Contemporary Art (MARCO)
- Cumbres de Monterrey National Park
Landmarks
- Cerro de la Silla
- Macroplaza
- Metropolitan Cathedral
- Museum of Contemporary Art (MARCO)
- Barrio Antiguo
- Fundidora Park
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Monterrey?
About 1.1 million people live inside the Monterrey city limits (1,142,952 in the 2020 census, according to INEGI). The wider metropolitan area had about 5.3 million people in 2020, making it the second largest metropolitan area in Mexico after the Valley of Mexico.
Where is Monterrey and what is it known for?
Monterrey is in north-eastern Mexico, in the state of Nuevo León, at the foot of the Sierra Madre Oriental mountains. It is the state capital and Mexico's industrial capital, known for the saddle-shaped Cerro de la Silla, the Macroplaza, its steel and brewing history, and its mountain scenery.
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Keep exploring
- Mexico — the country Monterrey is in
- Mexico City — another city in Mexico
- Puebla — another city in Mexico
- Guadalajara — another city in Mexico
- All cities in Mexico
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.