What is the difference between a Mexican and a Puerto Rican (Mexican vs Puerto Rican)?
Mexicans are people from the North American nation of Mexico, whereas Puerto Ricans are from the Caribbean Island of Puerto Rico. People from these two countries speak Spanish but have different histories, cultures, and heritage.
When it comes to population and size, Mexico is a bigger country compared to Puerto Rico. However, Mexicans and Puerto Ricans are ethnicities you would find in the United States.
Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States with just over population of 3.2 million.
Mexican and Puerto Ricans are proud people with a rich cultural heritage in the Americas. There are some differences between a Mexican and a Puerto Rican, which will be discussed in this article.
Let’s explore the differences between a Mexican vs a Puerto Rican.
Mexico- Officially the United Mexican States
Mexico is a North American country bordered by the United States of America in the north, the Pacific Ocean to the south and west, Guatemala, Belize and the Caribbean Sea to the southeast.
It’s also bordered by the Gulf of Mexico to the east. Mexico is a large country that covers a total area of 1,972,550 square kilometres (761,610 square miles).
According to Wikipedia, the population of Mexico is almost 130 million compared to the over 3.2 million in Puerto Rico.
The Mayan and Aztec people inhabited the land before the arrival of the Spanish. The Spanish were involved in the Transatlantic slave trade and brought African-American slaves to labour in plantations and mines in Puerto Rico.
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Puerto Rico- Officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
The Caribbean Island of Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States. Puerto Rico is located in the northeast Caribbean Sea, a thousand miles southeast of Miami.
Unlike Mexico with a population of almost 130 million, the Caribbean Island of Puerto Rico has a population of over 3.2 million.
According to Wikipedia, Puerto Rico was settled by a succession of indigenous people such as the Tiano, Saladoid, and Ortoiroid. These indigenous groups inhabited the land thousands of years ago before the arrival of the Spanish and Christopher Columbus.
Puerto Rico was colonized by Spain following the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the late 15th century. Other European nations tried to take over Puerto Rico but the Island remained a Spanish possession for the next 400 hundred years.
Mexican vs Puerto Rican
People from Mexico and Puerto Rico speak Spanish and are referred to as Latinos. Mexicans and Puerto Ricans come from different ethnicities.
The indigenous groups that inhabited Puerto Rico before the arrival of the Spanish were the Tiano, Saladoid, and Ortoiroid people. On the other hand, the indigenous groups that inhabited Mexico before the arrival of the Spanish were the Mayan and Aztec people.
During the Transatlantic slave trade, people from the continent of Africa were taken to the New World. Most of the slaves that left the shores of Africa landed in Puerto Rico.
The arrival of the Spanish also brought African slaves to the Caribbean. They were taken to the Americas to work in the mines and plantations. This led to a mix of race with white Europeans, indigenous people from Puerto Rico, and Africans.
Today, you will see a variety of Puerto Ricans with different complexion.
The same thing happens in Mexico with white Europeans intermingling with the indigenous groups in the land.
Although Mexicans and Puerto Ricans were colonized by Spain and still speak the language to this day, there is a difference between them as a people. Their cultural heritage is quite different.
Food, music, and arts are some of the factors that highlight the difference between Mexicans and Puerto Ricans. If you listen to Puerto Rican music, you will notice is quite different from that of Mexico.
The sport that is famous is Mexican is different from that of Puerto Rico. Football is a very popular sport in Mexico and the country even hosted the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
On the other hand, Puerto Ricans love to play basketball.
Mexicans and Puerto Ricans both love rice and beans, but the cuisines of these countries are different. People of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent live in the United States, with Mexicans making up the larger number.
Both Mexicans and Puerto Ricans claim to have an upper hand in the United States.
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Mexican vs Puerto Rican: Differences between Mexicans and Puerto Ricans
Let’s look at the key differences between Mexicans and Puerto Ricans.
| Mexican | Puerto Rican | |
| Country | Mexico is a North American country bordered by the United States of America in the north, the Pacific Ocean to the south and west, Guatemala, Belize and the Caribbean Sea to the southeast. | The Caribbean Island of Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States. |
| Location | North America | The Caribbean Island of Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the northeast Caribbean Sea, a thousand miles southeast of Miami. |
| Indigenous Groups | Mayan, Olmec and Aztec | Tiano, Saladoid, and Ortoiroid. |
| Population | Almost 130 million | Over 3.2 million |
| Language | Spanish | Spanish and English |
| Most Ingredients | Beans, rice, tortillas and spicy favours | Beans, rice, plantain, and roasted pork. |
| Music Genre | Mariachi, Norteno, and Ranchera. | Salsa, Reggeaton, and bomba. |
| Celebrated Events/Holidays | Cinco de Mayo, Dia de los Muertos, and independence day | Three king’s day, discovery day, and constitution day. |
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Mexican vs Puerto Rican; More Differences
- The United Mexican States is a North American country bordered by the United States of America in the north, the Pacific Ocean to the south and west, Guatemala, Belize and the Caribbean Sea to the southeast.
- Indigenous groups of Mexico include the Aztecs, Mayan, Olmec, Indians, etc.
- Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States.
- Indigenous groups of Puerto Rico include the Tiano, Saladoid, and Ortoiroid.
- Both Mexico and Puerto Rico were colonized by Spain and still speak Spanish as the official language.
- Mexican Spanish is clearer and more musical compared to Puerto Rican Spanish.
- Mexican and Puerto Rican Spanish also very in pronunciation and grammar.
- As an unincorporated territory of the United States, Puerto Ricans can freely enter and exit the United States, but Mexicans cannot.
- There are Puerto Ricans with darker complexion because of their African roots.
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Mexican vs Puerto Rican: Differences in Culture
Mexican Culture: It shows the country’s rich heritage through the interaction of indigenous cultures and Spanish culture. Mexico was colonized by the Spanish who ruled the country for centuries.
After more than three decades of civil instability and conflict, the country witnessed the rise of arts and philosophy.
Puerto Rican Culture: Puerto Rican culture highlights the unique blend of European culture alongside African and North American culture. The rich cultural heritage of the country remains its pride.
Puerto Rico in the last few decades has become a destination for Cubans and Dominicans. People from Cuba and the Dominican Republic in the last few years have relocated to Puerto Rico to enjoy the atmosphere and hospitality of the Caribbean Island.
The Caribbean Island inherited the Spanish language, its culture, moral norms, and customs.
Conclusion
Puerto Ricans and Mexicans speak the same language, but there are common differences between them. Their culture, music, arts, and heritage are some of the factors that differentiate these two ethnicities.
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References
- Diffzy: Difference Between Mexican and Puerto Rican
- Differencebetween: Difference Between Mexican and Puerto Rican
- Differencebetween.net: Difference Between Mexicans and Puerto Ricans
- Askanydifference: Mexican vs Puerto Rican: Difference and Comparison
