Indigenous Peoples of Mexico

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Mexico has one of Latin America’s largest indigenous populations.  The 2005 national census recorded just over 6 million indigenous language speakers, with the greatest number in Oaxaca, followed by Chiapas, Veracruz, and Puebla. However, according to most estimates, the total number of indigenous people in the country is between 12 and 15 million, or even much greater.  This is due to the fact that many communities that are clearly populated by indigenous peoples who no longer speak their native language.