Tabasco is a state in Southeast Mexico that is divided into 17 municipalities.[1] According to the 2020 Mexican census, it has the 20th largest population with 2,402,598 inhabitants and is the 24th largest by land area spanning 24,738 square kilometres (9,551 sq mi).[1][2]
Municipalities in Tabasco are administratively autonomous of the state according to the 115th article of the 1917 Constitution of Mexico.[3] Every three years, citizens elect a municipal president (Spanish: presidente municipal), by a plurality voting system, who heads a concurrently elected municipal council (ayuntamiento) which is responsible for providing all the public services for their constituents. The municipal council consists of a variable number of trustees and councillors (regidores y síndicos).[4] Municipalities are responsible for public services (such as water and sewerage), street lighting, public safety, traffic, and the maintenance of public parks, gardens and cemeteries.[5] They may also assist the state and federal governments in education, emergency fire and medical services, environmental protection and maintenance of monuments and historical landmarks. Since 1984, they have had the power to collect property taxes and user fees, although more funds are obtained from the state and federal governments than from their own income.[5]
The largest municipality by population is Centro, with 683,607 residents while the smallest is Jonuta with 30,798 residents.[1] The largest municipality by land area is Huimanguillo which spans 3,729.69 km2 (1,440.04 sq mi), and the smallest is Jalpa de Méndez with 370.83 km2 (143.18 sq mi).[2] Tabasco has kept the same number of municipalities since 1883, one of the few Mexican states without recent changes.[6]
| Name | Municipal seat | Population (2020)[1] |
Population (2010)[7] |
Change | Land area[2] | Population density (2020) |
Incorporation date[6] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km2 | sq mi | |||||||
| Balancán | Balancán | 58,524 | 56,739 | +3.1% | 3,588.92 | 1,385.69 | 16.3/km2 (42.2/sq mi) | April 26, 1837 |
| Cárdenas | Cárdenas | 243,229 | 248,481 | −2.1% | 2,055.61 | 793.67 | 118.3/km2 (306.5/sq mi) | December 18, 1883 |
| Centla | Frontera | 107,731 | 102,110 | +5.5% | 2,701.85 | 1,043.19 | 39.9/km2 (103.3/sq mi) | December 18, 1883 |
| Centro | Villahermosa† | 683,607 | 640,359 | +6.8% | 1,723.38 | 665.40 | 396.7/km2 (1,027.4/sq mi) | February 5, 1825 |
| Comalcalco | Comalcalco | 214,877 | 102,110 | +110.4% | 770.67 | 297.56 | 278.8/km2 (722.1/sq mi) | November 14, 1834 |
| Cunduacán | Cunduacán | 137,257 | 126,416 | +8.6% | 600.58 | 231.88 | 228.5/km2 (591.9/sq mi) | February 5, 1825 |
| Emiliano Zapata[a] | Emiliano Zapata | 32,181 | 29,518 | +9.0% | 594.23 | 229.44 | 54.2/km2 (140.3/sq mi) | December 18, 1883 |
| Huimanguillo | Huimanguillo | 190,885 | 179,285 | +6.5% | 3,729.69 | 1,440.04 | 51.2/km2 (132.6/sq mi) | February 5, 1857 |
| Jalapa | Jalapa | 37,749 | 36,391 | +3.7% | 594.26 | 229.45 | 63.5/km2 (164.5/sq mi) | February 5, 1825 |
| Jalpa de Méndez | Jalpa de Méndez | 91,185 | 83,356 | +9.4% | 370.83 | 143.18 | 245.9/km2 (636.9/sq mi) | February 5, 1825 |
| Jonuta | Jonuta | 30,798 | 29,511 | +4.4% | 1,650.18 | 637.14 | 18.7/km2 (48.3/sq mi) | June 30, 1842 |
| Macuspana | Macuspana | 158,601 | 153,132 | +3.6% | 2,436.89 | 940.89 | 65.1/km2 (168.6/sq mi) | February 5, 1825 |
| Nacajuca | Nacajuca | 150,300 | 115,066 | +30.6% | 536.87 | 207.29 | 280.0/km2 (725.1/sq mi) | February 5, 1825 |
| Paraíso | Paraíso | 96,741 | 86,620 | +11.7% | 409.33 | 158.04 | 236.3/km2 (612.1/sq mi) | December 18, 1883 |
| Tacotalpa | Tacotalpa | 47,905 | 46,302 | +3.5% | 737.00 | 284.56 | 65.0/km2 (168.3/sq mi) | February 5, 1825 |
| Teapa | Teapa | 58,718 | 53,555 | +9.6% | 422.18 | 163.00 | 139.1/km2 (360.2/sq mi) | February 5, 1825 |
| Tenosique | Tenosique | 62,310 | 58,960 | +5.7% | 1,888.53 | 729.16 | 33.0/km2 (85.5/sq mi) | December 18, 1883 |
| Tabasco | — | 2,402,598 | 2,238,603 | +7.3% | 24,738 | 9,551.40 | 97.1/km2 (251.5/sq mi) | — |
| Mexico | — | 126,014,024 | 112,336,538 | +12.2% | 1,972,550 | 761,606 | 63.9/km2 (165.5/sq mi) | — |
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Mexico City is a sui generis political entity and is administratively divided into boroughs. |
