Chiapas: rich in resources
but its people are poor

The mountainous state of Chiapas, located at the southern tip of Mexico, is rich in natural resources and spectacular scenery. It is also very rich ethnically: of its population of over three million people, some one million speak one of 57 distinct indigenous languages.

Chiapas was a centre of the Mayan empire, a status reflected in the many Mayan ruins found there. Today, however, it is one of the poorest states in Mexico, with its natural resources having been exploited by conflicting interest groups and its indigenous peoples forced to work on commercial estates or to establish settlements in new areas. Significant population movement has also arisen as a result of the Zapatista rebellion, as many people have relocated in order to avoid the violence. Furthermore, indigenous peoples are becoming increasingly attracted to urban centres such as San Cristóbal de las Casas, although agriculture remains the predominant commercial activity.