Both are part of Mexico, and that's pretty much it. Both regions are opposite in terms of economy, population, cultural traits and even ethnicity:
- Northern Mexico is industry-oriented while southern Mexico is mostly rural
- Northern Mexico is sparcely populated while southern Mexico has a much bigger population density.
- Northern Mexico is dominated by the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts while southern Mexico has a tropical, humid climate.
- Northern Mexico's ethnicity is in general terms, "paler" than the rest of the country due to European Immigration throughout the 19th century; southern Mexico tends to be "darker" due to several Native American peoples that survived the contact with Europeans.
- Northern Mexico is more akin to the southwestern US -- in fact, the cowboy culture was "invented" in Mexico -- while southern Mexico has more affinity to Central America.
