Map of Mexico with Chiapas highlighted
Map of Mexico with Chiapas highlighted

Chiapas is a state in southern Mexico. According to the 2020 INEGI census, it has the eighth largest population of all states with 5,543,828 inhabitants and the 10th largest by land area spanning 73,560.47 square kilometres (28,401.86 sq mi). Chiapas is officially divided into 124 municipalities, although the establishment of municipal authorities in Belisario Domínguez was suspended in 2015 pending the resolution of a territorial dispute between Chiapas and the neighbouring state of Oaxaca. In 2021, the Supreme Court resolved this dispute in Oaxaca's favour, and annulled the 2011 decree that had created Belisario Domínguez.

Municipalities in Chiapas are administratively autonomous of the state according to the 115th article of the 1917 Constitution of Mexico. Every three years, citizens elect a municipal president (Spanish: presidente municipal) by a plurality voting system who heads a concurrently elected municipal council (ayuntamiento) 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). 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. 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.

The largest municipality by population is the state capital Tuxtla Gutiérrez, with 604,147 residents while the smallest is Sunuapa with 2,308 residents. The largest municipality by land area is Ocosingo which spans 9,520.12 km2 (3,675.74 sq mi), and the smallest is Santiago el Pinar which spans 16.59 km2 (6.41 sq mi). The newest municipality is Honduras de la Sierra, incorporated on July 15, 2018.

Municipalities

  • Largest municipalities in Chiapas by population
  • Tuxtla Gutiérrez, capital and largest municipality by population in Chiapas.
  • Tapachula, second largest municipality by population in Chiapas.
  • Ocosingo, third largest municipality by population in Chiapas.
  • San Cristóbal de las Casas, fourth largest municipality by population in Chiapas.
  • Comitán, fifth largest municipality by population in Chiapas.

State capital

Municipalities of Chiapas
NameMunicipal seatPopulation (2020)Population (2010)ChangeLand areaPopulation density (2020)Incorporation date
km2sq mi
AcacoyaguaAcacoyagua17,99416,814+7.0%248.9296.1172.3/km2 (187.2/sq mi)December 11, 1882
AcalaAcala21,18728,947−26.8%295.60114.1371.7/km2 (185.6/sq mi)December 11, 1882
AcapetahuaAcapetahua26,89927,580−2.5%561.81216.9147.9/km2 (124.0/sq mi)December 11, 1882
AldamaAldama8,4805,072+67.2%26.9010.39315.3/km2 (816.5/sq mi)July 28, 1999
AltamiranoAltamirano36,16029,865+21.1%958.34370.0234.3/km2 (88.8/sq mi)December 11, 1882
AmatánAmatán24,51221,275+15.2%316.97122.3877.3/km2 (200.3/sq mi)December 11, 1882
Amatenango de la FronteraAmatenango de la Frontera31,73529,547+7.4%254.4698.25124.7/km2 (323.0/sq mi)August 16, 1884
Amatenango del ValleAmatenango del Valle11,2838,728+29.3%152.6458.9373.9/km2 (191.5/sq mi)December 11, 1882
Angel Albino CorzoJaltenango de la Paz31,94726,628+20.0%583.54225.3148.3/km2 (125.0/sq mi)March 1, 1933
ArriagaArriaga41,13540,042+2.7%810.52312.9450.8/km2 (131.4/sq mi)May 28, 1910
Bejucal de OcampoBejucal de Ocampo7,3657,623−3.4%79.0030.5093.2/km2 (241.5/sq mi)May 4, 1912
Belisario DomínguezRodulfo Figueroa
Bella VistaBella Vista20,15719,281+4.5%214.4782.8194.0/km2 (243.4/sq mi)June 10, 1925
Benemérito de las AméricasBenemérito de las Américas23,60317,282+36.6%1,096.70423.4421.5/km2 (55.7/sq mi)July 28, 1999
BerriozábalBerriozábal64,63243,179+49.7%353.15136.35183.0/km2 (474.0/sq mi)May 30, 1898
BochilBochil37,26330,642+21.6%366.42141.48101.7/km2 (263.4/sq mi)August 28, 1929
CacahoatánCacahoatán50,11243,811+14.4%174.8067.49286.7/km2 (742.5/sq mi)December 11, 1882
Capitán Luis Ángel VidalCapitán Luis Ángel Vidal4,3153,653+18.1%225.2486.9719.2/km2 (49.6/sq mi)September 6, 2017
CatazajáCatazajá17,61917,140+2.8%631.76243.9327.9/km2 (72.2/sq mi)December 11, 1882
ChalchihuitánChalchihuitán21,91514,027+56.2%185.9171.78117.9/km2 (305.3/sq mi)December 11, 1882
ChamulaChamula101,96776,941+32.5%345.67133.46295.0/km2 (764.0/sq mi)December 11, 1882
ChanalChanal13,67810,817+26.4%408.07157.5633.5/km2 (86.8/sq mi)December 11, 1882
ChapultenangoChapultenango7,4727,332+1.9%182.0270.2841.0/km2 (106.3/sq mi)December 11, 1882
ChenalhóChenalhó47,37136,111+31.2%252.2397.39187.8/km2 (486.4/sq mi)December 11, 1882
Chiapa de CorzoChiapa de Corzo112,07587,603+27.9%833.39321.77134.5/km2 (348.3/sq mi)March 31, 1849
ChiapillaChiapilla6,1565,405+13.9%51.5819.91119.4/km2 (309.1/sq mi)December 11, 1882
ChicoasénChicoasén5,4025,018+7.7%115.7244.6846.7/km2 (120.9/sq mi)December 11, 1882
ChicomuseloChicomuselo36,78531,515+16.7%999.91386.0736.8/km2 (95.3/sq mi)December 11, 1882
ChilónChilón137,262111,554+23.0%1,685.16650.6581.5/km2 (211.0/sq mi)March 31, 1849
CintalapaCintalapa de Figueroa88,10678,114+12.8%2,448.75945.4736.0/km2 (93.2/sq mi)December 11, 1882
CoapillaCoapilla9,9008,444+17.2%155.5360.0563.7/km2 (164.9/sq mi)December 11, 1882
Comitán de DomínguezComitán de Domínguez166,178141,013+17.8%981.19378.84169.4/km2 (438.6/sq mi)March 31, 1849
CopainaláCopainalá22,19221,050+5.4%347.56134.2063.8/km2 (165.4/sq mi)December 11, 1882
El BosqueEl Bosque24,27318,559+30.8%159.6961.65152.0/km2 (393.7/sq mi)December 11, 1882
El ParralEl Parral15,58714,171+10.0%365.50141.1242.6/km2 (110.5/sq mi)November 23, 2011
El PorvenirEl Porvenir12,26313,201−7.1%82.9532.03147.8/km2 (382.9/sq mi)November 23, 1922
Emiliano Zapata20 de Noviembre10,7839,915+8.8%179.1469.1760.2/km2 (155.9/sq mi)November 23, 2011
EscuintlaEscuintla30,89630,068+2.8%418.36161.5373.9/km2 (191.3/sq mi)December 11, 1882
Francisco LeónRivera el Viejo Carmen7,2457,000+3.5%210.7981.3934.4/km2 (89.0/sq mi)December 11, 1882
Frontera ComalapaFrontera Comalapa80,89767,012+20.7%767.14296.19105.5/km2 (273.1/sq mi)February 28, 1930
Frontera HidalgoFrontera Hidalgo14,55612,665+14.9%94.3836.44154.2/km2 (399.4/sq mi)August 28, 1929
Honduras de la SierraHonduras de la Sierra11,65010,989+6.0%200.0077.2258.3/km2 (150.9/sq mi)July 15, 2018
HuehuetánHuehuetán36,33333,444+8.6%304.26117.48119.4/km2 (309.3/sq mi)December 11, 1882
HuitiupánHuitiupán27,89322,536+23.8%340.23131.3682.0/km2 (212.3/sq mi)December 11, 1882
HuixtánHuixtán22,97521,507+6.8%311.82120.4073.7/km2 (190.8/sq mi)December 11, 1882
HuixtlaHuixtla53,24251,359+3.7%397.55153.50133.9/km2 (346.9/sq mi)December 11, 1882
IxhuatánIxhuatan11,37710,239+11.1%94.6836.55120.2/km2 (311.2/sq mi)December 11, 1882
IxtacomitánIxtacomitán10,96110,176+7.7%125.6648.5287.2/km2 (225.9/sq mi)December 11, 1882
IxtapaIxtapa28,99924,517+18.3%280.02108.12103.6/km2 (268.2/sq mi)December 11, 1882
IxtapangajoyaIxtapangajoya6,2845,478+14.7%107.6041.5458.4/km2 (151.3/sq mi)December 11, 1882
JiquipilasJiquipilas41,06337,818+8.6%1,305.75504.1531.4/km2 (81.4/sq mi)December 11, 1882
JitotolJitotol24,96618,683+33.6%236.3791.26105.6/km2 (273.6/sq mi)December 11, 1882
JuárezJuárez21,80721,084+3.4%745.21287.7329.3/km2 (75.8/sq mi)December 11, 1882
La ConcordiaLa Concordia49,92044,082+13.2%2,580.75996.4319.3/km2 (50.1/sq mi)December 11, 1882
La GrandezaLa Grandeza7,7017,272+5.9%48.8618.87157.6/km2 (408.2/sq mi)February 5, 1921
La IndependenciaLa Independencia46,40941,266+12.5%516.08199.2689.9/km2 (232.9/sq mi)February 28, 1930
La LibertadLa Libertad5,2324,974+5.2%458.10176.8711.4/km2 (29.6/sq mi)December 11, 1882
La TrinitariaLa Trinitaria83,11172,769+14.2%1,608.38621.0051.7/km2 (133.8/sq mi)December 11, 1882
LarráinzarSan Andrés Larráinzar31,25920,349+53.6%149.2957.64209.4/km2 (542.3/sq mi)December 11, 1882
Las MargaritasLas Margaritas141,027111,484+26.5%3,025.711,168.2346.6/km2 (120.7/sq mi)December 11, 1882
Las RosasLas Rosas28,82925,530+12.9%235.6190.97122.4/km2 (316.9/sq mi)December 11, 1882
MapastepecMapastepec46,13043,913+5.0%1,223.87472.5437.7/km2 (97.6/sq mi)December 11, 1882
Maravilla TenejapaMaravilla Tenejapa14,71411,451+28.5%637.12245.9923.1/km2 (59.8/sq mi)July 28, 1999
Marqués de ComillasZamora Pico de Oro12,8929,856+30.8%912.40352.2814.1/km2 (36.6/sq mi)July 28, 1999
Mazapa de MaderoMazapa de Madero7,9017,793+1.4%110.6942.7471.4/km2 (184.9/sq mi)February 5, 1921
MazatánMazatán28,25026,573+6.3%383.99148.2673.6/km2 (190.5/sq mi)December 11, 1882
MetapaMetapa de Domínguez5,8765,033+16.7%27.3310.55215.0/km2 (557.0/sq mi)December 11, 1882
MezcalapaRaudales Malpaso23,84720,950+13.8%847.31327.1528.1/km2 (72.9/sq mi)November 14, 2011
MitonticMitontic13,75511,157+23.3%36.6914.17374.9/km2 (971.0/sq mi)December 11, 1882
Montecristo de GuerreroMontecristo de Guerrero8,4126,900+21.9%198.5976.6842.4/km2 (109.7/sq mi)July 28, 1999
MotozintlaMotozintla de Mendoza76,39869,119+10.5%586.39226.41130.3/km2 (337.4/sq mi)February 5, 1921
Nicolás RuízNicolás Ruíz4,7654,317+10.4%29.6311.44160.8/km2 (416.5/sq mi)November 23, 1922
OcosingoOcosingo234,661198,877+18.0%9,520.123,675.7424.6/km2 (63.8/sq mi)December 11, 1882
OcotepecOcotepec14,08811,878+18.6%61.3423.68229.7/km2 (594.8/sq mi)December 11, 1882
Ocozocoautla de EspinosaOcozocoautla de Espinosa97,39782,059+18.7%2,102.52811.7946.3/km2 (120.0/sq mi)December 11, 1882
OstuacánOstuacán18,46917,067+8.2%600.46231.8430.8/km2 (79.7/sq mi)December 11, 1882
OsumacintaOsumacinta3,9833,792+5.0%92.6135.7643.0/km2 (111.4/sq mi)December 11, 1882
OxchucOxchuc54,93243,350+26.7%417.85161.33131.5/km2 (340.5/sq mi)December 11, 1882
PalenquePalenque132,265110,918+19.2%2,897.441,118.7145.6/km2 (118.2/sq mi)March 31, 1849
PantelhóPantelhó26,39120,589+28.2%193.1874.59136.6/km2 (353.8/sq mi)December 11, 1882
PantepecPantepec12,26610,870+12.8%106.0340.94115.7/km2 (299.6/sq mi)December 11, 1882
PichucalcoPichucalco31,91929,813+7.1%595.09229.7653.6/km2 (138.9/sq mi)March 31, 1849
PijijiapanPijijiapan51,19350,079+2.2%1,762.77680.6129.0/km2 (75.2/sq mi)December 11, 1882
Pueblo Nuevo SolistahuacánPueblo Nuevo Solistahuacán29,63631,075−4.6%248.2595.85119.4/km2 (309.2/sq mi)December 11, 1882
RayónRayón10,8669,002+20.7%67.9026.22160.0/km2 (414.5/sq mi)December 11, 1882
ReformaReforma44,82940,711+10.1%436.30168.46102.7/km2 (266.1/sq mi)December 27, 1933
Rincón Chamula San PedroRincón Chamula8,7187,244+20.3%77.9330.09111.9/km2 (289.7/sq mi)September 6, 2017
SabanillaSabanilla29,88925,187+18.7%250.7896.83119.2/km2 (308.7/sq mi)December 11, 1882
Salto de AguaSalto de Agua64,25157,253+12.2%1,232.27475.7852.1/km2 (135.0/sq mi)December 11, 1882
San Andrés DuraznalSan Andrés Duraznal5,1634,545+13.6%38.4614.85134.2/km2 (347.7/sq mi)July 28, 1999
San Cristóbal de las CasasSan Cristóbal de las Casas215,874185,917+16.1%395.50152.70545.8/km2 (1,413.7/sq mi)March 31, 1849
San FernandoSan Fernando41,79333,060+26.4%360.74139.28115.9/km2 (300.1/sq mi)December 11, 1882
San Juan CancucSan Juan Cancuc37,94829,016+30.8%173.6267.04218.6/km2 (566.1/sq mi)August 30, 1989
San LucasSan Lucas7,2026,734+6.9%94.3536.4376.3/km2 (197.7/sq mi)May 8, 1935
Santiago el PinarSantiago el Pinar4,9593,245+52.8%16.596.41298.9/km2 (774.1/sq mi)July 28, 1999
SiltepecSiltepec25,93738,143−32.0%264.50102.1298.1/km2 (254.0/sq mi)February 5, 1921
SimojovelSimojovel de Allende52,93540,297+31.4%314.99121.62168.1/km2 (435.3/sq mi)March 31, 1849
SitaláSitalá15,51812,269+26.5%105.7540.83146.7/km2 (380.0/sq mi)December 11, 1882
SocoltenangoSocoltenango19,09217,125+11.5%634.91245.1430.1/km2 (77.9/sq mi)December 11, 1882
SolosuchiapaSolosuchiapa8,5618,065+6.2%156.8460.5654.6/km2 (141.4/sq mi)December 11, 1882
SoyalóSoyaló10,8909,740+11.8%96.4137.22113.0/km2 (292.6/sq mi)December 11, 1882
SuchiapaSuchiapa25,62721,045+21.8%284.85109.9890.0/km2 (233.0/sq mi)December 11, 1882
SuchiateCiudad Hidalgo41,67235,056+18.9%236.9891.50175.8/km2 (455.4/sq mi)July 8, 1925
SunuapaSunuapa2,3082,235+3.3%78.5930.3429.4/km2 (76.1/sq mi)February 5, 1921
TapachulaTapachula353,706320,451+10.4%983.65379.79359.6/km2 (931.3/sq mi)March 31, 1849
TapalapaTapalapa4,5474,121+10.3%66.3225.6168.6/km2 (177.6/sq mi)December 11, 1882
TapilulaTapilula13,59212,170+11.7%42.7416.50318.1/km2 (823.8/sq mi)December 11, 1882
TecpatánTecpatán21,42641,045−47.8%770.60297.5327.8/km2 (72.0/sq mi)December 11, 1882
TenejapaTenejapa48,16240,268+19.6%193.1274.57249.4/km2 (645.9/sq mi)December 11, 1882
TeopiscaTeopisca49,49937,607+31.6%284.44109.82174.0/km2 (450.7/sq mi)December 11, 1882
TilaTila83,50571,432+16.9%803.89310.38103.9/km2 (269.0/sq mi)December 11, 1882
TonaláTonala91,91384,594+8.7%1,858.92717.7349.4/km2 (128.1/sq mi)March 31, 1849
TotolapaTotolapa7,2116,375+13.1%169.1065.2942.6/km2 (110.4/sq mi)December 11, 1882
TumbaláTumbalá38,02531,723+19.9%403.52155.8094.2/km2 (244.1/sq mi)December 11, 1882
Tuxtla ChicoTuxtla Chico41,02437,737+8.7%161.9562.53253.3/km2 (656.1/sq mi)December 11, 1882
Tuxtla GutiérrezTuxtla Gutiérrez604,147553,374+9.2%336.07129.761,797.7/km2 (4,656.0/sq mi)March 31, 1849
TuzantánTuzantán30,30228,137+7.7%174.8767.52173.3/km2 (448.8/sq mi)December 11, 1882
TzimolTzimol16,56014,009+18.2%359.44138.7846.1/km2 (119.3/sq mi)April 1, 1931
Unión JuárezUnión Juárez16,00814,089+13.6%62.2624.04257.1/km2 (665.9/sq mi)December 11, 1882
Venustiano CarranzaVenustiano Carranza67,29261,341+9.7%1,364.65526.8949.3/km2 (127.7/sq mi)March 31, 1849
Villa ComaltitlánVilla Comaltitlán29,63627,899+6.2%447.05172.6166.3/km2 (171.7/sq mi)December 11, 1882
Villa CorzoVilla Corzo65,64374,477−11.9%2,764.481,067.3723.7/km2 (61.5/sq mi)December 11, 1882
VillafloresVillaflores109,53698,618+11.1%1,907.90736.6457.4/km2 (148.7/sq mi)December 11, 1882
YajalónYajalón40,28534,028+18.4%209.9681.07191.9/km2 (496.9/sq mi)December 11, 1882
ZinacantánZinacantán45,37336,489+24.3%195.2675.39232.4/km2 (601.8/sq mi)December 11, 1882
Chiapas5,543,8284,796,580+15.6%73,560.4728,401.8675.4/km2 (195.2/sq mi)
Mexico126,014,024112,336,538+12.2%1,972,550761,60663.9/km2 (165.5/sq mi)

Notes