The state of Aguascalientes is in the Centre-West meso-region in the middle of Mexico with proximity to the large domestic markets in the North and Central regions of the country. It is one of the smallest states both in terms of size and population with approximately 1.1 million inhabitants. Given its high degree of urbanisation (81.2% versus a national average of 76.5%), and with 84% of the population concentrated in the metropolitan area of the City of Aguascalientes, it is the fifth most densely populated state. The population is growing at over twice the national rate (at 2.2% annually versus 1.0% nationwide). The state has a relatively higher level of education with a greater rate of tertiary educational attainment (18.2% versus 16.4% nationally). All this has contributed to the state having good performance on the Human Development Index, ranking eighth out of 32 states, one of the least marginalised populations in the country and the lowest income distribution disparities in the country, as expressed by the Gini coefficient.