The state of Nuevo Leon is a Northern border state in the North-East meso-region. It is the 13th largest in surface area (just smaller than Ireland). However, with a population of around 4.2 million inhabitants (4.1% of the country, eighth nationally), it is the 15th most densely populated. Some particularities of its population are its highly urban proportion of 94.3% (76.5% national average) and that most of its economic activity and population is encompassed in the metropolitan area of the capital city of Monterrey. The state population is growing at a higher rate than the national level (1.6% versus 1.0%). The state is strongly linked to the US in trade, business environment and culture. However, the economic success does not result in significant levels of out-migration to the US. In terms of educational attainment, it is ahead of national averages in both schooling years and in the proportion of its population over 15 years that completed secondary schooling. The state is a particularly advanced economy with good living standards and overall levels of welfare.