Despite the immense natural and cultural wealth of this state located on the Southeastern corner of Mexico, Chiapas is still one of the poorest regions in Mexico. While the national Gross Domestic Product per inhabitant in the year 2003 reached $1,500 dollars, for Chiapas it was barely $625 dollars. This performance rate, when seen from a global point of reference, takes Chiapas to the level of nations like Vietnam or Algeria.

Within the industry sector, both crude oil production at the state´s various wells, and the generation of electricity in its abundant superficial bodies of water, stand out as the two major activities.

Roughly 16% of the state´s total surface is dedicated to the cultivation of products such as corn, beans, plantain, cocoa and coffee. In the year 2004, the state was the largest producer of mango, sherry coffee, plantain and papaya in the country. Half of the economically active population works in the agricultural fields, which despite its importance still lags regarding productivity and efficiency. Technological stagnation in the state can be described as high, and only a small portion of all plantations is actually
fitted with proper irrigation infrastructure.

During the same year 2004, the state Gross Domestic Product was distributed as 31% by the Services sector; 18% by the financial and real estate sectors; 13% by construction; and 11% by the tourism industry.

The state´s economical poor performance and backwardness is hard to ignore, since it is the one with the highest degrees of marginalization in the whole Republic, where, according to recent statistics, more than 90% of the municipalities in the state suffer from severe economic isolation, which of course result in very poor quality and conditions regarding education, housing, employment and medical services.