Tampico, located at 22°15′19″N 97°52′07″W22.25528°N 97.86861°W ,is the main city in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, and is the Mexican Gulf's main economic powerhouse. Although oil is the largest export of the port of Tampico, it also is a major exporter of silver, copper, lumber, wool, hemp, and other agricultural products. Containerized cargo, however, is mainly dealt with at the nearby ocean port of Altamira.

According to the INEGI 2005 census, the population of the city of Tampico was 303,635, and that of the municipality of Tampico was 303,924, both ranking fourth in the state. Its metropolitan area population was 803,196 people, which includes the municipalities of Ciudad Madero and Altamira in Tamaulipas, as well as Pánuco and Pueblo Viejo in the state of Veracruz. The municipality has an area of 92.73 km² (35.8 sq mi).