[note 1][2][3] Xochicoatlánis located within the province of Sierra Madre Oriental, within the Carso Huasteco subprovince.

With extrusive igneous type rocks: acid tuff (7.0%) and basalt (4.3%) Sedimentary: shale-sandstone (38.0%), limestone-shale ( 26.0%), sandstone-conglomerate (13.0%) and limestone (11.0%).

[9][10][11] A state administrative level belongs to Macroregion IV and Microregion III, as well as to Operational Region XII Molango.

[17] According to the National Council for the Evaluation of Social Development Policy (Coneval), the municipality registers a Marginalization Index Medium.

[5][18] In livestock cattle are raised for milk and meat, sheep, pigs and goats, laying and fattening birds, as well as turkeys, also producing honey and beeswax.