1994 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1994 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Administrative divisions
9 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 territory* (comarca); Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los Santos, Panama, San Blas*, Veraguas
Agriculture
accounts for 10% of GDP (1992 est.), 27% of labor force (1992); crops - bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane; livestock; fishing; importer of food grain, vegetables
Airports
total: 118 usable: 109 with permanent-surface runways: 38 with runways over 3,659 m: with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 15
Area
total area: 78,200 sq km land area: 75,990 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than South Carolina
Birth rate
24.61 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Branches
Panamanian Public Forces (PPF) includes the National Police, Maritime Service, National Air Service, Institutional Protective Service; Judicial Technical Police operate under the control of Panama's judicial branch
Budget
revenues: $1.8 billion expenditures: $1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $200 million (1992 est.)
Capital
Panama
Climate
tropical; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry season (January to May)
Coastline
2,490 km
Constitution
11 October 1972; major reforms adopted April 1983
Currency
1 balboa (B) = 100 centesimos
Death rate
4.87 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures
expenditures for the Panamanian security forces amounted to $138.5 million, 1.0% of GDP (1993 est.)
Digraph
PM
Diplomatic representation in US
chief of mission: Ambassador Jaime FORD Boyd (to be replaced by Ambassador Ricardo Alberto ARIAS on 1 September 1994) chancery: 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 483-1407 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Tampa,
Economic aid
recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $516 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $582 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $4 million
Electricity
capacity: 1,584,000 kW production: 4.36 trillion kWh consumption per capita: 720 kWh (1992)
Environment
current issues: water pollution from agricultural runoff threatens fishery resources; deforestation of tropical rain forest; land degradation natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation
Ethnic divisions
mestizo (mixed Indian and European ancestry) 70%, West Indian 14%, white 10%, Indian 6%
Exchange rates
balboas (B) per US$1 - 1.000 (fixed rate)
Executive branch
chief of state and head of government: President Guillermo ENDARA (since 20 December 1989, elected 7 May 1989); First Vice President Guillermo FORD Boyd (since 24 December 1992); Second Vice President (vacant); election last held on 7 May 1989, annulled but later upheld; results - anti-NORIEGA coalition believed to have won about 75% of the total votes cast note: a presidential election was held 8 May 1994 (next election to held on 9 May 1999) with inauguration of the successful candidates to take place on 1 September 1994; results - President Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES Gonzales, First Vice President Tomas Altamirano DUQUE, and Second Vice President Felipe VIRZI were elected; percent of vote for president - BALLADARES 33%, DE GRUBER 29%, BLADES 17% cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president
Exports
$545 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: bananas 43%, shrimp 11%, sugar 4%, clothing 5%, coffee 2% partners: US 38%, EC, Central America and Caribbean
External debt
$6.1 billion (year-end 1993 est.)
FAX
(507) 27-1964
Fiscal year
calendar year
Flag
divided into four, equal rectangles; the top quadrants are white (hoist side) with a blue five-pointed star in the center and plain red, the bottom quadrants are plain blue (hoist side) and white with a red five-pointed star in the center
Highways
total: 8,530 km paved: 2,745 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 3,270 km; improved, unimproved earth 2,515 km
Illicit drugs
major cocaine transshipment point and drug money laundering center
Imports
$2.5 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: capital goods 21%, crude oil 11%, foodstuffs 9%, consumer goods, chemicals partners: US 35%, EC, Central America and Caribbean, Japan
Independence
3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain 28 November 1821)
Industrial production
growth rate 7% (1993 est.); accounts for about 9% of GDP
Industries
manufacturing and construction activities, petroleum refining, brewing, cement and other construction material, sugar milling
Infant mortality rate
16.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
1% (1993 est.)
Inland waterways
800 km navigable by shallow draft vessels; 82 km Panama Canal
International disputes
none
Irrigated land
320 sq km (1989 est.)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia), 5 superior courts, 3 courts of appeal
Labor force
921,000 (1992 est.) by occupation: government and community services 31.8%, agriculture, hunting, and fishing 26.8%, commerce, restaurants, and hotels 16.4%, manufacturing and mining 9.4%, construction 3.2%, transportation and communications 6.2%, finance, insurance, and real estate 4.3% note: shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor
Land boundaries
total 555 km, Colombia 225 km, Costa Rica 330 km
Land use
arable land: 6% permanent crops: 2% meadows and pastures: 15% forest and woodland: 54% other: 23%
Languages
Spanish (official), English 14% note: many Panamanians bilingual
Legal system
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Legislative branch
unicameral
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 74.88 years male: 72.28 years female: 77.62 years (1994 est.)
Literacy
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 88% male: 88% female: 88%
Location
Middle America, between Colombia and Costa Rica
Manpower availability
males age 15-49 686,479; fit for military service 471,780
Map references
Central America and the Caribbean, South America, Standard Time Zones of the World
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 200 nm
Member of
AG (associate), CG, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Merchant marine
3,405 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 56,011,824 GRT/89,516,566 DWT, barge carrier 1, bulk 717, cargo 1,110, chemical tanker 181, combination bulk 31, combination ore/oil 24, container 215, liquefied gas 127, livestock carrier 9, multifunction large-load carrier 5, oil tanker 437, passenger 22, passenger-cargo 3, refrigerated cargo 287, roll-on/roll-off cargo 67, short-sea passenger 30, specialized tanker 10, vehicle carrier 129 note: all but 30 are foreign owned and operated; the top 4 foreign owners are Japan 34%, Greece 8%, Hong Kong 7%, and Taiwan 5%; other foreign owners include China at least 144 ships, Vietnam 3, Croatia 6, Cuba 4, Cyprus 4, and Russia 41
Names
conventional long form: Republic of Panama conventional short form: Panama local long form: Republica de Panama local short form: Panama
National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional)
elections held on 27 January 1991; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (67 total) progovernment parties: PDC 28, MOLIRENA 15, PA 8, PLA 4 opposition parties: PRD 10, PALA 1, PL 1; note - the PDC went into opposition after President Guillermo ENDARA ousted the PDC from the coalition government in April 1991; an election of members of the National Assembly was held on 8 May 1994 (next election to be held on 9 May 1999) and they will take their seats on 1 September 1994; results - percent of vote and seats won by party NA
National holiday
Independence Day, 3 November (1903)
National product
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $11.6 billion (1993 est.)
National product per capita
$4,500 (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate
5.9% (1993 est.)
Nationality
noun: Panamanian(s) adjective: Panamanian
Natural resources
copper, mahogany forests, shrimp
Net migration rate
-0.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Note
strategic location on eastern end of isthmus forming land bridge connecting North and South America; controls Panama Canal that links North Atlantic Ocean via Caribbean Sea with North Pacific Ocean
Other political or pressure groups
National Council of Organized Workers (CONATO); National Council of Private Enterprise (CONEP); Panamanian Association of Business Executives (APEDE); National Civic Crusade; Chamber of Commerce; Panamanian Industrialists Society (SIP); Workers Confederation of the Republic of Panama (CTRP)
Overview
GDP expanded by roughly 5.9% in 1993, following growth of 8% in 1992; banking and financial services led the way in 1993. The economy thus continues to recover from the crisis that preceded the ouster of Manuel NORIEGA, even though the government's structural adjustment program has been hampered by a lack of popular support and a passive administration. Public investment has been limited as the administration has kept the fiscal deficit below 2% of GDP. Unemployment and economic reform are the two major issues the new government must face in 1994-95.
Pipelines
crude oil 130 km
Political parties and leaders
government alliance: Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement (MOLIRENA), Alfredo RAMIREZ; Authentic Liberal Party (PLA), Arnulfo ESCALONA; Arnulfista Party (PA), Mireya MOSCOSO DE GRUBER other parties: Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Raul OSSA; Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), Gerardo GONZALEZ; Agrarian Labor Party (PALA), Nestor Tomas GUERRA; Liberal Party (PL), Roberto ALEMAN Zubieta; Doctrinaire Panamenista Party (PPD), Jose Salvador MUNOZ; Papa Egoro Movement, Ruben BLADES; Civic Renewal Party (PRC), Tomas HERRERA; National Integration Movement (MINA), Arrigo GUARDIA; National Unity Mission Party (MUN), Jose Manuel PAREDES; Solidarity Party (CPS), Samuel LEWIS GALINDO note: following the elections of 8 May 1994 the following realignment of political parties took place governing coalition: Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), Gerardo GONZALEZ; Liberal Republican Party (PLR), Rodolfo CHIARI; Labor Party (PALA), Carlos Lopez GUEVARA; Solidarity Party (PS),Samuel LEWIS GALINDO other parties: Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement (MOLIRENA), Alfredo RAMIREZ; Authentic Liberal Party (PLA), Arnulfo ESCOLONA; Arnulfista Party (PA), Mireya Moscoso DE GRUBER; Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Raul OSSA; Liberal Party (PL), Roberto ALEMAN Zubieta; Papa Egoro Movement, Ruben BLADES; Civic Renewal Party (PRC), Tomas HERRERA; National Unity Mission Party (MUN), Jose Manuel PAREDES
Population
2.63 million (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate
1.94% (1994 est.)
Ports
Cristobal, Balboa, Colon
Railroads
238 km total; 78 km 1.524-meter gauge, 160 km 0.914-meter gauge
Religions
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Telecommunications
domestic and international facilities well developed; connection into Central American Microwave System; 220,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 91 AM, no FM, 23 TV; 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite ground stations - 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT
Terrain
interior mostly steep, rugged mountains and dissected, upland plains; coastal areas largely plains and rolling hills
Total fertility rate
2.85 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Type
constitutional republic
Unemployment rate
12.5% (1993 est.)
US diplomatic representation
chief of mission: (vacant) embassy: Avenida Balboa and Calle 38, Apartado 6959, Panama City 5 mailing address: American Embassy Panama, Unit 0945; APO AA 34002 telephone: (507) 27-1777