2007 Edition

Administrative divisions

9 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 territory* (comarca); Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los Santos, Panama, San Blas*(Kuna Yala), and Veraguas

Age structure

0-14 years: 30.3% (male 492,403/female 472,996) 15-64 years: 63.4% (male 1,025,898/female 998,926) 65 years and over: 6.3% (male 94,122/female 106,974) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane, vegetables; livestock; shrimp

Airports

117 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 18

total

53

under 914 m

28 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

64 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 10

under 914 m

53 (2006)

Area

land

75,990 sq km

total

78,200 sq km

water

2,210 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than South Carolina

Background

Explored and settled by the Spanish in the 16th century, Panama broke with Spain in 1821 and joined a union of Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador - named the Republic of Gran Colombia. When the latter dissolved in 1830, Panama remained part of Colombia. With US backing, Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903 and promptly signed a treaty with the US allowing for the construction of a canal and US sovereignty over a strip of land on either side of the structure (the Panama Canal Zone). The Panama Canal was built by the US Army Corps of Engineers between 1904 and 1914. In 1977, an agreement was signed for the complete transfer of the Canal from the US to Panama by the end of the century. Certain portions of the Zone and increasing responsibility over the Canal were turned over in the subsequent decades. With US help, dictator Manuel NORIEGA was deposed in 1989. The entire Panama Canal, the area supporting the Canal, and remaining US military bases were transfered to Panama by the end of 1999. In October 2006, Panamanians approved an ambitious plan to expand the Canal. The project, which is to begin in 2007 and could double the Canal's capacity, is expected to be completed in 2014-15. Geography Panama

Birth rate

21.74 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$4.489 billion; including capital expenditures of $471 million (2006 est.)

revenues

$4.157 billion

Capital

geographic coordinates

8 58 N, 79 32 W

name

Panama

time difference

UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Climate

tropical maritime; 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 1978, 1983, 1994, and 2004

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Panama

conventional short form

Panama

local long form

Republica de Panama

local short form

Panama

Currency (code)

balboa (PAB); US dollar (USD)

Currency code

PAB; USD

Current account balance

$-467 million (2006 est.)

Death rate

5.36 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$9.993 billion (2006 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador William A. EATON

embassy

Avenida Balboa and Calle 37, Apartado Postal 0816-02561, Zona 5, Panama City 5

mailing address

American Embassy Panama, Unit 0945, APO AA 34002

telephone

[507] 207-7000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Federico HUMBERT Arias

telephone

[1] (202) 483-1407

Disputes - international

organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia operate within the remote border region with Panama

Distribution of family income - Gini index

56.4 (2000)

Economic aid - recipient

$197.1 million (1995)

Economy - overview

Panama's dollarised economy rests primarily on a well-developed services sector that accounts for three-fourths of GDP. Services include operating the Panama Canal, banking, the Colon Free Zone, insurance, container ports, flagship registry, and tourism. A slump in the Colon Free Zone and agricultural exports, the global slowdown, and the withdrawal of US military forces held back economic growth in 2000-03; growth picked up in 2004-06 led by export-oriented services and a construction boom stimulated by tax incentives. The government has implemented tax reforms, as well as social security reforms, and backs regional trade agreements and development of tourism. Unemployment remains high. In October 2006, voters passed a referendum to expand the Panama Canal to accommodate ships that are now too large to cross the transoceanic crossway. Not a CAFTA signatory, Panama in December 2006 independently negotiated a free trade agreement with the United States, which, when implemented, will help promote the country's economic growth.

Electricity - consumption

6.888 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

207 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

78 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

7.545 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

37%

hydro

61.3%

nuclear

0%

other

1.7% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Volcan de Chiriqui 3,475 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

water pollution from agricultural runoff threatens fishery resources; deforestation of tropical rain forest; land degradation and soil erosion threatens siltation of Panama Canal; air pollution in urban areas; mining threatens natural resources

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

Marine Life Conservation

Ethnic groups

mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 70%, Amerindian and mixed (West Indian) 14%, white 10%, Amerindian 6%

Exchange rates

balboas per US dollar - 1 (2006), 1 (2005), 1 (2004), 1 (2003), 1 (2002)

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president

chief of state

President Martin TORRIJOS Espino (since 1 September 2004); First Vice President Samuel LEWIS Navarro (since 1 September 2004); Second Vice President Ruben AROSEMENA Valdes (since 1 September 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

election results

Martin TORRIJOS Espino elected president; percent of vote - Martin TORRIJOS Espino 47.5%, Guillermo ENDARA Galimany 30.6%, Jose Miguel ALEMAN 17%, Ricardo MARTINELLI 4.9%

elections

president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms (eligible for two more terms); election last held 2 May 2004 (next to be held 3 May 2009); note - beginning in 2009, Panama will have only one vice president.

head of government

President Martin TORRIJOS Espino (since 1 September 2004); First Vice President Samuel LEWIS Navarro (since 1 September 2004); Second Vice President Ruben AROSEMENA Valdes (since 1 September 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

note

government coalition - PRD (Democratic Revolutionary Party), PP (Popular Party)

Exports

$8.087 billion f.o.b.; note - includes the Colon Free Zone (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

bananas, shrimp, sugar, coffee, clothing

Exports - partners

US 44.9%, Spain 8.9%, Sweden 5.6%, Netherlands 4.9%, Costa Rica 4% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 483-8416

[507] 227-1964

consulate(s) general

Atlanta, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Tampa

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Panama

Flag description

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 Economy Panama

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

7.2%

industry

16.4%

services

76.4% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$7,900 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

6.3% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$16.2 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$25.29 billion (2006 est.)

Geographic coordinates

9 00 N, 80 00 W

Geography - 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 People Panama

Government type

constitutional democracy

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.9% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 500 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

16,000 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

35.7% (1997)

lowest 10%

1.2%

Illicit drugs

major cocaine transshipment point and primary money-laundering center for narcotics revenue; money-laundering activity is especially heavy in the Colon Free Zone; offshore financial center; negligible signs of coca cultivation; monitoring of financial transactions is improving; official corruption remains a major problem This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Imports

$9.365 billion f.o.b. (includes the Colon Free Zone) (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, chemicals

Imports - partners

US 27.5%, Netherlands Antilles 11.4%, Costa Rica 4.7%, Japan 4.5% (2005)

Independence

3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain 28 November 1821)

Industrial production growth rate

3% (2006 est.)

Industries

construction, brewing, cement and other construction materials, sugar milling

Infant mortality rate

female

14.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

17.75 deaths/1,000 live births

total

16.37 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.6% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

CAN (observer), CSN (observer), FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Internet country code

.pa

Internet hosts

7,149 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

6 (2000)

Internet users

300,000 (2005) Transportation Panama

Investment (gross fixed)

17.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

Irrigated land

430 sq km (2003)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (nine judges appointed for 10-year terms); five superior courts; three courts of appeal

Labor force

1.441 million

note

shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

20.8%

industry

18%

services

61.2% (1995 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Colombia 225 km, Costa Rica 330 km

total

555 km

Land use

arable land

7.26%

other

90.79% (2005)

permanent crops

1.95%

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 National Assembly (formerly called Legislative Assembly) or Asamblea Nacional (78 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - in 2009, the number of seats will change to 71

election results

percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PRD 41, PA 17, PS 9, MOLIRENA 4, CD 3, PLN 3, PP 1

elections

last held 2 May 2004 (next to be held 3 May 2009)

follows

seats by party - PRD 42, PA 16, PS 9, MOLIRENA 4, CD 3, PLN 3, PP 1; note - legislators from outlying rural districts are chosen on a plurality basis while districts located in more populous towns and cities elect multiple legislators by means of a proportion-based formula

note

as of January 2006, the composition of the legislature is as

Life expectancy at birth

female

77.87 years (2006 est.)

male

72.68 years

total population

75.22 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

91.9% (2003 est.) Government Panama

male

93.2%

total population

92.6%

Location

Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49

751,065 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49

591,604 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males age 18-49

29,724

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm or edge of continental margin

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

26.5 years (2006 est.)

male

25.8 years

total

26.1 years

Merchant marine

by type

barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 1,776, cargo 992, chemical tanker 476, combination ore/oil 2, container 663, liquefied gas 193, livestock carrier 7, passenger 49, passenger/cargo 77, petroleum tanker 518, refrigerated cargo 299, roll on/roll off 123, specialized tanker 23, vehicle carrier 274

foreign-owned

4,922 (Anguilla 1, Argentina 9, Australia 3, Bahamas, The 2, Belgium 11, Bermuda 1, Bulgaria 1, Canada 4, Chile 9, China 420, Colombia 5, Croatia 5, Cuba 11, Cyprus 14, Denmark 34, Egypt 16, Estonia 3, France 15, Gabon 1, Germany 35, Greece 524, Hong Kong 169, India 19, Indonesia 50, Iran 4, Ireland 2, Israel 6, Italy 15, Japan 2007, Jordan 13, South Korea ( ( (291, Kuwait 2, Latvia 3, Lebanon 2, Lithuania 5, Malaysia 13, Maldives 1, Malta 3, Mexico 5, Monaco 9, Morocco 1, Netherlands 21, Nigeria 7, Norway 66, Pakistan 3, Peru 15, Philippines 13, Poland 15, Portugal 10, Qatar 1, Romania 9, Russia 7, Saudi Arabia 8, Singapore 67, South Africa 3, Spain 53, Sri Lanka 5, Sudan 1, Sweden 5, Switzerland 226, Syria 18, Taiwan 308, Thailand 9, Trinidad and Tobago 1, Turkey 42, UAE 105, UK 37, Ukraine 8, US 94, Venezuela 14, Vietnam 4, Yemen 3)

registered in other countries

1 (Venezuela 1) (2006)

total

5,473 ships (1000 GRT or over) 146,511,342 GRT/219,940,567 DWT

Military - note

on 10 February 1990, the government of then President ENDARA abolished Panama's military and reformed the security apparatus by creating the Panamanian Public Forces; in October 1994, Panama's Legislative Assembly approved a constitutional amendment prohibiting the creation of a standing military force, but allowing the temporary establishment of special police units to counter acts of "external aggression" Transnational Issues Panama

Military branches

an amendment to the Constitution abolished the armed forces, but there are security forces (Panamanian Public Forces or PPF includes the Panamanian National Police, National Maritime Service, and National Air Service)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$150 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1% (2005 est.)

National holiday

Independence Day, 3 November (1903)

Nationality

adjective

Panamanian

noun

Panamanian(s)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural hazards

occasional severe storms and forest fires in the Darien area

Natural resources

copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower

Net migration rate

-0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

79,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day; note - imports oil (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Change or CD [Ricardo MARTINELLI]; Democratic Revolutionary Party or PRD [Hugo GUIRAUD]; Liberal Party or PL [Joaquin F. Franco VASQUEZ]; Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement or MOLIRENA [Gisela CHUNG]; Panamenista Party or PA (formerly the Arnulfista Party) [Juan Carlos VARELA]; Patriotic Union Party or PUP [Jose Raul MULINO and Anibal GALINDO]; Popular Party or PP (formerly Christian Democratic Party or PDC) [Rene ORILLAC]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Chamber of Commerce; National Civic Crusade; National Council of Organized Workers or CONATO; National Council of Private Enterprise or CONEP; National Union of Construction and Similar Workers (SUNTRACS); Panamanian Association of Business Executives or APEDE; Panamanian Industrialists Society or SIP; Workers Confederation of the Republic of Panama or CTRP

Population

3,191,319 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

37% (1999 est.)

Population growth rate

1.6% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Balboa, Colon, Cristobal Military Panama

Public debt

61.3% of GDP (2006 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 101, FM 134, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

815,000 (1997)

Railways

narrow gauge

278 km 0.914-m gauge (2005)

standard gauge

77 km 1.435-m gauge

total

355 km

Religions

Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.236 billion (2006 est.)

Roadways

paved

4,028 km

total

11,643 km

unpaved

7,615 km (2000)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.02 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Telephone system

domestic

NA

general assessment

domestic and international facilities well developed

international

country code - 507; 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to the Central American Microwave System

Telephones - main lines in use

440,100 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1.352 million (2005)

Television broadcast stations

38 (including repeaters) (1998)

Televisions

510,000 (1997)

Terrain

interior mostly steep, rugged mountains and dissected, upland plains; coastal areas largely plains and rolling hills

Total fertility rate

2.68 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

8.8% (2006 est.)

Waterways

800 km (includes 82 km Panama Canal) (2005)