Page last updated on January 31, 2014
Explored and settled by the Spanish in the 16th century, Panama broke with Spain in 1821 and joined a union of Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela - 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 transferred to Panama by the end of 1999. In October 2006, Panamanians approved an ambitious plan (estimated to cost $5.3 billion) to expand the Canal. The project, which began in 2007 and could double the Canal's capacity, is expected to be completed in 2015.
Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica
Central America and the Caribbean
total: 75,420 sq km
country comparison to the world: 118
land: 74,340 sq km
water: 1,080 sq km
slightly smaller than South Carolina
total: 555 km
border countries: Colombia 225 km, Costa Rica 330 km
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or edge of continental margin
tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry season (January to May)
interior mostly steep, rugged mountains and dissected, upland plains; coastal areas largely plains and rolling hills
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Volcan Baru 3,475 m
copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower
arable land: 7.16%
permanent crops: 2.51%
other: 90.33% (2011)
total: 0.91 cu km/yr (27%/2%/71%)
per capita: 296.1 cu m/yr (2005)
occasional severe storms and forest fires in the Darien area
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
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, 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
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
noun: Panamanian(s)
adjective: Panamanian
mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 70%, Amerindian and mixed (West Indian) 14%, white 10%, Amerindian 6%
Spanish (official), English 14%
note: many Panamanians are bilingual
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%
Panama is a country of demographic and economic contrasts. It is in the midst of a demographic transition, characterized by steadily declining rates of fertility, mortality, and population growth, but disparities persist based on wealth, geography, and ethnicity. Panama has one of the fastest growing economies in Latin America and dedicates substantial funding to social programs, yet poverty and inequality remain prevalent. The indigenous population accounts for a growing share of Panama's poor and extreme poor, while the non-indigenous rural poor have been more successful at rising out of poverty through rural-to-urban labor migration. The government's large expenditures on untargeted, indirect subsidies for water, electricity, and fuel have been ineffective, but its conditional cash transfer program has shown some promise in helping to decrease extreme poverty among the indigenous population.
3,559,408 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
0-14 years: 27.7% (male 503,633/female 483,145)
15-24 years: 17.4% (male 315,918/female 304,056)
25-54 years: 40% (male 721,225/female 703,459)
55-64 years: 7.3% (male 127,743/female 130,899)
65 years and over: 7.6% (male 124,409/female 144,921) (2013 est.)
total dependency ratio: 55.1 %
youth dependency ratio: 43.9 %
elderly dependency ratio: 11.2 %
potential support ratio: 8.9 (2013)
total: 28 years
male: 27.6 years
female: 28.4 years (2013 est.)
1.38% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
18.91 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
4.73 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
-0.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
urban population: 75% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 2.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
PANAMA CITY (capital) 1.346 million (2009)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
92 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 79
total: 11.01 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 137
male: 11.77 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
total population: 78.13 years
country comparison to the world: 56
male: 75.35 years
female: 81.04 years (2013 est.)
2.4 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
8.2% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 59
1.5 physicians/1,000 population (2000)
2.4 beds/1,000 population (2010)
0.9% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
20,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
1,500 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne disease: dengue fever (2013)
25.4% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 55
3.9% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 97
4.1% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 107
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.1%
male: 94.7%
female: 93.5% (2010 est.)
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2010)
total number: 59,294
percentage: 7 %
note: data represents children ages 5-17 (2010 est.)
total: 14.6%
country comparison to the world: 87
male: 8.7%
female: 10.3% (2012)
conventional long form: Republic of Panama
conventional short form: Panama
local long form: Republica de Panama
local short form: Panama
name: Panama City
geographic coordinates: 8 58 N, 79 32 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)
9 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 3 indigenous territories* (comarcas); Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Embera-Wounaan*, Herrera, Kuna Yala*, Los Santos, Ngobe-Bugle*, Panama, Veraguas
3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain on 28 November 1821)
Independence Day, 3 November (1903)
several previous; latest effective 11 October 1972; amended several times, last in 2004 (2010)
civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Justice
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
chief of state: President Ricardo MARTINELLI Berrocal (since 1 July 2009); Vice President Juan Carlos VARELA Rodriguez (since 1 July 2009); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Ricardo MARTINELLI Berrocal (since 1 July 2009); Vice President Juan Carlos VARELA Rodriguez (since 1 July 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms (president not eligible for immediate reelection and must sit out two additional terms (10 years) before becoming eligible for reelection); election last held on 3 May 2009 (next to be held in May 2014)
election results: Ricardo MARTINELLI Berrocal elected president; percent of vote - Ricardo MARTINELLI Berrocal 60%, Balbina HERRERA 38%, Guillermo ENDARA Galimany 2%
note: the ruling government coalition - formerly comprised of CD (Democratic Change), Panamenista Party, MOLIRENA (Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement), and UP (Patriotic Union Party) - split in August 2011 when President MARTINELLI relieved Vice President VARELA from his position as Foreign Minister prompting the Panamenistas to pull out of the coalition; UP has now merged with CD, and CD and the Panamenista Party will now run separate candidates for the presidency in 2014
unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (71 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 3 May 2009 (next to be held in May 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRD 26, Panamenista 22, CD 14, UP 4, MOLIRENA 2, PP 1, independents 2; note - changes in political affiliation now reflect the following seat distribution: as of 13 February 2013 - seats by party - CD 36, PRD 17, Panamenista 13, MOLIRENA 4, 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
highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of 9 magistrates and 9 alternates and divided into civil, criminal, administrative, and general business chambers)
judge selection and term of office: magistrates appointed by the president for staggered 10-year terms
subordinate courts: appellate courts or Tribunal Superior; Labor Supreme Courts; Court of Audit; circuit courts or Tribunal Circuital (2 each in 9 provinces); municipal courts; electoral, family, maritime, and adolescent courts
Democratic Change or CD [Ricardo MARTINELLI Berrocal]
note: The Patriotic Union Party (UP) has merged with Democratic Change (CD)
BCIE, CAN (observer), CD, CELAC, CSN (observer), FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, SICA, UN, UNASUR (observer), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
chief of mission: Ambassador Mario Ernesto JARAMILLO Castillo (since 17 February 2011)
chancery: 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-1407
FAX: [1] (202) 483-8413
consulate(s) general: Honolulu, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Diego, Tampa
chief of mission: Ambassador Jonathan D. FARRAR (since 15 May 2012)
embassy: Edificio 783, Avenida Demetrio Basilio Lakas Panama, Apartado Postal 0816-02561, Zona 5, Panama City
mailing address: American Embassy Panama, Unit 0945, APO AA 34002; American Embassy Panama, 9100 Panama City PL, Washington, DC 20521-9100
telephone: [507] 317-5000
FAX: [507] 317-5568
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; the blue and red colors are those of the main political parties (Conservatives and Liberals respectively) and the white denotes peace between them; the blue star stands for the civic virtues of purity and honesty, the red star signifies authority and law
name: "Himno Istemno" (Isthmus Hymn)
lyrics/music: Jeronimo DE LA OSSA/Santos A. JORGE
note: adopted 1925
Panama's dollar-based economy rests primarily on a well-developed services sector that accounts for more than three-quarters of GDP. Services include operating the Panama Canal, logistics, banking, the Colon Free Zone, insurance, container ports, flagship registry, and tourism. Economic growth will be bolstered by the Panama Canal expansion project that began in 2007 and is estimated to be completed by 2015 at a cost of $5.3 billion - about 10-15% of current GDP. The expansion project will more than double the Canal's capacity, enabling it to accommodate ships that are too large to traverse the existing canal. The United States and China are the top users of the Canal. Panama is also constructing a metro system in Panama City, valued at $1.2 billion and scheduled to be completed by 2014. Panama''s booming transportation and logistics services sectors, along with aggressive infrastructure development projects, have lead the economy to continued high growth in 2012. Foreign investment, at around 10% of GDP in both 2011 and 2012, has continued to be a source of growth. Strong economic performance has not translated into broadly shared prosperity, as Panama has the second worst income distribution in Latin America. About 30% of the population lives in poverty; however, from 2006 to 2012 poverty was reduced by 10 percentage points, while unemployment dropped from 12% to 4.4% of the labor force in 2012. The US-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement was approved by Congress and signed into law in October 2011, and entered into force in October 2012. Panama also achieved removal from the Organization of Economic Development''s gray-list of tax havens by signing various double taxation treaties with other nations.
$56.46 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
$35.76 billion (2012 est.)
10.7% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
$15,400 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
household consumption: 58.5%
government consumption: 12.7%
investment in fixed capital: 29%
investment in inventories: 1%
exports of goods and services: 83.4%
imports of goods and services: -84.6%
agriculture: 3.9%
industry: 17.6%
services: 78.6% (2012 est.)
bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane, vegetables; livestock; shrimp
construction, brewing, cement and other construction materials, sugar milling
15.7% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
1.517 million
country comparison to the world: 128
note: shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor (2012 est.)
agriculture: 17%
industry: 18.6%
services: 64.4% (2009 est.)
4.4% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
lowest 10%: 1.1%
highest 10%: 40.1% (2010 est.)
51.9 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
revenues: $9.07 billion
expenditures: $9.835 billion (2012 est.)
25.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
-2.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
39.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
5.7% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
6.91% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
$7.659 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
$29.72 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
$32.27 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
$10.68 billion (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 71
$-3.267 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
$18.88 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
note: includes the Colon Free Zone
gold, bananas, shrimp, sugar, iron and steel waste, pineapples, watermelons
US 20.2%, Canada 14.6%, Costa Rica 6.6%, Netherlands 5.9%, Sweden 4.8%, China 4.1%, Italy 4% (2012)
$24.61 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
note: includes the Colon Free Zone
fuel products, medicines, vehicles, iron and steel rods, cellular phones
US 23.6%, China 6.4%, Costa Rica 4.6%, Mexico 4.4% (2012)
$2.466 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
$13.56 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
$29.27 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
$3.11 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
balboas (PAB) per US dollar -
7.257 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
6.209 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
39 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
72 million kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
1.976 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
52.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
47.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
0 bbl (1 January 2010 es)
country comparison to the world: 175
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
98,890 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
111,100 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 183
15.9 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
640,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 90
6.77 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 96
general assessment: domestic and international facilities well-developed
domestic: mobile-cellular telephone subscribership has increased rapidly
international: country code - 507; landing point for the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1), the MAYA-1, and PAN-AM submarine cable systems that together provide links to the US and parts of the Caribbean, Central America, and South America; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to the Central American Microwave System (2011)
multiple privately owned TV networks and a government-owned educational TV station; multi-channel cable and satellite TV subscription services are available; more than 100 commercial radio stations (2007)
11,022 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 132
959,800 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 104
117 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 49
total: 57
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 20
under 914 m: 30 (2013)
total: 60
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m:
total: 76 km
country comparison to the world: 127
standard gauge: 76 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)
total: 15,137 km
country comparison to the world: 122
paved: 6,351 km
unpaved: 8,786 km (2010)
800 km (includes the 82-km Panama Canal that is being widened) (2011)
country comparison to the world: 73
total: 6,413
country comparison to the world: 1
by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 2,525, cargo 1,115, carrier 27, chemical tanker 588, combination ore/oil 1, container 742, liquefied gas 205, passenger 42, passenger/cargo 51, petroleum tanker 545, refrigerated cargo 191, roll on/roll off 87, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 290
foreign-owned: 5,162 (Albania 4, Argentina 5, Australia 4, Bahamas 6, Bangladesh 5, Belgium 1, Bermuda 27, Brazil 3, Bulgaria 6, Burma 3, Canada 6, Chile 14, China 534, Colombia 2, Croatia 2, Cuba 2, Cyprus 5, Denmark 41, Ecuador 3, Egypt 11, Finland 2, France 7, Gabon 1, Germany 24, Gibraltar 1, Greece 379, Hong Kong 144, India 24, Indonesia 10, Iran 5, Ireland 1, Israel 1, Italy 25, Japan 2372, Jordan 11, Kuwait 12, Lebanon 2, Lithuania 3, Luxembourg 1, Malaysia 12, Maldives 2, Malta 2, Mexico 5, Monaco 11, Netherlands 6, Nigeria 6, Norway 81, Oman 10, Pakistan 3, Peru 9, Philippines 5, Portugal 10, Qatar 1, Romania 3, Russia 49, Saudi Arabia 11, Singapore 92, South Korea 373, Spain 30, Sweden 2, Switzerland 15, Syria 34, Taiwan 328, Tanzania 2, Thailand 6, Turkey 62, UAE 83, UK 37, Ukraine 8, US 90, Venezuela 13, Vietnam 43, Yemen 4)
registered in other countries: 1 (Honduras 1) (2010)
major seaport(s): Balboa, Colon, Cristobal
container port(s) (TEUs): Balboa (3,232,265), Colon (2,390,976), Manzanillo (2,391,066)
no regular military forces; Panamanian Public Security Forces (subordinate to the Ministry of Public Security), comprising the National Police (PNP), National Air-Naval Service (SENAN), National Border Service (SENAFRONT) (2013)
males age 16-49: 890,006 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 731,254
females age 16-49: 728,329 (2010 est.)
male: 32,142
female: 30,879 (2010 est.)
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"
organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia operate within the remote border region with Panama
refugees (country of origin): 15,723 (Colombia) (2012)
