Panama

Republic of PanamaRepublica de Panama

constitutional republicIndependence 3 November 1903 (from Colombia

Panama as the 1998 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 97 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalPanama

Position9 00 N, 80 00 W

Area78,200 sq km

LocationMiddle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the

Populationas each edition published it

2.74 million July 1998 est. · 2.43m in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.56% 1998 est. · 1.98% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 25.6 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

74.47 years 1998 est. · 74.56 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.57 children per woman 1998 est. · 3.1 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

24 deaths per 1,000 live births 1998 est. · 22 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$6,700 1997 est. · $2,400 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

3.6% 1997 est. · 8% in 1993

Geography

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

18 fields

Land useshare of 78,200 sq km

arable land 7%permanent crops 2%permanent pastures 20%forests and woodland 44%other 27% (1993 est.)irrigated 320 sq km (1993 est.)

Area

78,200sq km

land: 75,990 sq kmwater: 2,210 sq kmslightly smaller than South Carolina

Coastline

2,490km

territorial sea: 200 nm

Highest point

3,475m

Volcan de Chiriquilowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

Land boundaries

555km

border countries: Colombia 225 km, Costa Rica 330 km

Location

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

Climate

tropical;
hot, humid, cloudy;
prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry season (January to May)

Terrain

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

Environment-current issues

water pollution from agricultural runoff threatens fishery resources;
deforestation of tropical rain forest;
land degradation

Environment-international agreements

party to:: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:: Marine Life Conservation

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

15 fields

Population

2,735,943

(July 1998 est.)growth rate: 1.56% (1998 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1998 est.)

Birth

21.99Death

5.14Net migration

-1.28

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (1998 est.)74.47

71.73 · 77.31

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1995 est.)90.8%

91.4% · 90.2%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups

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

Age structure

0-14 years:: 32% (male 446,001; female 428,532)
15-64 years:: 62% (male 864,382; female 841,870)
65 years and over:: 6% (male 74,529; female 80,629) (July 1998 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.92 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Panamanian(s)
adjective:: Panamanian

Languages

Spanish (official), English 14% note: many Panamanians bilingual

Government

Constitutional republic; President Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES Gonzalez Revilla (since 1 September 1994); President Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES Gonzalez Revilla (since 1 September 1994)

20 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

33%

Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES (PRD) 33%Mireya MOSCOSO DE GRUBER (PA) 29%Ruben BLADES (MPE) 17%Ruben Dario CARLES (MOLIRENA) 16%election last held 8 May 1994 (next to be held 2 May 1999)

Legislature, 72 seats, elected 8 May 1994one dot, one seat

PRD 32PS 4PALA 1PA 14MPE 6MOLIRENA 4PLA 3PRC 3PLN 2PDC 1UDI 1MORENA 1

Country name

conventional long form:: Republic of Panama
conventional short form:: Panama
local long form:: Republica de Panama
local short form:: Panama

Administrative divisions

9 provinces (provincias, singular-provincia) and 2 territories* (comarca);
Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los Santos, Panama, San Blas*, Veraguas, and a new, as yet unnamed territory* or 'comarca' created 7 March 1997 when President PEREZ BALLADARES signed a bill designating a reserve stretched across three provinces

Independence

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

Constitution

11 October 1972; major reforms adopted April 1983

Legal system

based on civil law system;
judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Justice;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch

chief of state:: President Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES Gonzalez Revilla (since 1 September 1994);
First Vice President Tomas Gabriel ALTAMIRANO DUQUE (since 1 September 1994);
Second Vice President Felipe Alejandro VIRZI Lopez (since 1 September 1994);
note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:: President Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES Gonzalez Revilla (since 1 September 1994);
First Vice President Tomas Gabriel ALTAMIRANO DUQUE (since 1 September 1994);
Second Vice President Felipe Alejandro VIRZI Lopez (since 1 September 1994);
note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet:: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections:: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 8 May 1994 (next to be held 2 May 1999)
election results:: Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES elected president;
percent of vote-Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES (PRD) 33%, Mireya MOSCOSO DE GRUBER (PA) 29%, Ruben BLADES (MPE) 17%, Ruben Dario CARLES (MOLIRENA) 16%

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections:: last held 8 May 1994 (next to be held 2 May 1999)
election results:: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-PRD 32, PS 4, PALA 1, PA 14, MPE 6, MOLIRENA 4, PLA 3, PRC 3, PLN 2, PDC 1, UDI 1, MORENA 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

Judicial branch

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

Political parties and leaders

governing coalition:: Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), Gerardo GONZALEZ;
National Liberal Party (PLN), Raul ARANGO, founder;
Popular Nationalist Party, Jorge FLORES
other parties:: Solidarity Party (PS), Samuel LEWIS GALINDO;
Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement (MOLIRENA), Guillermo FORD;
Arnulfista Party (PA), Mireya MOSCOSO DE GRUBER;
Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Ruben AROSEMENA;
Papa Egoro Movement (MPE), Ruben BLADES;
Civic Renewal Party (PRC), Carlos ABADIA;
National Renovation Movement (MORENA), Pedro VALLARINO;
Authentic Liberal Party (PLA);
Labor Party (PALA);
Independent Democratic Union (UDI)

Political pressure groups and leaders

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)

International organization participation

AG (associate), CACM, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Eloy ALFARO de Alba
chancery:: 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:: [1] (202) 483-1407
consulate(s) general:: Atlanta, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Tampa

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador William John HUGHES
embassy:: Avenida Balboa and Calle 38, Apartado 6959, Panama City 5
mailing address:: American Embassy Panama, Unit 0945, APO AA 34002
telephone:: [507] 227-1777

FAX

[507] 227-1964

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

Because of its key geographic location, Panama's | economy is service-based, heavily weighted toward banking, commerce, | and tourism.

28 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

-$18billion

purchasing power parity · (1997 est.)

GDP per capita, PPP

-$6,700

purchasing power parity · (1997 est.)

Real growth rate

3.6%

(1997 est.)industrial production growth: 0.4% (1995 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

1.2%

(1997)

GDP-composition by sector(1997 est.)

agriculture 8%industry 18%services 74% (1997 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$2.4 billionExpenditures

$2.4 billion (1997 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $341 million

Fixed lines

273,000

(1991 est.)

Economy-overview

Because of its key geographic location, Panama's economy is service-based, heavily weighted toward banking, commerce, and tourism. Since taking office in 1994, President PEREZ BALLADARES has advanced an economic reform program designed to liberalize the trade regime, attract foreign investment, privatize state-owned enterprises, institute fiscal reform, and encourage job creation through labor code reform.

The government privatized its two remaining ports along the Panama Canal in 1997 and approved the sale of the railroad in early 1998. It also plans to sell other assets, including the electric company. Panama joined the World Trade Organization (WTrO) and approved a tariff reduction that will give the country the lowest average tariff rates in Latin America.

A banking reform law was approved by the legislature in early 1998 and will take effect in June. After two years of near stagnation, the reforms are beginning to take root; GDP grew by 3.6% in 1997 and is expected to grow by more than 5% in 1998. The most important sectors driving growth have been the Panama Canal and the shipping and port activities. The Colon Free Zone also rebounded from a slow year in 1996.

Labor force

total:: 1.044 million (1997 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

Unemployment rate

13.1% (1997 est.)

Industries

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

Electricity-capacity

957 million kW (1995)

Electricity-production

3.6 billion kWh (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

1,355 kWh (1995)

Agriculture-products

bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane, vegetables;
livestock;
fishing (shrimp)

Exports

total value:: $592 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
commodities:: bananas 43%, shrimp 11%, sugar 4%, clothing 5%, coffee 2%
partners:: US 37%, EU, Central America and Caribbean

Imports

total value:: $2.95 billion (c.i.f., 1997 est.)
commodities:: capital goods 21%, crude oil 11%, foodstuffs 9%, consumer goods, chemicals
partners:: US 48%, EU, Central America and Caribbean, Japan

Debt-external

$7.26 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid

recipient: NA

Currency

1 balboa (B) = 100 centesimos

Exchange rates

balboas (B) per US$1-1.000 (fixed rate)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

Telephone system

domestic and international facilities well developed

domestic:: NA
international:: 1 coaxial submarine cable;
satellite earth stations-2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean);
connected to the Central American Microwave System

Radio broadcast stations

AM 91, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios

564,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations

Televisions

420,000 (1992 est.)

Transportation

9 fields

Merchant marine, 4,350 ships by typeships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 89,622,112 GRT/137,529,188 DWT

bulk 1,240cargo 1,033chemical tanker 195combination bulk 67combination ore/oil 19container 426liquefied gas tanker 175livestock carrier 9multifunction large-load carrier 5oil tanker 524passenger 40passenger-cargo 6railcar carrier 1refrigerated cargo 296roll-on/roll-off cargo 101short-sea passenger 40specialized tanker 15vehicle carrier 158note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 76 countries among which are Japan 1,236, Greece 418, Hong Kong 273, South Korea 247, Taiwan 227, China 185, Singapore 119, US 112, Switzerland 85, and Indonesia 60 (1997 est.)

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

under 914 m

over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 14

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

under 914 m

total: 69 914 to 1,523 m: 17

Networkskm

Highways

11,100Railways

355

Highways: paved: 3,730 km (including 30 km of expressways) · unpaved: 7,370 km (1996 est.) · Railways: broad gauge: 76 km 1.524-m gauge · narrow gauge: 279 km 0.914-m gauge