Panama

Republic of PanamaRepublica de Panama

constitutional republicIndependence 3 November 1903 (from Colombia

Panama as the 1999 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 105 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
1999

Every edition of Panama

Populationas each edition published it
2.78 million July 1999 est. · 2.43m in 1990
Population growth% a year
1.53% 1999 est. · 1.98% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 25.6 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
74.66 years 1999 est. · 74.56 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
2.54 children per woman 1999 est. · 3.1 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
23.35 deaths per 1,000 live births 1999 est. · 22 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$7,300 1998 est. · $2,400 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
2.7% 1998 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

Geographic coordinates

9 00 N, 80 00 W

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

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

Natural resources

copper, mahogany forests, shrimp

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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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, Whaling
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
2,778,526
(July 1999 est.)growth rate: 1.53% (1999 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1999 est.)

Birth
21.69Death
5.14Net migration
-1.22

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (1999 est.)74.66
71.91 · 77.51
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 446,792; female 429,811)
15-64 years:
63% (male 882,541; female 859,455)
65 years and over:
5% (male 76,648; female 83,279) (1999 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
total population:
1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate

23.35 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.54 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality

noun:
Panamanian(s)
adjective:
Panamanian

Religions

Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%

Languages

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

Government

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

18 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

Government type

constitutional republic

Capital

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)

National holiday

Independence Day, 3 November (1903)

Constitution

11 October 1972; major reforms adopted April 1983

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch

chief of state:
  • President Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES (since 1 September 1994);
  • First Vice President Tomas ALTAMIRANO Duque (since 1 September 1994);
  • Second Vice President Felipe VIRZI (since 1 September 1994);
  • note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:
  • President Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES (since 1 September 1994);
  • First Vice President Tomas ALTAMIRANO Duque (since 1 September 1994);
  • Second Vice President Felipe VIRZI (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 pressure groups and leaders

  • National Council of Organized Workers or CONATO;
  • National Council of Private Enterprise or CONEP;
  • Panamanian Association of Business Executives or APEDE;
  • National Civic Crusade;
  • Chamber of Commerce;
  • Panamanian Industrialists Society or SIP;
  • Workers Confederation of the Republic of Panama or CTRP

International organization participation

CAN (associate), 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, OPCW, 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
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 Simon FERRO
embassy:
Avenida Balboa and Calle 38, Apartado 6959, Panama City 5
mailing address:
American Embassy Panama, Unit 0945, APO AA 34002

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.

31 fields
GDP per capita, PPP
$7,300
purchasing power parity? · (1998 est.)
Real growth rate
2.7%
(1998 est.)industrial production growth: 0.4% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate
13.1%
(1997 est.)

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

Electricity

fossil fuel 29.58%hydro 70.42%nuclear 0% · other 0%
Electricity production
3.55 billion (1996)Electricity consumption
3.488 billion (1996)Electricity exports
157 million (1996)Electricity imports
95 million (1996)

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. The most important sectors driving growth have been the Panama Canal and other shipping and port activities.

GDP

purchasing power parity--$19.9 billion (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%:
0.5%
highest 10%:
42.5% (1991)

Labor force

1.044 million (1997 est.) note: shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor

Labor force--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%

Industries

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

Agriculture--products

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

Exports

$6.68 billion (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports--commodities

bananas 43%, shrimp 11%, sugar 4%, clothing 5%, coffee 2%

Exports--partners

US 37%, EU, Central America and Caribbean

Imports

$7.38 billion (f.o.b., 1997)

Imports--commodities

capital goods 21%, crude oil 11%, foodstuffs 9%, consumer goods, chemicals

Imports--partners

US 48%, EU, Central America and Caribbean, Japan

Debt--external

$7.26 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid--recipient

$197.1 million (1995)

Currency

1 balboa (B) = 100 centesimos

Exchange rates

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

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

6 fields
Fixed lines
273,000
(1991 est.)

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

9 (in addition, there are 17 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

420,000 (1992 est.)

Transportation

9 fields

Merchant marine, 4,632 ships by typeships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 98,433,972 GRT/149,800,820 DWT

bulk 1,335cargo 1,028chemical tanker 288combination bulk 68combination ore/oil 15container 507liquefied gas tanker 176livestock carrier 9multifunction large-load carrier 6oil tanker 498passenger 41passenger-cargo 5railcar carrier 2refrigerated cargo 312roll-on/roll-off cargo 102short-sea passenger 40specialized tanker 23vehicle carrier 177note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 71 countries among which are Japan 1,262, Greece 378, Hong Kong 244, South Korea 259, Taiwan 229, China 193, Singapore 103, US 116, Switzerland 78, and Indonesia 53 (1998 est.)

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

under 914 m
22
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
50
total: 67 914 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

Railways

total:
355 km
broad gauge:
76 km 1.524-m gauge
narrow gauge:
279 km 0.914-m gauge

Highways

total:
11,100 km
paved:
3,730 km (including 30 km of expressways)
unpaved:
7,370 km (1996 est.)

Waterways

800 km navigable by shallow draft vessels; 82 km Panama Canal

Pipelines

crude oil 130 km

Ports and harbors

Balboa, Cristobal, Coco Solo, Manzanillo (part of Colon area), Vacamonte

Airports

110 (1998 est.)

Military

6 fields

Military branches

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

Military manpower--availability

males age 15-49: 746,910 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service

males age 15-49: 511,866 (1999 est.)

Military--note

in October 1994, a month after President PEREZ BALLADARES assumed office, Panama's Legislative Assembly approved a constitutional amendment prohibiting the creation of a standing military force, but allowing the temporary establishment of a "special police force" to counter acts of "external aggression"

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Illicit drugs

  • major cocaine transshipment point and major drug-money-laundering center;
  • no recent signs of coca cultivation;
  • monitoring of financial transactions is improving

Central Intelligence Agency. “Panama.” The World Factbook 1999. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/panama/1999.

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