Panama

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

constitutional democracyIndependence 3 November 1903 (from Colombia

Panama as the 2001 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 115 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 land: 75,990 sq km water: 2,210 sq km
LocationMiddle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica
2001

Every edition of Panama

Populationas each edition published it
2.85 million July 2001 est. · 2.43m in 1990
Population growth% a year
1.3% 2001 est. · 1.98% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 25.6 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
75.68 years 2001 est. · 74.56 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
2.27 children per woman 2001 est. · 3.1 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
20.18 deaths per 1,000 live births 2001 est. · 22 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$6,000 2000 est. · $2,400 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
2.5% 2000 est. · 8% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

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. On 7 September 1977, an agreement was signed for the complete transfer of the Canal from the US to Panama by the end of 1999.

Certain portions of the Zone and increasing responsibility over the Canal were turned over in the intervening years. 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 turned over to Panama by or on 31 December 1999.

Geography

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

18 fields
Coastline
2,490km
contiguous zone: 24 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Irrigated land
320sq km
(1993 est.)

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

Area

total: 78,200 sq km land: 75,990 sq km water: 2,210 sq km

Land boundaries

total: 555 km border countries: Colombia 225 km, Costa Rica 330 km

Climate

  • tropical maritime;
  • 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

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Volcan de Chiriqui 3,475 m

Natural resources

copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower

Land use

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

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

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 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

18 fields
Population
2,845,647
(July 2001 est.)growth rate: 1.3% (2001 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2001 est.)

Birth
19.06Death
4.95Net migration
-1.1

Ethnic groups

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 30.13% (male 436,661; female 420,625) 15-64 years: 63.86% (male 920,787; female 896,520) 65 years and over: 6.01% (male 81,682; female 89,372) (2001 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: 0.91 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate

20.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75.68 years male: 72.94 years female: 78.53 years (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.27 children born/woman (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,200 (1999 est.)

Nationality

noun: Panamanian(s) adjective: Panamanian

Religions

Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%

Languages

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

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 90.8% male: 91.4% female: 90.2% (1995 est.)

Government

Constitutional democracy; President Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO Rodriguez (since 1 September 1999)

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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 democracy

Capital

Panama

Administrative divisions

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

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 1978, 1983 and 1994

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch

chief of state:
  • President Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO Rodriguez (since 1 September 1999);
  • First Vice President Arturo Ulises VALLARINO (since 1 September 1999);
  • Second Vice President Dominador "Kaiser" Baldonero BAZAN Jimenez (since 1 September 1999);
  • note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO Rodriguez (since 1 September 1999);
  • First Vice President Arturo Ulises VALLARINO (since 1 September 1999);
  • Second Vice President Dominador "Kaiser" Baldonero BAZAN Jimenez (since 1 September 1999);
  • 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 2 May 1999 (next to be held NA May 2004) election results: Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO Rodriguez elected president;
  • percent of vote - Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO Rodriguez (PA) 44%, Martin TORRIJOS (PRD) 37% note: government coalition - PA, MOLIRENA, Democratic Change, MORENA, PLN, PS

Legislative branch

  • unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (71 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 2 May 1999 (next to be held NA May 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%;
  • seats by party - PRD 34, PA 18, PDC 5, PS 4, MOLIRENA 3, PLN 3, Democratic Change 2, PRC 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 or Corte Suprema de Justicia (nine judges appointed for 10-year terms);
  • five superior courts;
  • three courts of appeal

Political parties and leaders

  • Arnulfista Party or PA [Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO Rodriguez];
  • Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Ruben AROSEMENA];
  • Civic Renewal Party or PRC [Serguei DE LA ROSA];
  • Democratic Change [Ricardo MARTINELLI];
  • Democratic Revolutionary Party or PRD [Martin TORRIJOS];
  • National Liberal Party or PLN [Raul ARANGO Gasteazopo];
  • National Renovation Movement or MORENA [Pedro VALLARINO Cox];
  • Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement or MOLIRENA [Ramon MORALES];
  • Solidarity Party or PS [Samuel LEWIS Galindo]

Political pressure groups and leaders

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

International organization participation

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 Alfredo BOYD 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, Tampa

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Simon FERRO embassy: Avenida Balboa and Calle 37, Apartado 6959, Panama City 5 mailing address: American Embassy Panama, Unit 0945, APO AA 34002 telephone: [507] 207-7000

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

32 fields
Real growth rate
2.5%
(2000 est.)industrial production growth: 2% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate
13%
(2000 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

42%
US
39%
Colon Free Zone
14%
11%
Germany
Japan
8%
Ecuador
6%
5%
Costa Rica
Mexico
5%
4%
Benelux
4%
Italy
Exports $5.7 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)Imports $6.9 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)(1999)

Electricity

Electricity production
4.413 billion (1999)Electricity consumption
4.049 billion (1999)Electricity exports
95 million (1999)Electricity imports
40 million (1999)

Economy - overview

Panama's economy is based primarily on a well-developed services sector that accounts for three-fourths of GDP. Services include the Panama Canal, banking, the Colon Free Zone, insurance, container ports, flagship registry, and tourism. A slump in Colon Free Zone and agricultural exports, high oil prices, and the withdrawal of US military forces held back economic growth in 2000. The government plans public works programs, tax reforms, and new regional trade agreements in order to stimulate growth in 2001.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $16.6 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $6,000 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 7% industry: 16.5% services: 76.5% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 35.7% (1997)

Labor force

1.1 million (2000 est.) note: shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 20.8%, industry 18%, services 61.2% (1995 est.)

Budget

revenues: $2.8 billion expenditures: $2.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $471 million (2000 est.)

Industries

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

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 27.78% hydro: 71.65% nuclear: 0% other: 0.57% (1999)

Agriculture - products

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

Exports

$5.7 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Exports - commodities

bananas, shrimp, sugar, coffee, clothing

Imports

$6.9 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Imports - commodities

capital goods, crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, chemicals

Debt - external

$7.56 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$197.1 million (1995)

Currency

balboa (PAB); US dollar (USD)

Exchange rates

balboas per US dollar - 1.000 (fixed rate)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

10 fields
Mobile cellular
17,000
(1997)
Fixed lines
396,000
(1997) · country code .pa

Telephone system

general assessment:
  • 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 101, FM 134, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

815,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations

38 (including repeaters) (1998)

Televisions

510,000 (1997)

Internet users

45,000 (2000)

Transportation

9 fields

Railways

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

Highways

total: 11,592 km paved: 4,079 km (including 30 km of expressways) unpaved: 7,513 km (2000)

Waterways

882 km note: 800 km navigable by shallow draft vessels; 82 km Panama Canal

Pipelines

crude oil 130 km (2001)

Ports and harbors

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

Merchant marine

total: 4,711 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 111,515,984 GRT/169,655,363 DWT ships by type: bulk 1,381, cargo 925, chemical tanker 314, combination bulk 71, combination ore/oil 18, container 525, liquefied gas 193, livestock carrier 5, multi-functional large-load carrier 12, passenger 41, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 544, railcar carrier 2, refrigerated cargo 297, roll on/roll off 106, short-sea passenger 36, specialized tanker 29, vehicle carrier 208 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Argentina 11, Australia 1, Austria 1, Bermuda 21, Belgium 4, The Bahamas 7, Brazil 2, Canada 4, China 154, Chile 4, Cayman Islands 1, Colombia 6, Cuba 7, Cyprus 4, Denmark 12, Egypt 8, Ireland 2, Equatorial Guinea 1, Finland 1, France 4, Germany 17, Greece 248, Hong Kong 158, Honduras 2, Croatia 3, Indonesia 40, India 11, Iran 1, Israel 3, Italy 7, Japan 1,007, Jordan 2, South Korea 223, Latvia 4, Lithuania 1, Liberia 2, Monaco 43, Malta 1, Mexico 5, Malaysia 6, Netherlands 6, Norway 36, Netherlands Antilles 1, Peru 5, Pakistan 1, Portugal 5, Philippines 10, Russia 6, Saudi Arabia 6, Seychelles 2, South Africa 5, Singapore 73, Spain 35, Sweden 4, Syria 11, Switzerland 53, UAE 11, Thailand 15, Taiwan 170, UK 18, US 79, Venezuela 18, Samoa 1 (2000 est.)

Airports

107 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 42 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 22 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 65 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 52 (2000 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 Panamanian National Police, National Maritime Service, and National Air Service)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 775,966 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 530,916 (2001 est.)

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

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;
  • official corruption remains a major problem;
  • Panama was cited by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) an international organization that includes the US Government, for its lack of cooperation in the fight against international money laundering

Central Intelligence Agency. “Panama.” The World Factbook 2001. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/panama/2001.

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