The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 1990 to 2025 Central America and the Caribbean
Military and security forces Panama, in 36 editions.
The entry for Panama published Military and security forces in 36 editions of 36, from 1990 to 2025. The text changed in 22 editions. Each is shown as published. Military and security forces in every entry.
- editions changed the text
- 22
- the first edition with it
- 1990
- the latest edition with it
- 2025
Published as “Branches” (1990 to 1996), “Military branches” (1997 to 2018) and “Military and security forces” (2019 to 2025).
field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe edition shownChoose an edition on the strip beside the text, or step through them with the arrows. Mark changes compares it with the edition before: the marks are ours, words added and words removed.
2025 edition
Changed since 2024Published as “Branches”
- the Panamanian Defense Forces (PDF) ceased to exist as a military institution shortly after the United States invaded Panama on 20 December 1989;
- President Endara is attempting to restructure the forces, with more civilian control, under the new name of Panamanian Public Forces (PPF)
the Panamanian Defense Forces (PDF) ceased to exist as a military institution shortly after the United States invaded Panama on 20 December 1989; President Endara is attempting to restructure the forces, with more civilian control, under the new name of Panamanian Public Forces (PPF)
Published as “Branches”
- note--the Panamanian Defense Forces (PDF) ceased to exist as a military institution shortly after the United States invaded Panama on 20 December 1989;
- President Endara is attempting to restructure the forces into a civilian police service under the new name of Panamanian Public Forces (PPF);
- a Council of Public Security and National Defense under Menalco Solis in the office of the president coordinates the activities of the security forces;
- the Institutional Protection Service under Carlos Bares is attached to the presidency
the note--the Panamanian Defense Forces (PDF) ceased to exist as a military institution shortly after the United States invaded Panama on 20 December 1989; President Endara is attempting to restructure the forces, with more forces into a civilian control, police service under the new name of Panamanian Public Forces (PPF) (PPF); a Council of Public Security and National Defense under Menalco Solis in the office of the president coordinates the activities of the security forces; the Institutional Protection Service under Carlos Bares is attached to the presidency
Published as “Branches”
- note - the Panamanian Defense Forces (PDF) ceased to exist as a military institution shortly after the United States invaded Panama on 20 December 1989;
- President ENDARA has restructured the forces into a civilian police service under the new name of Panamanian Public Forces (PPF);
- a Council of Public Security and National Defense under Menalco SOLIS in the office of the president coordinates the activities of the security forces;
- the Institutional Protection Service under Carlos BARES is attached to the presidency
note--the note - the Panamanian Defense Forces (PDF) ceased to exist as a military
institution shortly after the United States invaded Panama on 20 December
1989; President Endara is attempting to restructure ENDARA has restructured the forces into a civilian police
service under the new name of Panamanian Public Forces (PPF); a Council of
Public Security and National Defense under Menalco Solis SOLIS in the office of
the president coordinates the activities of the security forces; the
Institutional Protection Service under Carlos Bares BARES is attached to the
presidency
Published as “Branches”
- the Panamanian Defense Forces (PDF) ceased to exist as a military institution shortly after the United States invaded Panama on 20 December 1989;
- President ENDARA has restructured the forces, under the new name of Panamanian Public Forces (PPF) and worked to assert civilian control over them;
- the PPF is divided into the National Police, Maritime Service, and National Air Service;
- the Judicial Technical Police serve under the Attorney General;
- the Council of Public Security and National Defense under Menalco SOLIS in the Office of the President is analogous to the US National Security Council;
- the Institutional Protection Service under Carlos BARES is attached to the presidency
note - the Panamanian Defense Forces (PDF) ceased to exist as a military
institution shortly after the United States invaded Panama on 20 December
1989; President ENDARA has restructured the forces into a civilian police forces, under the new name of
service
Panamanian Public Forces (PPF); a (PPF) and worked to assert civilian control over
them; the PPF is divided into the National Police, Maritime Service, and
National Air Service; the Judicial Technical Police serve under the Attorney
General; the Council of
SOLIS in the office of Office of the
the president coordinates the activitiessecurity forces; President is analogous to the US National
Security Council; the Institutional Protection Service under Carlos BARES is
attached to the
Published as “Branches”
- Panamanian Public Forces (PPF) includes the National Police, Maritime Service, National Air Service, Institutional Protective Service;
- Judicial Technical Police operate under the control of Panama's judicial branch
Rewritten: too little of the 1993 text remains to mark the changes.
Panamanian Public Forces (PPF) includes the National Police, Maritime
Service, National Air Service, Institutional Protective Service;
Judicial Technical Police operate under the control of Panama's
judicial branch
Published as “Branches”
Panamanian Public Forces (PPF; includes the National Police or PNP, Maritime Service, National Air Service, and Institutional Protective Service); Judicial Branch Technical Police
Panamanian Public Forces (PPF) (PPF; includes the National Police, Maritime Police
or PNP, Maritime Service, National Air Service, and Institutional Protective Service;
Protective Service); Judicial Branch Technical Police operate under the control of Panama's
judicial branch
Published as “Branches”
Panamanian Public Forces (PPF; includes the National Police, National Maritime Service, National Air Service, and Institutional Protective Service); Judicial Technical Police
Panamanian Public Forces (PPF; includes the National Policeor PNP, Police, National Maritime Service, National Air Service, and Institutional
Institutional Protective Service); Judicial Branch Technical Police
Published as “Military branches”
- Panamanian Public Forces (PPF; includes the National Police, National Maritime Service, National Air Service, and Institutional Protective Service);
- Judicial Technical Police;
- note - the Constitution prohibits armed forces
Panamanian Public Forces (PPF; includes the National
National Police, National Maritime Service, National Air Service, and
Institutional Protective Service); Judicial Technical Police Police; note -
the Constitution prohibits armed forces
Published as “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)
Rewritten: too little of the 1997 text remains to mark the changes.
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)
Published as “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)
an amendment to the Constitution abolished the
armed forces, but there are security forces (Panamanian Public Forces
Forces or PPF includes the National Police, National Maritime
Service, and
Published as “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)
an amendment to the Constitution abolished the
The same text in 7 editions, 2001 to 2007.
Published as “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)
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)
Published as “Military branches”
no regular military forces; Panamanian Public Forces or PPF includes the Panamanian National Police (PNP), National Maritime Service (NMS), and National Air Service (NAS) (2008)
an amendment to the Constitution abolished the armed forces, but there are security forces (Panamanian no regular military forces; Panamanian Public Forces or PPF includes the Panamanian National Police, Police (PNP), National Maritime Service, Service (NMS), and National Air Service) Service (NAS) (2008)
Published as “Military branches”
no regular military forces; Panamanian public forces include: Panamanian National Police (PNP), National Air-Naval Service (SENAN), National Border Service (SENAFRONT) (2009)
no regular military forces; Panamanian Public Forces or PPF includes the public forces include: Panamanian National Police (PNP), National Maritime Air-Naval Service (NMS), and (SENAN), National Air Border Service (NAS) (2008) (SENAFRONT) (2009)
The same text in 3 editions, 2010 to 2012.
Published as “Military branches”
no regular military forces; Panamanian public forces include: Panamanian National Police (PNP), National Air-Naval Service (SENAN), National Border Service (SENAFRONT) (2010)
no regular military forces; Panamanian public forces include: Panamanian National Police (PNP), National Air-Naval Service (SENAN), National Border Service (SENAFRONT) (2009) (2010)
The same text in 6 editions, 2013 to 2018.
Published as “Military branches”
- 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)
no regular military forces; Panamanian public forces include: 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) (2010) (2013)
- 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) (2019)
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) (2019)
- 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) (2020)
note: on 10 February 1990, the government of then President Guillermo ENDARA abolished Panama's military and reformed the security apparatus by creating the Panamanian Public Forces; in October 1994, Panama's National 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"
Rewritten: too little of the 2019 text remains to mark the changes.
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) (2020)
note: on 10 February 1990, the government of then President Guillermo ENDARA abolished Panama's military and reformed the security apparatus by creating the Panamanian Public Forces; in October 1994, Panama's National 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"
no regular military forces; Ministry of Public Security: the Panama National Police ( La Policía Nacional de Panamá , PNP), National Air-Naval Service (Servicio Nacional Aeronaval, SENAN), National Border Service (Servicio Nacional de Fronteras, SENAFRONT) (2021)
- note - the PNP includes paramilitary special forces units for counterterrorism and counternarcotics missions;
- in addition to its 3 regionally-based border security brigades, SENAFRONT includes a special forces brigade, which is comprised of special forces, counternarcotics, maritime, and rapid reaction units
Rewritten: too little of the 2020 text remains to mark the changes.
no regular military forces; Ministry of Public Security: the Panama National Police ( La Policía Nacional de Panamá , PNP), National Air-Naval Service (Servicio Nacional Aeronaval, SENAN), National Border Service (Servicio Nacional de Fronteras, SENAFRONT) (2021)
note - the PNP includes paramilitary special forces units for counterterrorism and counternarcotics missions; in addition to its 3 regionally-based border security brigades, SENAFRONT includes a special forces brigade, which is comprised of special forces, counternarcotics, maritime, and rapid reaction units
no regular military forces; Ministry of Public Security: the Panama National Police ( La Policía Nacional de Panamá , PNP), National Air-Naval Service (Servicio Nacional Aeronaval, SENAN), National Border Service (Servicio Nacional de Fronteras, SENAFRONT) (2022)
note: the PNP includes paramilitary special forces units for counterterrorism and counternarcotics missions; in addition to its 3 regionally-based border security brigades, SENAFRONT includes a special forces brigade, which is comprised of special forces, counternarcotics, maritime, and rapid reaction units
no regular military forces; Ministry of Public Security: the Panama National Police ( La Policía Nacional de Panamá , PNP), National Air-Naval Service (Servicio Nacional Aeronaval, SENAN), National Border Service (Servicio Nacional de Fronteras, SENAFRONT) (2021) (2022)note - note: the PNP includes paramilitary special forces units for counterterrorism and counternarcotics missions; in addition to its 3 regionally-based border security brigades, SENAFRONT includes a special forces brigade, which is comprised of special forces, counternarcotics, maritime, and rapid reaction units
no regular military forces; the paramilitary Panamanian Public Forces are under the Ministry of Public Security and include the Panama National Police ( La Policía Nacional de Panamá , PNP), National Aeronaval Service (Servicio Nacional Aeronaval, SENAN), and National Border Service (Servicio Nacional de Fronteras, SENAFRONT) (2023)
note: the PNP includes a special forces directorate with counterterrorism and counternarcotics units; SENAFRONT has three regionally based border security brigades, plus a specialized brigade comprised of special forces, counternarcotics, maritime, and rapid reaction units
no regular military forces; the paramilitary Panamanian Public Forces are under the Ministry of Public Security: Security and include the Panama National Police ( La Policía Nacional de Panamá , PNP), National Air-Naval Aeronaval Service (Servicio Nacional Aeronaval, SENAN), and National Border Service (Servicio Nacional de Fronteras, SENAFRONT) (2022) (2023)
note: the PNP includes paramilitary a special forces units for directorate with counterterrorism and counternarcotics missions; in addition to its 3 regionally-based units; SENAFRONT has three regionally based border security brigades, SENAFRONT includes plus a special forces brigade, which is specialized brigade comprised of special forces, counternarcotics, maritime, and rapid reaction units
no regular military forces; the paramilitary Panamanian Public Forces are under the Ministry of Public Security and include the Panama National Police ( La Policía Nacional de Panamá , PNP), National Aeronaval Service (Servicio Nacional Aeronaval, SENAN), and National Border Service (Servicio Nacional de Fronteras, SENAFRONT) (2024)
note: the PNP includes a special forces directorate with counterterrorism and counternarcotics units; SENAFRONT has three regionally based border security brigades, plus a specialized brigade comprised of special forces, counternarcotics, maritime, and rapid reaction units
no regular military forces; the paramilitary Panamanian Public Forces are under the Ministry of Public Security and include the Panama National Police ( La Policía Nacional de Panamá , PNP), National Aeronaval Service (Servicio Nacional Aeronaval, SENAN), and National Border Service (Servicio Nacional de Fronteras, SENAFRONT) (2023) (2024)
note: the PNP includes a special forces directorate with counterterrorism and counternarcotics units; SENAFRONT has three regionally based border security brigades, plus a specialized brigade comprised of special forces, counternarcotics, maritime, and rapid reaction units
no regular military forces
- Ministry of Public Security:
- National Police (Policía Nacional, PN),
- National Aeronaval Service (Servicio Nacional Aeronaval, SENAN),
- National Border Service (Servicio Nacional de Fronteras, SENAFRONT) (2025)
note 1: collectively, the security forces are known as the Panamanian Public Forces
note 2: the PNP includes a special forces directorate with counterterrorism and counternarcotics units; SENAFRONT has four regionally based border security brigades, plus a specialized brigade comprised of special forces, counternarcotics, maritime, and rapid reaction units
no regular military forces; the paramilitary Panamanian Public Forces are under the forces
Ministry of Public Security and include the Panama Security: National Police ( La Policía Nacional de Panamá , PNP), (Policía Nacional, PN), National Aeronaval Service (Servicio Nacional Aeronaval, SENAN), and National Border Service (Servicio Nacional de Fronteras, SENAFRONT) (2024) (2025)note: note 1: collectively, the security forces are known as the Panamanian Public Forces
note 2: the PNP includes a special forces directorate with counterterrorism and counternarcotics units; SENAFRONT has three four regionally based border security brigades, plus a specialized brigade comprised of special forces, counternarcotics, maritime, and rapid reaction units
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Cite this page
Central Intelligence Agency. “Panama: Military and security forces.” The World Factbook, 1990–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/panama/military-and-security-forces.