World Facts Index
 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 to expand the Canal. The
project, which began in 2007 and could double the Canal's capacity, is expected
to be completed in 2014-15.
Geography of Panama
|
Location:
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Middle America, bordering
both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and
Costa Rica |
|
Coordinates:
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9 00 N, 80 00 W |
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Area:
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total: 78,200 sq km
water: 2,210 sq km
land: 75,990 sq km |
|
Area comparative:
|
slightly smaller than South
Carolina |
|
Land boundaries:
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total: 555 km
border countries: Colombia 225 km, Costa Rica 330 km |
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Coastline:
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2,490 km |
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Maritime claims:
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contiguous zone: 24
NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical maritime; hot,
humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry season
(January to May) |
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Terrain:
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interior mostly steep,
rugged mountains and dissected, upland plains; coastal areas largely
plains and rolling hills |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Volcan de Chiriqui 3,475 m |
|
Natural resources:
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copper, mahogany forests,
shrimp, hydropower |
|
Natural hazards:
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occasional severe storms
and forest fires in the Darien area |
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Environment current issues:
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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 |
|
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
|
Population of Panama
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Population:
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3,309,679 (July 2008 est.) |
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Age structure:
|
0-14 years: 30.3% (male 492,403/female 472,996)
15-64 years: 63.4% (male 1,025,898/female 998,926)
65 years and over: 6.3% (male 94,122/female 106,974) |
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Median age:
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26.1 years |
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Growth rate:
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1.6% |
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Infant mortality:
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16.37 deaths/1,000 live births |
|
Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 75.22 years
male: 72.68 years
female: 77.87 years |
|
Fertility rate:
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2.68 children born/woman |
|
Nationality:
|
noun: Panamanian(s)
adjective: Panamanian |
|
Ethnic groups:
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mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 70%,
Amerindian and mixed (West Indian) 14%, white 10%, Amerindian 6% |
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15% |
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Languages:
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Spanish (official), English 14%
note: many Panamanians bilingual |
|
Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 92.6%
male: 93.2%
female: 91.9%
|
Government
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of
Panama
local long form: Republica de Panama |
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Government type:
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constitutional democracy |
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Capital:
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Panama |
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Administrative divisions:
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9 provinces (provincias, singular -
provincia) and 1 territory* (comarca); Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien,
Herrera, Los Santos, Panama, San Blas*, and Veraguas |
|
Independence:
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3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became
independent from Spain 28 November 1821) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 3 November (1903) |
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Constitution:
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11 October 1972; major reforms adopted
1978, 1983 and 1994 |
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Legal system:
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based on civil law system; judicial review
of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal and compulsory |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Martin TORRIJOS Espino
(since 1 September 2004); First Vice President Samuel LEWIS Navarro (since 1
September 2004); Second Vice President Ruben AROSEMENA Valdes (since 1 September
2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Martin TORRIJOS Espino (since 1 September 2004);
First Vice President Samuel LEWIS Navarro (since 1 September 2004); Second Vice
President Ruben AROSEMENA Valdes (since 1 September 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket by popular
vote for five-year terms (not eligible for immediate reelection; president and
vice presidents must sit out two additional terms (10 years) before becoming
eligible for reelection); election last held 2 May 2004 (next to be held on 3
May 2009); note - beginning in 2009, Panama will have only one vice president. |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral National Assembly (formerly called Legislative
Assembly) or Asamblea Nacional (78 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms); note - in 2009, the number of seats will change to 71 |
|
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 |
Economy
Panama's dollarized economy rests primarily on a well-developed services
sector that accounts for two-thirds of GDP. Services include operating the
Panama Canal, 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 should be completed by
2014 at a cost of $5.3 billion (about 30% of current GDP). The expansion
project will more than double the Canal's capacity, enabling it to accommodate
ships that are now too large to transverse the transoceanic crossway and
should help to reduce the high unemployment rate. The government has
implemented tax reforms, as well as social security reforms, and backs
regional trade agreements and development of tourism. Not a CAFTA signatory,
Panama in December 2006 independently negotiated a free trade agreement with
the US, which, when implemented, will help promote the country's economic
growth.
|
GDP:
|
$34.81 billion (2007 est.) |
|
GDP growth rate:
|
6.4% |
|
GDP per capita:
|
$10,700 |
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GDP composition by sector:
|
agriculture: 6.8%
industry: 15.6%
services: 77.6% |
|
Inflation rate:
|
2.9% |
|
Labor force:
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1.39 million
note: shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor |
|
Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture: 20.8%
industry: 18%
services: 61.2% |
|
Unemployment:
|
9.8% |
|
Electricity production by source:
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fossil fuel: 37%
hydro: 61.3%
other: 1.7%
nuclear: 0% |
|
Industries:
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construction, brewing, cement and other construction
materials, sugar milling |
|
Agriculture:
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bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane,
vegetables; livestock; shrimp |
|
Exports:
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bananas, shrimp, sugar, coffee, clothing |
|
Export partners:
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US 18.3%, Spain 15.6%, Germany 7.9%, Greece 4.1% |
|
Imports:
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capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, chemicals |
|
Import partners:
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Japan 36.2%, China 16.5%, US 11.4%, Singapore 10% |
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Currency:
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balboa (PAB); US dollar (USD) |
|
Currency code:
|
PAB; USD |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |