Panama

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Introduction - Panama:

Country

Panama

Background

Explored and settled by the Spanish in the 16th century, Panama broke with Spain in 1821 and joined a union of Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador - 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 is to begin in 2007 and could double the Canals capacity, is expected to be completed in 2014-15.

Location - Panama:

Location

Central 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

Area comparative

slightly smaller than South Carolina

Land boundaries

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

Coastline

2,490 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or edge of continental margin

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 Baru 3,475 m

Natural resources

copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower

Land use

arable land: 7.26%
permanent crops: 1.95%
other: 90.79% (2005)

Irrigated land

430 sq km (2003)

Natural hazards

occasional severe storms and forest fires in the Darien area

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; air pollution in urban areas; mining threatens natural resources

Environment international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, 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 - Panama:

Population

3,242,173 (July 2007 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 30% (male 496,195/female 476,508)
15-64 years: 63.6% (male 1,044,139/female 1,016,805)
65 years and over: 6.4% (male 97,365/female 111,161) (2007 est.)

Median age

total: 26.4 years
male: 26 years
female: 26.7 years (2007 est.)

Population growth rate

1.564% (2007 est.)

Birth rate

21.45 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Death rate

5.44 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Net migration rate

-0.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.041 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.027 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.876 male(s)/female
total population: 1.021 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 15.96 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 17.33 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75.19 years
male: 72.69 years
female: 77.8 years (2007 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.66 children born/woman (2007 est.)

Hiv aids adult prevalence rate

0.9% (2003 est.)

Hiv aids people living with hiv aids

16,000 (2003 est.)

Hiv aids deaths

less than 500 (2003 est.)

Nationality

noun: Panamanian(s)
adjective: Panamanian

Ethnic groups

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

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: 91.9%
male: 92.5%
female: 91.2% (2000 census)

Government - Panama:

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

name: Panama
geographic coordinates: 8 58 N, 79 32 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions

9 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 territory* (comarca); Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los Santos, Panama, San Blas*(Kuna Yala), 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, 1994, and 2004

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 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 (eligible for two more terms); 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.
election results: Martin TORRIJOS Espino elected president; percent of vote - Martin TORRIJOS Espino 47.5%, Guillermo ENDARA Galimany 30.6%, Jose Miguel ALEMAN 17%, Ricardo MARTINELLI 4.9%
note: government coalition - PRD (Democratic Revolutionary Party), PP (Popular Party)

Legislative branch

unicameral National 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
elections: last held 2 May 2004 (next to be held 3 May 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRD 41, PA 17, PS 9, MOLIRENA 4, CD 3, PLN 3, PP 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

Democratic Change or CD [Ricardo MARTINELLI]; Democratic Revolutionary Party or PRD [Hugo GUIRAUD]; Liberal Party or PLN [Joaquin F. Franco VASQUEZ]; Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement or MOLIRENA [Gisela CHUNG]; Panamenista Party or PA [Juan Carlos VARELA] (formerly the Arnulfista Party); Patriotic Union Party or PUP [Jose Raul MULINO and Anibal GALINDO]; Popular Party or PP [Rene ORILLAC] (formerly Christian Democratic Party or PDC); Solidarity Party or PS

Political pressure groups and leaders

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

International organization participation

CAN (observer), CSN (observer), FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the us

chief of mission: Ambassador Federico HUMBERT Arias
chancery: 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-1407
FAX: [1] (202) 483-8416
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 A. EATON
embassy: Avenida Balboa and Calle 37, Apartado Postal 0816-02561, Zona 5, 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 - Panama:

Economy overview

Panamas dollarized economy rests primarily on a well-developed services sector that accounts for three-fourths of GDP. Services include operating the Panama Canal, banking, the Colon Free Zone, insurance, container ports, flagship registry, and tourism. A slump in the Colon Free Zone and agricultural exports, the global slowdown, and the withdrawal of US military forces held back economic growth in 2000-03; growth picked up in 2004-06 led by export-oriented services and a construction boom stimulated by tax incentives. The government has implemented tax reforms, as well as social security reforms, and backs regional trade agreements and development of tourism. Unemployment remains high. In October 2006, voters passed a referendum to expand the Panama Canal to accommodate ships that are now too large to transverse the transoceanic crossway. Not a CAFTA signatory, Panama in December 2006 independently negotiated a free trade agreement with the US, which, when implemented, will help promote the countrys economic growth.

Gdp purchasing power parity

$26.04 billion (2006 est.)

Gdp official exchange rate

$16.47 billion (2006 est.)

Gdp real growth rate

8.1% (2006 est.)

Gdp per capita ppp

$8,200 (2006 est.)

Gdp composition by sector

agriculture: 7.2%
industry: 16.4%
services: 76.4% (2006 est.)

Labor force

1.441 million
note: shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor (2006 est.)

Labor force by occupation

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

Unemployment rate

8.8% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

37% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Distribution of family income gini index

56.4 (2000)

Inflation rate consumer prices

2.6% (2006 est.)

Investment gross fixed

17.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget

revenues: $4.157 billion
expenditures: $4.489 billion; including capital expenditures of $471 million (2006 est.)

Public debt

61.3% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture products

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

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

3% (2006 est.)

Electricity production

7.545 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity consumption

6.888 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity exports

207 million kWh (2004)

Electricity imports

78 million kWh (2004)

Oil production

0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil consumption

79,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil exports

NA bbl/day

Oil imports

NA bbl/day

Oil proved reserves

0 bbl

Natural gas production

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas consumption

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance

-$467 million (2006 est.)

Exports

$8.087 billion f.o.b.; note - includes the Colon Free Zone (2006 est.)

Exports commodities

bananas, shrimp, sugar, coffee, clothing

Exports partners

Spain 26.8%, US 18.9%, Italy 5.7%, Germany 5.4% (2006)

Imports

$9.365 billion f.o.b. (includes the Colon Free Zone) (2006 est.)

Imports commodities

capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, chemicals

Imports partners

Japan 33.2%, China 16%, US 11.2%, Singapore 11.2% (2006)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.236 billion (2006 est.)

Debt external

$9.993 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid recipient

$197.1 million (1995)

Currency code

balboa (PAB); US dollar (USD)

Exchange rates

balboas per US dollar - 1 (2006), 1 (2005), 1 (2004), 1 (2003), 1 (2002)

Communications - Panama:

Fiscal year

calendar year

Telephones main lines in use

432,900 (2006)

Telephones mobile cellular

1.694 million (2005)

Telephone system

general assessment: domestic and international facilities well developed
domestic: NA
international: country code - 507; 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)

Television broadcast stations

38 (including repeaters) (1998)

Internet country code

.pa

Internet hosts

7,149 (2006)

Internet users

220,000 (2006)

Transportation - Panama:

Airports

117 (2006)

Airports with paved runways

total: 53
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 18
under 914 m: 28 (2006)

Airports with unpaved runways

total: 64
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 53 (2006)

Railways

total: 355 km
standard gauge: 77 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 278 km 0.914-m gauge (2006)

Roadways

total: 11,643 km
paved: 4,028 km
unpaved: 7,615 km (2000)

Waterways

800 km (includes 82 km Panama Canal) (2007)

Merchant marine

total: 5,473 ships (1000 GRT or over) 146,511,342 GRT/219,940,567 DWT
by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 1,776, cargo 992, chemical tanker 476, combination ore/oil 2, container 663, liquefied gas 193, livestock carrier 7, passenger 49, passenger/cargo 77, petroleum tanker 518, refrigerated cargo 299, roll on/roll off 123, specialized tanker 23, vehicle carrier 274
foreign-owned: 4,922 (Anguilla 1, Argentina 9, Australia 3, Bahamas, The 2, Belgium 11, Bermuda 1, Bulgaria 1, Canada 4, Chile 9, China 420, Colombia 5, Croatia 5, Cuba 11, Cyprus 14, Denmark 34, Egypt 16, Estonia 3, France 15, Gabon 1, Germany 35, Greece 524, Hong Kong 169, India 19, Indonesia 50, Iran 4, Ireland 2, Israel 6, Italy 15, Japan 2007, Jordan 13, South Korea 291, Kuwait 2, Latvia 3, Lebanon 2, Lithuania 5, Malaysia 13, Maldives 1, Malta 3, Mexico 5, Monaco 9, Morocco 1, Netherlands 21, Nigeria 7, Norway 66, Pakistan 3, Peru 15, Philippines 13, Poland 15, Portugal 10, Qatar 1, Romania 9, Russia 7, Saudi Arabia 8, Singapore 67, South Africa 3, Spain 53, Sri Lanka 5, Sudan 1, Sweden 5, Switzerland 226, Syria 18, Taiwan 308, Thailand 9, Trinidad and Tobago 1, Turkey 42, UAE 105, UK 37, Ukraine 8, US 94, Venezuela 14, Vietnam 4, Yemen 3)
registered in other countries: 1 (Venezuela 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals

Balboa, Colon, Cristobal

Military - Panama:

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)

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 751,065 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 591,604 (2005 est.)

Military note

on 10 February 1990, the government of then President ENDARA abolished Panamas military and reformed the security apparatus by creating the Panamanian Public Forces; in October 1994, Panamas 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

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males age 18-49: 29,724

Military expenditures percent of gdp

1% (2006)

Disputes international

organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia operate within the remote border region with Panama

This page was last updated on 16 September, 2007
Source: CIA >>>


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