Panama

source : World Fact Book 2008 (October 2008)

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   Introduction    Panama
Background:
Definition Field Listing 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    Panama
Location:
Definition Field Listing Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing 9 00 N, 80 00 W
Map references:
Definition Field Listing Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order total: 78,200 sq km
land: 75,990 sq km
water: 2,210 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing total: 555 km
border countries: Colombia 225 km, Costa Rica 330 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing 2,490 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or edge of continental margin
Climate:
Definition Field Listing tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry season (January to May)
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing interior mostly steep, rugged mountains and dissected, upland plains; coastal areas largely plains and rolling hills
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Volcan Baru 3,475 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower
Land use:
Definition Field Listing arable land: 7.26%
permanent crops: 1.95%
other: 90.79% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing 430 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Definition Field Listing 148 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Definition Field Listing total: 0.82 cu km/yr (67%/5%/28%)
per capita: 254 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing occasional severe storms and forest fires in the Darien area
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing 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:
Definition Field Listing 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:
Definition Field Listing 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:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 3,309,679 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing 0-14 years: 29.6% (male 499,254/female 479,242)
15-64 years: 63.8% (male 1,066,915/female 1,043,499)
65 years and over: 6.7% (male 102,937/female 117,832) (2008 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing total: 26.7 years
male: 26.3 years
female: 27.1 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing 1.544% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 20.68 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 4.71 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order -0.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order total: 13.4 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 14.35 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order total population: 76.88 years
male: 74.08 years
female: 79.81 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 2.57 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 0.9% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 16,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order fewer than 500 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
Definition Field Listing degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A
vectorborne disease: dengue fever and malaria
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2008)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing noun: Panamanian(s)
adjective: Panamanian
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 70%, Amerindian and mixed (West Indian) 14%, white 10%, Amerindian 6%
Religions:
Definition Field Listing Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%
Languages:
Definition Field Listing Spanish (official), English 14%; note - many Panamanians bilingual
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.9%
male: 92.5%
female: 91.2% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Definition Field Listing total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 3.8% of GDP (2004)
   Government    Panama
Country name:
Definition Field Listing conventional long form: Republic of Panama
conventional short form: Panama
local long form: Republica de Panama
local short form: Panama
Government type:
Definition Field Listing constitutional democracy
Capital:
Definition Field Listing name: Panama
geographic coordinates: 8 58 N, 79 32 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing 11 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 territory* (comarca); Bocas del Toro, Comarca Kuna Yala, Comarca Ngobe-Bugle, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los Santos, Panama, San Blas*(Kuna Yala), and Veraguas
Independence:
Definition Field Listing 3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain 28 November 1821)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing Independence Day, 3 November (1903)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing 11 October 1972; major reforms adopted 1978, 1983, 1994, and 2004
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing 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
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:
Definition Field Listing 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:
Definition Field Listing 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:
Definition Field Listing Democratic Change or CD [Ricardo MARTINELLI]; Democratic Revolutionary Party or PRD [Hugo GUIRAUD]; Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement or MOLIRENA [Gisela CHUNG]; Panamenista Party or PA [Juan Carlos VARELA] (formerly the Arnulfista Party); Patriotic Union Party or PU (combination of the Liberal National Party or PLN and the Solidarity Party or PS)[Jose Raul MULINO and Anibal GALINDO]; Popular Party or PP [Rene ORILLAC] (formerly Christian Democratic Party or PDC)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing 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:
Definition Field Listing BCIE, 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, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing 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, Honolulu, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Tampa
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing chief of mission: Ambassador William A. EATON
embassy: Edificio 783, Avenida Demetrio Basilio Lakas Panama, 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:
Definition Field Listing 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:
Definition Field Listing 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 (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $34.81 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing $19.74 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 11.2% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $10,700 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing agriculture: 6.6%
industry: 16.4%
services: 77% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 1.362 million
note: shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing agriculture: 15%
industry: 18%
services: 67% (2006)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 6.4% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing 37% (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing lowest 10%: 0.7%
highest 10%: 43% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Definition Field Listing 56.1 (2003)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 4.2% (2007 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 20.2% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing revenues: $5.505 billion
expenditures: $4.822 billion (2007 est.)
Public debt:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 53% of GDP (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane, vegetables; livestock; shrimp
Industries:
Definition Field Listing construction, brewing, cement and other construction materials, sugar milling
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 10.5% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 5.661 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 4.735 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing 51 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing 55 million kWh (2005)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 0 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 93,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 4,140 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 92,170 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 0 cu m (2005)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order -$1.577 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $9.312 billion f.o.b.; note - includes the Colon Free Zone (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing bananas, shrimp, sugar, coffee, clothing
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing Venezuela 55%, US 9.4%, Germany 6.5%, Spain 4.1% (2007)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $12.62 billion f.o.b.
note: includes the Colon Free Zone (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing Japan 28.7%, China 18.6%, Singapore 12.8%, US 12.5% (2007)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing $19.54 million (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $1.935 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $10.45 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $NA
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $5.074 billion (2005)
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing balboa (PAB); US dollar (USD)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing balboas per US dollar - 1 (2007), 1 (2006), 1 (2005), 1 (2004), 1 (2003)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing calendar year
   Communications    Panama
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 491,900 (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 2.392 million (2007)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing general assessment: domestic and international facilities well developed
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is approaching 70 per 100 persons
international: country code - 507; landing point for the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1), the MAYA-1, and PAN-AM submarine cable systems that together provide links to the US, and parts of the Caribbean, Central America, and South America; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to the Central American Microwave System
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing AM 101, FM 134, shortwave 0 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing 38 (including repeaters) (1998)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing .pa
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 7,078 (2007)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 525,200 (2007)
   Transportation    Panama
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 116 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing total: 54
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: 29 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing total: 62
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 50 (2007)
Heliports:
Definition Field Listing 2 (2007)
Railways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order total: 355 km
standard gauge: 77 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 278 km 0.914-m gauge (2006)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order total: 11,643 km
paved: 4,028 km
unpaved: 7,615 km (2000)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 800 km (includes 82 km Panama Canal) (2007)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order total: 6,124 ships (1000 GRT or over) 170,802,238 GRT/255,676,574 DWT
by type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 2,076, cargo 1,142, carrier 11, chemical tanker 544, combination ore/oil 6, container 768, liquefied gas 189, passenger 47, passenger/cargo 74, petroleum tanker 543, refrigerated cargo 261, roll on/roll off 126, specialized tanker 27, vehicle carrier 308
foreign-owned: 5,244 (Albania 2, Argentina 6, Australia 4, Bahamas 9, Bangladesh 1, Belgium 2, Bulgaria 3, Canada 19, Chile 11, China 502, Colombia 4, Croatia 3, Cuba 11, Cyprus 17, Denmark 38, Dominican Republic 1, Ecuador 3, Egypt 18, Estonia 4, Finland 2, France 10, Gabon 1, Germany 44, Gibraltar 1, Greece 497, Hong Kong 142, India 29, Indonesia 38, Iran 4, Ireland 2, Israel 3, Italy 23, Jamaica 1, Japan 2280, Jordan 13, Kuwait 2, Latvia 8, Lebanon 5, Lithuania 5, Malaysia 12, Maldives 1, Malta 3, Mexico 3, Monaco 16, Netherlands 12, Nigeria 11, Norway 70, Oman 2, Pakistan 6, Peru 17, Philippines 10, Poland 12, Portugal 9, Qatar 1, Romania 7, Russia 15, Saudi Arabia 16, Singapore 98, South Korea 311, Spain 56, Sri Lanka 2, Sweden 6, Switzerland 27, Syria 25, Taiwan 302, Thailand 9, Tunisia 1, Turkey 87, Turks and Caicos Islands 1, UAE 104, UK 50, Ukraine 12, US 123, Venezuela 10, Vietnam 23, Yemen 6)
registered in other countries: 1 (Venezuela 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing Balboa, Colon, Cristobal
   Military    Panama
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing 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)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing males age 16-49: 851,044 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing males age 16-49: 673,103 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Definition Field Listing male: 31,042
female: 29,969 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 1% of GDP (2006)
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing 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    Panama
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia operate within the remote border region with Panama
Trafficking in persons:
Definition Field Listing current situation: Panama is a source, transit, and destination country for women and children trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation; the majority of victims are Panamanian women and children trafficked within the country into the sex trade; rural children in Panama may be trafficked internally to urban areas for labor exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Panama is on the Tier 2 Watch List for failing to show evidence of increasing efforts to combat human trafficking, particularly with respect to prosecuting, convicting, and sentencing human traffickers for their crimes, and for failing to provide adequate victim assistance (2008)
Illicit drugs:
Definition Field Listing major cocaine transshipment point and primary money-laundering center for narcotics revenue; money-laundering activity is especially heavy in the Colon Free Zone; offshore financial center; negligible signs of coca cultivation; monitoring of financial transactions is improving; official corruption remains a major problem



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Source : CIA's World Fact Book 2008

Since 2003, January 19