Location:

Central America between Costa Rica and Colombia.

Area:

78,200 sq km (about the size of South Carolina).

Land Boundaries:

555 km

Coastline:

2,490 km

Climate:

Topical maritime, rainy season (May – January), dry season (January to May)

Terrain:

Interior mostly steep, rugged mountains and dissected, upland plains, costal areas largely plains and rolling hills.

Elevation Extremes:

Lowest Point – Pacific Ocean 0m, Highest Point – Volcan Baru, Chiriquí Province, 3,475 m

Land Use:

Arable land - 7.26%, Permanent crops – 1.95%, Other – 90.79% (2005) 

Natural Hazards:

Occasional severe storms

Population:

3,191,319 (July 2006 est.)

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)

(2006 est.)

Median Age:

Total: 26.1 years

Male: 25.8 years

Female: 26.5 years (2006 est.)

Population Growth Rate:

1.6% (2006 est.)

Birth Rate:

21.74 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Nationality:

Panamanian

Ethnic Groups:

Mestizo 70%, Amerindian and mixed 14%, white 10%, Amerindian 6%

Religion:

Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%

Languages:

Spanish, English (14%)

Literacy:

Male 93.2% Female 91.9%

Government Type:

Constitutional Democracy

Capital:

Panama City

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

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

Executive Branch:

President, First Vice President, Second Vice President. The cabinet is appointed by the Presidents.

President and vice presidents elected for five year terms. 

Legislative Branch:

Unicameral National Assembly, 78 seats, elected by popular vote for five year terms.

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court of Justice, 9 judges appointed for 10 year term.

GDP:

$25.29 billion (2006 est.)

GDP real growth rate:

6.3% (2006 est.)

GDP per capita:

$7,900 (2006 est.)

GDP by sector:

Agriculture: 7.2%
Industry: 16.4%
Services: 76.4% (2006 est.)

Labor force:

1.441 million (2006 est.)

Labor Force by occupation

Agriculture: 20.8%
Industry: 18%
Services: 61.2% (2006 est.)

Unemployment Rate:

8.8%

Public Debt:

61.3% of GDP (2006 est.)

Currency:

Balboa, US Dollar

Exchange Rate

Balboa per US Dollar (1)

Fiscal Year:

Calendar Year

Telephones – Main Lines

440,100 (2005)

Telephones – Mobile

1.352 million (2005)

Internet Hosts

7,149 (2006)

Internet Users:

300,000(2005)

Airports, paved:

53 (2006)

Ports and Terminals

Balboa, Colon, Cristobal

Waterways:

800km including the canal (2005)

Roads:

Total: 11,643 km

Paved: 4,028 km

Unpaved: 7,615 km (200)