Panama

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

6 (2000)

Internet country code

.pa

Internet users

45,000 (2000)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 101, FM 134, shortwave 0 (1998)

Telephone system

general assessment: domestic and international facilities well developed domestic: NA international: 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to the Central American Microwave System

Telephones - main lines in use

396,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular

17,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations

38 (including repeaters) (1998)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $1.9 billion expenditures: $2 billion, including capital expenditures of $471 million (2000 est.)

Currency

balboa (PAB); US dollar (USD)

Currency code

PAB; USD

Debt - external

$7 billion (2002 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

48.5 (1997)

Economic aid - recipient

$197.1 million (1995)

Economy - overview

Panama's economy is based 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 Colon Free Zone and agricultural exports, the global slowdown, and the withdrawal of US military forces held back economic growth in 2000-02. The government has been backing public works programs, tax reforms, new regional trade agreements, and development of tourism in order to stimulate growth.

Electricity - consumption

3.681 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

118 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

43 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

4.039 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 37% hydro: 61.3% other: 1.7% (2001) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates

balboas per US dollar - 1 (2002), 1 (2001), 1 (2000), 1 (1999), 1 (1998)

Exports

$5.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

bananas, shrimp, sugar, coffee, clothing (1999)

Exports - partners

US 47.8%, Sweden 5.8%, Costa Rica 4.8%, Honduras 4.4% (2002)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $18.06 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 7% industry: 17% services: 76% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $6,200 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

0.7% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$6.7 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

capital goods, crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, chemicals (1999)

Imports - partners

US 34.3%, Colombia 5.9%, Japan 5.4%, Costa Rica 4.2%, Venezuela 4.2% (2002)

Industrial production growth rate

0.5% (2002 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.1% (2001 est.)

Labor force

1.1 million note: shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor (2000 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Oil - consumption

52,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

37% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate

16% (2002 est.)

Area

total: 78,200 sq km water: 2,210 sq km land: 75,990 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than South Carolina

Climate

tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry season (January to May)

Coastline

2,490 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Volcan de Chiriqui 3,475 m

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, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geographic coordinates

9 00 N, 80 00 W

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

Irrigated land

320 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

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

Land use

arable land: 6.72% permanent crops: 2.08% other: 91.2% (1998 est.)

Location

Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

contiguous zone: 24 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

Natural hazards

occasional severe storms and forest fires in the Darien area

Natural resources

copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower

Terrain

interior mostly steep, rugged mountains and dissected, upland plains; coastal areas largely plains and rolling hills

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

Panama

Constitution

11 October 1972; major reforms adopted 1978, 1983 and 1994

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Panama conventional short form: Panama local short form: Panama local long form: Republica de Panama

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Linda Ellen WATT 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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Roberto ALFARO Estripeaut FAX: [1] (202) 483-8416 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Tampa telephone: [1] (202) 483-1407 chancery: 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008

Executive branch

chief of state: President Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO Rodriguez (since 1 September 1999); First Vice President Arturo Ulises VALLARINO (since 1 September 1999); Second Vice President Dominador "Kaiser" Baldonero BAZAN Jimenez (since 1 September 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO Rodriguez (since 1 September 1999); First Vice President Arturo Ulises VALLARINO (since 1 September 1999); Second Vice President Dominador "Kaiser" Baldonero BAZAN Jimenez (since 1 September 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 2 May 1999 (next to be held NA May 2004) note: government coalition - PA, MOLIRENA, Democratic Change, MORENA, PLN, PS election results: Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO Rodriguez elected president; percent of vote - Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO Rodriguez (PA) 44%, Martin TORRIJOS (PRD) 37%

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

Government type

constitutional democracy

Independence

3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain 28 November 1821)

International organization participation

ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

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

Legal system

based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (71 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PRD 34, PA 18, PDC 5, PS 4, MOLIRENA 3, PLN 3, Democratic Change 2, PRC 1, MORENA 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 elections: last held 2 May 1999 (next to be held NA May 2004)

National holiday

Independence Day, 3 November (1903)

Political parties and leaders

Arnulfista Party or PA [Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO Rodriguez]; Civic Renewal Party or PRC [Serguei DE LA ROSA]; Democratic Change [Ricardo MARTINELLI]; Democratic Revolutionary Party or PRD [Martin TORRIJOS]; National Liberal Party or PLN [Raul ARANGO Gasteazopo]; National Renovation Movement or MORENA [Pedro VALLARINO Cox]; Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement or MOLIRENA [Ramon MORALES]; Popular Party or PP (formerly Christian Democratic Party or PDC) [Ruben AROSEMENA]; Solidarity Party or PS [Samuel LEWIS Galindo]

Political pressure groups and leaders

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Background

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. On 7 September 1977, an agreement was signed for the complete transfer of the Canal from the US to Panama by the end of 1999. Certain portions of the Zone and increasing responsibility over the Canal were turned over in the intervening years. 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 turned over to Panama by or on 31 December 1999.

Military - note

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"

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)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$128 million (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.3% (FY99)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 797,456 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 544,967 (2003 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 30.6% (male 461,670; female 443,671) 15-64 years: 63.3% (male 950,089; female 924,038) 65 years and over: 6.1% (male 86,006; female 95,310) (2003 est.)

Birth rate

20.78 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate

6.25 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.5% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,900 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

25,000 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 21.44 deaths/1,000 live births female: 19.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 23.59 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Spanish (official), English 14% note: many Panamanians bilingual

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 72.32 years male: 69.97 years female: 74.79 years (2003 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92.6% male: 93.2% female: 91.9% (2003 est.)

Median age

total: 25.6 years male: 25.4 years female: 25.9 years (2002)

Nationality

noun: Panamanian(s) adjective: Panamanian

Net migration rate

-0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Population

2,960,784 (July 2003 est.)

Population growth rate

1.36% (2003 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.53 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

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

Airports

103 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 41 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 21 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 62 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 50 (2002)

Highways

total: 11,400 km paved: 3,944 km (including 30 km of expressways) unpaved: 7,456 km (1999)

Merchant marine

total: 4,860 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 122,543,755 GRT/184,910,607 DWT ships by type: barge carrier 5, bulk 1,443, cargo 846, chemical tanker 376, combination bulk 72, combination ore/oil 17, container 588, liquefied gas 207, livestock carrier 6, multi-functional large-load carrier 12, passenger 38, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 537, railcar carrier 2, refrigerated cargo 287, roll on/roll off 107, short-sea passenger 41, specialized tanker 33, vehicle carrier 240 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Albania 2, Angola 1, Antigua and Barbuda 1, Argentina 11, Australia 13, Austria 2, The Bahamas 5, Belgium 2, Belize 6, Brazil 6, British Virgin Islands 8, Cambodia 1, Canada 9, Chile 12, China 259, Colombia 14, Croatia 2, Cuba 20, Cyprus 3, Denmark 3, Dominican Republic 1, Ecuador 3, Egypt 16, Equatorial Guinea 1, France 9, Germany 72, Greece 523, Haiti 1, Honduras 3, Hong Kong 299, Iceland 1, India 18, Indonesia 48, Ireland 1, Israel 5, Italy 9, Japan 1,642, Kenya 1, Kuwait 2, Latvia 8, Liberia 5, Lithuania 1, Malaysia 18, Malta 2, Marshall Islands 1, Mexico 8, Monaco 112, Netherlands 19, Netherlands Antilles 1, Nigeria 3, Norway 98, Paraguay 1, Peru 15, Philippines 49, Poland 5, Portugal 7, Puerto Rico 2, Romania 7, Russia 12, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 5, Saudi Arabia 4, Seychelles 1, Singapore 112, South Africa 3, South Korea 342, Spain 52, Sri Lanka 3, Sudan 1, Sweden 2, Switzerland 81, Taiwan 334, Thailand 14, Trinidad and Tobago 1, Tunisia 1, Turkey 4, Ukraine 1, UAE 54, UK 73, US 115, Venezuela 6 (2002 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 130 km (2001)

Ports and harbors

Balboa, Cristobal, Coco Solo, Manzanillo (part of Colon area), Vacamonte

Railways

total: 355 km broad gauge: 76 km 1.524-m gauge narrow gauge: 279 km 0.914-m gauge (2002)

Waterways

882 km note: 800 km navigable by shallow draft vessels; 82 km Panama Canal