View Intelligence Dossier Back to 1994 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

Airports [time series]

total: 118 usable: 109 with permanent-surface runways: 38 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 15

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 8,530 km paved: 2,745 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 3,270 km; improved, unimproved earth 2,515 km

Waterways (Inland waterways) [time series]

800 km navigable by shallow draft vessels; 82 km Panama Canal

Merchant marine [time series]

3,405 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 56,011,824 GRT/89,516,566 DWT, barge carrier 1, bulk 717, cargo 1,110, chemical tanker 181, combination bulk 31, combination ore/oil 24, container 215, liquefied gas 127, livestock carrier 9, multifunction large-load carrier 5, oil tanker 437, passenger 22, passenger-cargo 3, refrigerated cargo 287, roll-on/roll-off cargo 67, short-sea passenger 30, specialized tanker 10, vehicle carrier 129 note: all but 30 are foreign owned and operated; the top 4 foreign owners are Japan 34%, Greece 8%, Hong Kong 7%, and Taiwan 5%; other foreign owners include China at least 144 ships, Vietnam 3, Croatia 6, Cuba 4, Cyprus 4, and Russia 41

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 130 km

Ports [time series]

Cristobal, Balboa, Colon

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

238 km total; 78 km 1.524-meter gauge, 160 km 0.914-meter gauge

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

domestic and international facilities well developed; connection into Central American Microwave System; 220,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 91 AM, no FM, 23 TV; 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite ground stations - 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT

Defense Forces

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Panamanian Public Forces (PPF) includes the National Police, Maritime Service, National Air Service, Institutional Protective Service; Judicial Technical Police operate under the control of Panama's judicial branch

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

expenditures for the Panamanian security forces amounted to $138.5 million, 1.0% of GDP (1993 est.)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 686,479; fit for military service 471,780

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

accounts for 10% of GDP (1992 est.), 27% of labor force (1992); crops - bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane; livestock; fishing; importer of food grain, vegetables

Budget [time series]

revenues: $1.8 billion expenditures: $1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $200 million (1992 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 balboa (B) = 100 centesimos

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $516 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $582 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $4 million

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 1,584,000 kW production: 4.36 trillion kWh consumption per capita: 720 kWh (1992)

Exchange rates [time series]

balboas (B) per US$1 - 1.000 (fixed rate)

Exports [time series]

$545 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: bananas 43%, shrimp 11%, sugar 4%, clothing 5%, coffee 2% partners: US 38%, EC, Central America and Caribbean

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$6.1 billion (year-end 1993 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Illicit drugs [time series]

major cocaine transshipment point and drug money laundering center

Imports [time series]

$2.5 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: capital goods 21%, crude oil 11%, foodstuffs 9%, consumer goods, chemicals partners: US 35%, EC, Central America and Caribbean, Japan

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate 7% (1993 est.); accounts for about 9% of GDP

Industries [time series]

manufacturing and construction activities, petroleum refining, brewing, cement and other construction material, sugar milling

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1% (1993 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $11.6 billion (1993 est.)

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$4,500 (1993 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

5.9% (1993 est.)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

GDP expanded by roughly 5.9% in 1993, following growth of 8% in 1992; banking and financial services led the way in 1993. The economy thus continues to recover from the crisis that preceded the ouster of Manuel NORIEGA, even though the government's structural adjustment program has been hampered by a lack of popular support and a passive administration. Public investment has been limited as the administration has kept the fiscal deficit below 2% of GDP. Unemployment and economic reform are the two major issues the new government must face in 1994-95.

Unemployment rate [time series]

12.5% (1993 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 78,200 sq km land area: 75,990 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than South Carolina

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

2,490 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: water pollution from agricultural runoff threatens fishery resources; deforestation of tropical rain forest; land degradation natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

none

Irrigated land [time series]

320 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total 555 km, Colombia 225 km, Costa Rica 330 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 6% permanent crops: 2% meadows and pastures: 15% forest and woodland: 54% other: 23%

Location [time series]

Middle America, between Colombia and Costa Rica

Map references [time series]

Central America and the Caribbean, South America, Standard Time Zones of the World

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 200 nm

Natural resources [time series]

copper, mahogany forests, shrimp

Note [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Panama

Constitution [time series]

11 October 1972; major reforms adopted April 1983

Digraph [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Jaime FORD Boyd (to be replaced by Ambassador Ricardo Alberto ARIAS on 1 September 1994) chancery: 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 483-1407 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Tampa,

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state and head of government: President Guillermo ENDARA (since 20 December 1989, elected 7 May 1989); First Vice President Guillermo FORD Boyd (since 24 December 1992); Second Vice President (vacant); election last held on 7 May 1989, annulled but later upheld; results - anti-NORIEGA coalition believed to have won about 75% of the total votes cast note: a presidential election was held 8 May 1994 (next election to held on 9 May 1999) with inauguration of the successful candidates to take place on 1 September 1994; results - President Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES Gonzales, First Vice President Tomas Altamirano DUQUE, and Second Vice President Felipe VIRZI were elected; percent of vote for president - BALLADARES 33%, DE GRUBER 29%, BLADES 17% cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

(507) 27-1964

Flag [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia), 5 superior courts, 3 courts of appeal

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

AG (associate), CG, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Country name (Names) [time series]

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

Legislative branch (National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional)) [time series]

elections held on 27 January 1991; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (67 total) progovernment parties: PDC 28, MOLIRENA 15, PA 8, PLA 4 opposition parties: PRD 10, PALA 1, PL 1; note - the PDC went into opposition after President Guillermo ENDARA ousted the PDC from the coalition government in April 1991; an election of members of the National Assembly was held on 8 May 1994 (next election to be held on 9 May 1999) and they will take their seats on 1 September 1994; results - percent of vote and seats won by party NA

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 3 November (1903)

Political parties (Other political or pressure groups) [time series]

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

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

government alliance: Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement (MOLIRENA), Alfredo RAMIREZ; Authentic Liberal Party (PLA), Arnulfo ESCALONA; Arnulfista Party (PA), Mireya MOSCOSO DE GRUBER other parties: Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Raul OSSA; Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), Gerardo GONZALEZ; Agrarian Labor Party (PALA), Nestor Tomas GUERRA; Liberal Party (PL), Roberto ALEMAN Zubieta; Doctrinaire Panamenista Party (PPD), Jose Salvador MUNOZ; Papa Egoro Movement, Ruben BLADES; Civic Renewal Party (PRC), Tomas HERRERA; National Integration Movement (MINA), Arrigo GUARDIA; National Unity Mission Party (MUN), Jose Manuel PAREDES; Solidarity Party (CPS), Samuel LEWIS GALINDO note: following the elections of 8 May 1994 the following realignment of political parties took place governing coalition: Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), Gerardo GONZALEZ; Liberal Republican Party (PLR), Rodolfo CHIARI; Labor Party (PALA), Carlos Lopez GUEVARA; Solidarity Party (PS),Samuel LEWIS GALINDO other parties: Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement (MOLIRENA), Alfredo RAMIREZ; Authentic Liberal Party (PLA), Arnulfo ESCOLONA; Arnulfista Party (PA), Mireya Moscoso DE GRUBER; Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Raul OSSA; Liberal Party (PL), Roberto ALEMAN Zubieta; Papa Egoro Movement, Ruben BLADES; Civic Renewal Party (PRC), Tomas HERRERA; National Unity Mission Party (MUN), Jose Manuel PAREDES

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Government type (Type) [time series]

constitutional republic

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: (vacant) embassy: Avenida Balboa and Calle 38, Apartado 6959, Panama City 5 mailing address: American Embassy Panama, Unit 0945; APO AA 34002 telephone: (507) 27-1777

People

Birth rate [time series]

24.61 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate [time series]

4.87 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

16.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

Labor force [time series]

921,000 (1992 est.) by occupation: government and community services 31.8%, agriculture, hunting, and fishing 26.8%, commerce, restaurants, and hotels 16.4%, manufacturing and mining 9.4%, construction 3.2%, transportation and communications 6.2%, finance, insurance, and real estate 4.3% note: shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 74.88 years male: 72.28 years female: 77.62 years (1994 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 88% male: 88% female: 88%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Panamanian(s) adjective: Panamanian

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Population [time series]

2.63 million (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.94% (1994 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.85 children born/woman (1994 est.)