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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio) [time series]

broadcast stations: AM 91, FM 0, shortwave 0 radios: NA

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

220,000 telephones; domestic and international facilities well developed local: NA intercity: NA international: 1 coaxial submarine cable; 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth stations; connected to the Central American Microwave System

Broadcast media (Television) [time series]

broadcast stations: 23 televisions: NA

Defense Forces

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Panamanian Public Forces (PPF; includes the National Police or PNP, Maritime Service, National Air Service, and Institutional Protective Service); Judicial Branch Technical Police

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

expenditures for the Panamanian security forces amounted to $105 million, 1.0% of GDP (1993 est.) PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 701,691; males fit for military service 481,927 (1995 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $1.93 billion expenditures: $1.93 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994)

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: 960,000 kW production: 2.8 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,047 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

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

Exports [time series]

$520 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: bananas 43%, shrimp 11%, sugar 4%, clothing 5%, coffee 2% partners: US 45%, EU, Central America and Caribbean

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$6.7 billion (yearend 1993 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Illicit drugs [time series]

major cocaine transshipment point and drug money laundering center

Imports [time series]

$2.205 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: capital goods 21%, crude oil 11%, foodstuffs 9%, consumer goods, chemicals partners: US 40%, EU, Central America and Caribbean, Japan

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

growth rate 1.8% (1994 est.); accounts for about 9% of GDP

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1.8% (1994 est.)

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

GDP - purchasing power parity - $12.3 billion (1994 est.)

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

$4,670 (1994 est.)

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

3.6% (1994 est.)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

Because of its key geographic location, Panama's economy is service-based, heavily weighted toward banking, commerce, and tourism. Trade and financial ties with the US are especially close. GDP grew at 3.6% in 1994, a respectable rate, yet below the 7.1% average of the early 1990s. Banking and financial services and trade through the Colon Free Zone continued to expand rapidly, with the industrial and agricultural sectors experiencing little growth. The new administration, inaugurated 1 September 1994, has launched an economic plan designed to reverse rising unemployment, attract foreign investment, cut back the size of government, and modernize the economy. The success of the plan in meeting its goals for 1995 and beyond depends largely on the success of the administration in reforming the labor code and instituting the reforms necessary to join the GATT.

Unemployment rate [time series]

12.9% (1994 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 - Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Tropical Timber 94

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

Map references [time series]

Central America and the Caribbean

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 Ricardo Alberto ARIAS chancery: 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (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 Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES Gonzalez Revilla (since 1 September 1994, elected 8 May 1994); First Vice President Tomas Gabriel ALTAMIRANO DUQUE (since 1 September 1994); Second Vice President Felipe Alejandro VIRZI Lopez (since 1 September 1994 election last held 8 May 1994 (next to be held 9 May 1999); results - Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES (PRD) 33%, Mireya MOSCOSO DE GRUBER (PA) 29%, Ruben BLADES (MPE) 17%, Ruben Dario CARLES (MOLIRENA) 16% 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 (Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa)) [time series]

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 8 May 1994 (next to be held 9 May 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA ; seats - (72 total) PRD 32, PS 4, PALA 1, PA 14, MPE 6, MOLIRENA 4, PLA 3, PRC 3, PL 2, PDC 1, UDI 1, MORENA 1

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

AG (associate), CG, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), 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

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]

governing coalition: Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), Gerardo GONZALEZ; Solidarity Party (PS), Samuel LEWIS GALINDO; Liberal Republican Party (PLR), Rodolfo CHIARI; Labor Party (PALA), Carlos Lopez GUEVARA other parties: Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement (MOLIRENA), Alfredo RAMIREZ; Authentic Liberal Party (PLA), Arnulfo ESCALONA; Arnulfista Party (PA), Mireya MOSCOSO DE GRUBER; Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Raul OSSA; Liberal Party (PL), Roberto ALEMAN Zubieta; Papa Egoro Movement (MPE), Ruben BLADES; Civic Renewal Party (PRC), Tomas HERRERA; National Unity Mission Party (MUN), Jose Manuel PAREDES; Independent Democratic Union (UDI), Jacinto CARDENAS; National Renovation Movement (MORENA), Pedro VALLERINO

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); Charge d'Affaires Oliver P. GARZA 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

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 34% (female 439,491; male 458,817) 15-64 years: 61% (female 812,876; male 823,124) 65 years and over: 5% (female 74,672; male 71,923) (July 1995 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

24.12 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate [time series]

4.79 deaths/1,000 population (1995 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]

15.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Labor force [time series]

979,000 (1994 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: 75.2 years male: 72.57 years female: 77.97 years (1995 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 89% male: 89% female: 88%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Panamanian(s) adjective: Panamanian

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Population [time series]

2,680,903 (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.9% (1995 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.8 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 115 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 14 with paved runways under 914 m: 74 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 20

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]

total: 3,526 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 60,748,525 GRT/95,102,552 DWT ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 787, cargo 1,070, chemical tanker 175, combination bulk 33, combination ore/oil 25, container 259, liquefied gas tanker 125, livestock carrier 8, multifunction large-load carrier 6, oil tanker 465, passenger 24, passenger-cargo 3, refrigerated cargo 284, roll-on/roll-off cargo 81, short-sea passenger 34, specialized tanker 9, vehicle carrier 137 note: a flag of convenience registry; includes 93 countries; the 10 major fleet flags are: Japan 1,171 ships, Greece 323, Hong Kong 276, US 212, Taiwan 184, Singapore 181, South Korea 172, China 145 ships, UK 102, and Norway 70

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 130 km

Ports [time series]

Bahia de las Minas, Balboa, Colon, Cristobal, Panama

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

total: 238 km broad gauge: 78 km 1.524-m gauge narrow gauge: 160 km 0.914-m gauge