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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 91, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

564,000 (1992 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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 - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

273,000 (1991 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

9 (in addition, there are 17 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

420,000 (1992 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture--products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $2.4 billion expenditures: $2.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $341 million (1997 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 balboa (B) = 100 centesimos

Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]

$7.26 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid--recipient) [time series]

$197.1 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy--overview) [time series]

Because of its key geographic location, Panama's economy is service-based, heavily weighted toward banking, commerce, and tourism. Since taking office in 1994, President PEREZ BALLADARES has advanced an economic reform program designed to liberalize the trade regime, attract foreign investment, privatize state-owned enterprises, institute fiscal reform, and encourage job creation through labor code reform. The government privatized its two remaining ports along the Panama Canal in 1997 and approved the sale of the railroad in early 1998. It also plans to sell other assets, including the electric company. Panama joined the World Trade Organization (WTrO) and approved a tariff reduction that will give the country the lowest average tariff rates in Latin America. A banking reform law was approved by the legislature in early 1998. The most important sectors driving growth have been the Panama Canal and other shipping and port activities.

Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]

3.488 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]

157 million kWh (1996)

Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]

95 million kWh (1996)

Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]

3.55 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]

fossil fuel: 29.58% hydro: 70.42% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

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

Exports [time series]

$6.68 billion (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]

bananas 43%, shrimp 11%, sugar 4%, clothing 5%, coffee 2%

Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]

US 37%, EU, Central America and Caribbean

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity--$19.9 billion (1998 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP--composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 8% industry: 18% services: 74% (1997 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP--per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity?$7,300 (1998 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP--real growth rate) [time series]

2.7% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 0.5% highest 10%: 42.5% (1991)

Imports [time series]

$7.38 billion (f.o.b., 1997)

Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]

capital goods 21%, crude oil 11%, foodstuffs 9%, consumer goods, chemicals

Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]

US 48%, EU, Central America and Caribbean, Japan

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

0.4% (1995 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1.4% (1998)

Labor force [time series]

1.044 million (1997 est.) note: shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor

Labor force - by occupation (Labor force--by occupation) [time series]

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%

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

13.1% (1997 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

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

Area - comparative (Area--comparative) [time series]

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

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues (Environment--current issues) [time series]

water pollution from agricultural runoff threatens fishery resources; deforestation of tropical rain forest; land degradation

International environmental agreements (Environment--international agreements) [time series]

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 [time series]

9 00 N, 80 00 W

Geography - note (Geography--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

Irrigated land [time series]

320 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 7% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 20% forests and woodland: 44% other: 27% (1993 est.)

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 hazards [time series]

Natural resources [time series]

copper, mahogany forests, shrimp

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 2 territories* (comarca); Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los Santos, Panama, San Blas*, Veraguas, and a new, as yet unnamed territory* or comarca created 7 March 1997 when President PEREZ BALLADARES signed a bill designating a reserve stretched across three provinces

Capital [time series]

Panama

Constitution [time series]

11 October 1972; major reforms adopted April 1983

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Simon FERRO embassy: Avenida Balboa and Calle 38, Apartado 6959, Panama City 5 mailing address: American Embassy Panama, Unit 0945, APO AA 34002

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Eloy ALFARO de Alba chancery: 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Tampa

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES (since 1 September 1994); First Vice President Tomas ALTAMIRANO Duque (since 1 September 1994); Second Vice President Felipe VIRZI (since 1 September 1994); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES (since 1 September 1994); First Vice President Tomas ALTAMIRANO Duque (since 1 September 1994); Second Vice President Felipe VIRZI (since 1 September 1994); 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 8 May 1994 (next to be held 2 May 1999) election results: Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES elected president; percent of vote--Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES (PRD) 33%, Mireya MOSCOSO DE GRUBER (PA) 29%, Ruben BLADES (MPE) 17%, Ruben Dario CARLES (MOLIRENA) 16%

Flag (Flag description) [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

Government type [time series]

constitutional republic

Independence [time series]

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

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia), nine judges appointed for 10-year terms; five superior courts; three 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 Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 8 May 1994 (next to be held 2 May 1999) election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PRD 32, PS 4, PALA 1, PA 14, MPE 6, MOLIRENA 4, PLA 3, PRC 3, PLN 2, PDC 1, UDI 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

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 3 November (1903)

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

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

an amendment to the Constitution abolished the armed forces, but there are security forces (Panamanian Public Forces or PPF includes the National Police, National Maritime Service, and National Air Service)

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures--dollar figure) [time series]

$132 million (1997)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures--percent of GDP) [time series]

1.6% (1997)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower--availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 746,910 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower--fit for military service) [time series]

males age 15-49: 511,866 (1999 est.)

Military - note (Military--note) [time series]

in October 1994, a month after President PEREZ BALLADARES assumed office, Panama's Legislative Assembly approved a constitutional amendment prohibiting the creation of a standing military force, but allowing the temporary establishment of a "special police force" to counter acts of "external aggression"

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 32% (male 446,792; female 429,811) 15-64 years: 63% (male 882,541; female 859,455) 65 years and over: 5% (male 76,648; female 83,279) (1999 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

21.69 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.14 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

23.35 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 74.66 years male: 71.91 years female: 77.51 years (1999 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 90.8% male: 91.4% female: 90.2% (1995 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Panamanian(s) adjective: Panamanian

Net migration rate [time series]

-1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population [time series]

2,778,526 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.53% (1999 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.54 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes--international) [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

major cocaine transshipment point and major drug-money-laundering center; no recent signs of coca cultivation; monitoring of financial transactions is improving

Transportation

Airports [time series]

110 (1998 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]

total: 43 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 22 (1998 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports--with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 67 914 to 1,523 m: 17 under 914 m: 50 (1998 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 11,100 km paved: 3,730 km (including 30 km of expressways) unpaved: 7,370 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 4,632 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 98,433,972 GRT/149,800,820 DWT ships by type: bulk 1,335, cargo 1,028, chemical tanker 288, combination bulk 68, combination ore/oil 15, container 507, liquefied gas tanker 176, livestock carrier 9, multifunction large-load carrier 6, oil tanker 498, passenger 41, passenger-cargo 5, railcar carrier 2, refrigerated cargo 312, roll-on/roll-off cargo 102, short-sea passenger 40, specialized tanker 23, vehicle carrier 177 note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 71 countries among which are Japan 1,262, Greece 378, Hong Kong 244, South Korea 259, Taiwan 229, China 193, Singapore 103, US 116, Switzerland 78, and Indonesia 53 (1998 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 130 km

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

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

Railways [time series]

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

Waterways [time series]

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