Communications
Broadcast media [time series]
multiple privately owned TV networks and a government-owned educational TV station; multi-channel cable and satellite TV subscription services are available; more than 100 commercial radio stations (2007)
Internet country code [time series]
.pa
Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]
11,022 (2012) country comparison to the world: 132
Internet users [time series]
959,800 (2009) country comparison to the world: 104
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
general assessment: domestic and international facilities well-developed domestic: mobile-cellular telephone subscribership has increased rapidly international: country code - 507; landing point for the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1), the MAYA-1, and PAN-AM submarine cable systems that together provide links to the US and parts of the Caribbean, Central America, and South America; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to the Central American Microwave System (2011)
Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]
640,000 (2012) country comparison to the world: 90
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
6.77 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 96
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane, vegetables; livestock; shrimp
Budget [time series]
revenues: $10.33 billion expenditures: $11.38 billion (2013 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]
-2.6% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 110
Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]
NA% (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 122 6.91% (31 December 2012 est.)
Current account balance [time series]
-$5.064 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 168 -$3.267 billion (2012 est.)
Debt - external [time series]
$15.22 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 88 $13.56 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]
51.9 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 15 56.1 (2003)
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
Panama's dollar-based economy rests primarily on a well-developed services sector that accounts for more than three-quarters of GDP. Services include operating the Panama Canal, logistics, banking, the Colon Free Zone, insurance, container ports, flagship registry, and tourism. Economic growth will be bolstered by the Panama Canal expansion project that began in 2007 and is estimated to be completed by 2015 at a cost of $5.3 billion - about 10-15% of current GDP. The expansion project will more than double the Canal's capacity, enabling it to accommodate ships that are too large to traverse the existing canal. The United States and China are the top users of the Canal. Panama is also constructing a metro system in Panama City, valued at $1.2 billion and scheduled to be completed by 2014. Panama's booming transportation and logistics services sectors, along with aggressive infrastructure development projects, have lead the economy to continued high growth in 2012. Foreign investment, at around 10% of GDP in both 2011 and 2012, has continued to be a source of growth. Strong economic performance has not translated into broadly shared prosperity, as Panama has the second worst income distribution in Latin America. About one-fourth of the population lives in poverty; however, from 2006 to 2012 poverty was reduced by 10 percentage points, while unemployment dropped from 12% to 4.5% of the labor force in 2013. The US-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement was approved by Congress and signed into law in October 2011, and entered into force in October 2012. Panama also achieved removal from the Organization of Economic Development's gray-list of tax havens by signing various double taxation treaties with other nations.
Exchange rates [time series]
balboas (PAB) per US dollar - 1 (2013 est.) 1 (2012 est.) 1 (2010 est.) 1 (2009) 1 (2008)
Exports [time series]
$18.87 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 73 $18.88 billion (2012 est.) note: includes the Colon Free Zone
Exports - commodities [time series]
gold, bananas, shrimp, sugar, iron and steel waste, pineapples, watermelons
Exports - partners [time series]
US 20.2%, Canada 14.6%, Costa Rica 6.6%, Netherlands 5.9%, Sweden 4.8%, China 4.1%, Italy 4% (2012)
Fiscal year [time series]
calendar year
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$40.62 billion (2013 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$61.54 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 90 $57.24 billion (2012 est.) $51.72 billion (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars
GDP - composition, by end use [time series]
household consumption: 57.6% government consumption: 13.1% investment in fixed capital: 30.3% investment in inventories: 0.9% exports of goods and services: 81% imports of goods and services: -82.9% (2013 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]
agriculture: 3.7% industry: 17.9% services: 78.4% (2013 est.)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]
$16,500 (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 81 $15,700 (2012 est.) $14,400 (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
7.5% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 16 10.7% (2012 est.) 10.8% (2011 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: 1.1% highest 10%: 40.1% (2010 est.)
Imports [time series]
$26.61 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 70 $24.61 billion (2012 est.) note: includes the Colon Free Zone
Imports - commodities [time series]
fuel products, medicines, vehicles, iron and steel rods, cellular phones
Imports - partners [time series]
US 23.6%, China 6.4%, Costa Rica 4.6%, Mexico 4.4% (2012)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
9.2% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 18
Industries [time series]
construction, brewing, cement and other construction materials, sugar milling
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
4.1% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 140 5.7% (2012 est.)
Labor force [time series]
1.54 million country comparison to the world: 128 note: shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor (2013 est.)
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture: 17% industry: 18.6% services: 64.4% (2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]
$12.54 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 65 $10.68 billion (31 December 2011) $8.348 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Population below poverty line [time series]
26% (2012 est.)
Public debt [time series]
39.8% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 90 39.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]
$2.666 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 114 $2.466 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of broad money [time series]
$29.72 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 75 $25.73 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]
$3.233 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 66 $3.11 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]
$32.89 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 62 $29.27 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of domestic credit [time series]
$35.57 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 68 $32.27 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of narrow money [time series]
$8.976 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 82 $7.659 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues [time series]
25.4% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 121
Unemployment rate [time series]
4.5% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 40 4.4% (2012 est.)
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]
15.9 million Mt (2011 est.)
Crude oil - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 168
Crude oil - imports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 109
Crude oil - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 206
Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 176
Electricity - consumption [time series]
6.209 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 104
Electricity - exports [time series]
39 million kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 84
Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]
52.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 148
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]
47.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 45
Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 162
Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 113
Electricity - imports [time series]
72 million kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 97
Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]
1.976 million kW (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 105
Electricity - production [time series]
7.257 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 107
Natural gas - consumption [time series]
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 186
Natural gas - exports [time series]
0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 165
Natural gas - imports [time series]
0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 116
Natural gas - production [time series]
0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 181
Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]
0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 183
Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]
98,890 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 78
Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 208
Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]
111,100 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 49
Refined petroleum products - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 185
Geography
total: 75,420 sq km country comparison to the world: 118 land: 74,340 sq km water: 1,080 sq km
Area - comparative [time series]
slightly smaller than South Carolina
Climate [time series]
tropical maritime; 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 Baru 3,475 m
Environment - current issues [time series]
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
International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]
total: 0.91 cu km/yr (27%/2%/71%) per capita: 296.1 cu m/yr (2005)
Geographic coordinates [time series]
9 00 N, 80 00 W
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]
346.2 sq km (2003)
Land boundaries [time series]
total: 555 km border countries: Colombia 225 km, Costa Rica 330 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 7.16% permanent crops: 2.51% other: 90.33% (2011)
Location [time series]
Central 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: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or edge of continental margin
Natural hazards [time series]
occasional severe storms and forest fires in the Darien area
Natural resources [time series]
copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower
Terrain [time series]
interior mostly steep, rugged mountains and dissected, upland plains; coastal areas largely plains and rolling hills
Total renewable water resources [time series]
148 cu km (2011)
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
10 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 3 indigenous territories* (comarcas); Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Embera-Wounaan*, Herrera, Kuna Yala*, Los Santos, Ngobe-Bugle*, Panama, Panama Oeste, Veraguas
Capital [time series]
name: Panama City geographic coordinates: 8 58 N, 79 32 W time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Constitution [time series]
several previous; latest effective 11 October 1972; amended several times, last in 2004 (2010)
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: Republic of Panama conventional short form: Panama local long form: Republica de Panama local short form: Panama
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Jonathan D. FARRAR (since 15 May 2012) embassy: Edificio 783, Avenida Demetrio Basilio Lakas Panama, Apartado Postal 0816-02561, Zona 5, Panama City mailing address: American Embassy Panama, Unit 0945, APO AA 34002; American Embassy Panama, 9100 Panama City PL, Washington, DC 20521-9100 telephone: [507] 317-5000 FAX: [507] 317-5568
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Mario Ernesto JARAMILLO Castillo (since 17 February 2011) chancery: 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-1407 FAX: [1] (202) 483-8413 consulate(s) general: Honolulu, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Diego, Tampa, Washington DC
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: President Ricardo MARTINELLI Berrocal (since 1 July 2009); Vice President Juan Carlos VARELA Rodriguez (since 1 July 2009); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Ricardo MARTINELLI Berrocal (since 1 July 2009); Vice President Juan Carlos VARELA Rodriguez (since 1 July 2009) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms (president not eligible for immediate reelection and must sit out two additional terms (10 years) before becoming eligible for reelection); election last held on 3 May 2009 (next to be held in May 2014) election results: Juan Carlos VARELA elected president; percent of vote - Juan Carlos VARELA 39.1%, Jose Domingo ARIAS 31.4%, Juan Carlos NAVARRO 28.2%, other 1.3%; note - Juan Carlos VARELA is expected to take office 1 July 2014 note: the ruling government coalition - formerly comprised of CD (Democratic Change), Panamenista Party, MOLIRENA (Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement), and UP (Patriotic Union Party) - split in August 2011 when President MARTINELLI relieved Vice President VARELA from his position as Foreign Minister, prompting the Panamenistas to pull out of the coalition; UP has now merged with CD, and CD and the Panamenista Party will run separate candidates for the presidency in 2014
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; the blue and red colors are those of the main political parties (Conservatives and Liberals respectively) and the white denotes peace between them; the blue star stands for the civic virtues of purity and honesty, the red star signifies authority and law
Government type [time series]
constitutional democracy
Independence [time series]
3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain on 28 November 1821)
International law organization participation [time series]
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
International organization participation [time series]
BCIE, CAN (observer), CD, CELAC, CSN (observer), FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, SICA, UN, UNASUR (observer), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Judicial branch [time series]
highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of 9 magistrates and 9 alternates and divided into civil, criminal, administrative, and general business chambers) judge selection and term of office: magistrates appointed by the president for staggered 10-year terms subordinate courts: appellate courts or Tribunal Superior; Labor Supreme Courts; Court of Audit; circuit courts or Tribunal Circuital (2 each in 9 provinces); municipal courts; electoral, family, maritime, and adolescent courts
Legal system [time series]
civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Justice
Legislative branch [time series]
unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (71 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 3 May 2009 (next to be held in May 2014) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRD 26, Panamenista 22, CD 14, UP 4, MOLIRENA 2, PP 1, independents 2; note - changes in political affiliation now reflect the following seat distribution: as of 13 February 2013 - seats by party - CD 36, PRD 17, Panamenista 13, MOLIRENA 4, PP 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 anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]
name: "Himno Istmeno" (Isthmus Hymn)
National holiday [time series]
Independence Day, 3 November (1903)
National symbol(s) [time series]
harpy eagle
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
Democratic Change or CD [Ricardo MARTINELLI Berrocal] Democratic Revolutionary Party or PRD [Juan Carlos NAVARRO Quelquejeu] Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement or MOLIRENA [Sergio GONZALEZ-Ruiz] Panamenista Party [Juan Carlos VARELA Rodriguez] (formerly the Arnulfista Party) Popular Party or PP [Milton HENRIQUEZ] (formerly Christian Democratic Party or PDC)
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
Chamber of Commerce Concertacion Nacional (mechanism for government of Panama to formally dialogue with representatives of civil society) National Council of Organized Workers or CONATO National Council of Private Enterprise or CONEP National Union of Construction and Similar Workers (SUNTRACS) Panamanian Association of Business Executives or APEDE Panamanian Industrialists Society or SIP Workers Confederation of the Republic of Panama or CTRP
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Introduction
Background [time series]
Explored and settled by the Spanish in the 16th century, Panama broke with Spain in 1821 and joined a union of Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela - named the Republic of Gran Colombia. When the latter dissolved in 1830, Panama remained part of Colombia. 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. In 1977, an agreement was signed for the complete transfer of the Canal from the US to Panama by the end of the century. Certain portions of the Zone and increasing responsibility over the Canal were turned over in the subsequent decades. 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 transferred to Panama by the end of 1999. In October 2006, Panamanians approved an ambitious plan (estimated to cost $5.3 billion) to expand the Canal. The project, which began in 2007 and could double the Canal's capacity, is expected to be completed in 2015.
Military
Manpower available for military service [time series]
males age 16-49: 890,006 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service [time series]
males age 16-49: 731,254 females age 16-49: 728,329 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]
male: 32,142 female: 30,879 (2010 est.)
Military - note [time series]
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 and security forces (Military branches) [time series]
no regular military forces; Panamanian Public Security Forces (subordinate to the Ministry of Public Security), comprising the National Police (PNP), National Air-Naval Service (SENAN), National Border Service (SENAFRONT) (2013)
People and Society
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 27.4% (male 504,710/female 484,166) 15-24 years: 17.3% (male 317,875/female 306,378) 25-54 years: 40.1% (male 733,588/female 714,859) 55-64 years: 7.4% (male 131,899/female 135,015) 65 years and over: 7.6% (male 129,091/female 150,850) (2014 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
18.61 births/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 98
Child labor - children ages 5-14 [time series]
total number: 59,294 percentage: 7 % note: data represents children ages 5-17 (2010 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]
3.9% (2008) country comparison to the world: 99
Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]
52.2% (2009)
Death rate [time series]
4.77 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 197
Demographic profile [time series]
Panama is a country of demographic and economic contrasts. It is in the midst of a demographic transition, characterized by steadily declining rates of fertility, mortality, and population growth, but disparities persist based on wealth, geography, and ethnicity. Panama has one of the fastest growing economies in Latin America and dedicates substantial funding to social programs, yet poverty and inequality remain prevalent. The indigenous population accounts for a growing share of Panama's poor and extreme poor, while the non-indigenous rural poor have been more successful at rising out of poverty through rural-to-urban labor migration. The government's large expenditures on untargeted, indirect subsidies for water, electricity, and fuel have been ineffective, but its conditional cash transfer program has shown some promise in helping to decrease extreme poverty among the indigenous population. Panama has expanded access to education and clean water, but the availability of sanitation and, to a lesser extent, electricity remains poor. The increase in secondary schooling - led by female enrollment - is spreading to rural and indigenous areas, which probably will help to alleviate poverty if educational quality and the availability of skilled jobs improve. Inadequate access to sanitation contributes to a high incidence of diarrhea in Panama's children, which is one of the main causes of Panama's elevated chronic malnutrition rate, especially among indigenous communities.
Dependency ratios [time series]
total dependency ratio: 54.7 % youth dependency ratio: 43.2 % elderly dependency ratio: 11.4 % potential support ratio: 8.7 (2014 est.)
Drinking water source [time series]
improved: urban: 96.8% of population rural: 86.6% of population total: 94.3% of population unimproved: urban: 3.2% of population rural: 13.4% of population total: 5.7% of population (2012 est.)
Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]
3.5% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 122
Ethnic groups [time series]
mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 70%, Amerindian and mixed (West Indian) 14%, white 10%, Amerindian 6%
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
0.7% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 57
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
600 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 86
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
16,700 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 87
Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]
8.2% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 59
Hospital bed density [time series]
2.4 beds/1,000 population (2010)
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: 10.7 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 135 male: 11.46 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)
Languages [time series]
Spanish (official), English 14% note: many Panamanians are bilingual
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 78.3 years country comparison to the world: 56 male: 75.51 years female: 81.22 years (2014 est.)
Literacy [time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 94.1% male: 94.7% female: 93.5% (2010 est.)
Major infectious diseases [time series]
degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea vectorborne disease: dengue fever (2013)
Major urban areas - population [time series]
PANAMA CITY (capital) 1.426 million (2011)
Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]
92 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 78
Median age [time series]
total: 28.3 years male: 27.9 years female: 28.7 years (2014 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: Panamanian(s) adjective: Panamanian
Net migration rate [time series]
-0.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 126
Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]
25.4% (2008) country comparison to the world: 55
Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]
1.5 physicians/1,000 population (2000)
Population [time series]
3,608,431 (July 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 131
Population growth rate [time series]
1.35% (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 91
Religions [time series]
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%
Sanitation facility access [time series]
improved: urban: 79.7% of population rural: 52.5% of population total: 73.2% of population unimproved: urban: 20.3% of population rural: 47.5% of population total: 26.8% of population (2012 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]
total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2011)
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2014 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
2.38 children born/woman (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 85
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]
total: 14.6% country comparison to the world: 87 male: 8.7% female: 10.3% (2012)
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 75.3% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization: 2.23% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia operate within the remote border region with Panama
Illicit drugs [time series]
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
Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]
refugees (country of origin): 15,723 (Colombia) (2012)
Transportation
Airports [time series]
117 (2013) country comparison to the world: 49
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 57 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 30 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 60 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 51 (2013)
Heliports [time series]
3 (2013)
Merchant marine [time series]
total: 6,413 country comparison to the world: 1 by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 2,525, cargo 1,115, carrier 27, chemical tanker 588, combination ore/oil 1, container 742, liquefied gas 205, passenger 42, passenger/cargo 51, petroleum tanker 545, refrigerated cargo 191, roll on/roll off 87, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 290 foreign-owned: 5,162 (Albania 4, Argentina 5, Australia 4, Bahamas 6, Bangladesh 5, Belgium 1, Bermuda 27, Brazil 3, Bulgaria 6, Burma 3, Canada 6, Chile 14, China 534, Colombia 2, Croatia 2, Cuba 2, Cyprus 5, Denmark 41, Ecuador 3, Egypt 11, Finland 2, France 7, Gabon 1, Germany 24, Gibraltar 1, Greece 379, Hong Kong 144, India 24, Indonesia 10, Iran 5, Ireland 1, Israel 1, Italy 25, Japan 2372, Jordan 11, Kuwait 12, Lebanon 2, Lithuania 3, Luxembourg 1, Malaysia 12, Maldives 2, Malta 2, Mexico 5, Monaco 11, Netherlands 6, Nigeria 6, Norway 81, Oman 10, Pakistan 3, Peru 9, Philippines 5, Portugal 10, Qatar 1, Romania 3, Russia 49, Saudi Arabia 11, Singapore 92, South Korea 373, Spain 30, Sweden 2, Switzerland 15, Syria 34, Taiwan 328, Tanzania 2, Thailand 6, Turkey 62, UAE 83, UK 37, Ukraine 8, US 90, Venezuela 13, Vietnam 43, Yemen 4) registered in other countries: 1 (Honduras 1) (2010)
Pipelines [time series]
oil 128 km (2013)
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
major seaport(s): Balboa, Colon, Cristobal container port(s) (TEUs): Balboa (3,232,265), Colon (2,390,976), Manzanillo (2,391,066)
Railways [time series]
total: 76 km country comparison to the world: 127 standard gauge: 76 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)
Roadways [time series]
total: 15,137 km country comparison to the world: 122 paved: 6,351 km unpaved: 8,786 km (2010)
Waterways [time series]
800 km (includes the 82-km Panama Canal that is being widened) (2011) country comparison to the world: 73