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Communications

Broadband - fixed subscriptions [time series]

total: 446,076 (2017 est.) | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2017 est.)

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 [time series]

total: 2,000,833 (July 2016 est.) | percent of population: 54% (July 2016 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: domestic and international facilities well-developed (2015) | domestic: mobile-cellular telephone subscribership has increased rapidly (2015) | 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 (2015)

Telephones - fixed lines [time series]

total subscriptions: 603,638 (2017 est.) | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2017 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total subscriptions: 5,977,641 (2017 est.) | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 159 (2017 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: 12.43 billion (2017 est.) | expenditures: 13.44 billion (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-1.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

7.52% (31 December 2017 est.) | 7.53% (31 December 2016 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

-$3.036 billion (2017 est.) | -$3.16 billion (2016 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$91.53 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $83.81 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

50.7 (2014 est.) | 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 Trade Zone, insurance, container ports, flagship registry, and tourism and Panama is a center for offshore banking. Panama's transportation and logistics services sectors, along with infrastructure development projects, have boosted economic growth; however, public debt surpassed $37 billion in 2016 because of excessive government spending and public works projects. The US-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement was approved by Congress and signed into law in October 2011, and entered into force in October 2012. Future growth will be bolstered by the Panama Canal expansion project that began in 2007 and was completed in 2016 at a cost of $5.3 billion - about 10-15% of current GDP. The expansion project more than doubled the Canal's capacity, enabling it to accommodate high-capacity vessels such as tankers and neopanamax vessels that are too large to traverse the existing canal. The US and China are the top users of the Canal. 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.

Exchange rates [time series]

balboas (PAB) per US dollar - | 1 (2017 est.) | 1 (2016 est.) | 1 (2015 est.) | 1 (2014 est.) | 1 (2013 est.)

Exports [time series]

$15.5 billion (2017 est.) | $14.7 billion (2016 est.) | note: includes the Colon Free Zone

Exports - commodities [time series]

fruit and nuts, fish, iron and steel waste, wood

Exports - partners [time series]

US 18.9%, Netherlands 16.6%, China 6.5%, Costa Rica 5.4%, India 5.1%, Vietnam 5% (2017)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$61.84 billion (2017 est.) (2017 est.)

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

$104.1 billion (2017 est.) | $98.82 billion (2016 est.) | $94.12 billion (2015 est.) | note: data are in 2017 dollars

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

household consumption: 45.6% (2017 est.) | government consumption: 10.7% (2017 est.) | investment in fixed capital: 42.9% (2017 est.) | investment in inventories: 3% (2017 est.) | exports of goods and services: 41.9% (2017 est.) | imports of goods and services: -44.2% (2017 est.)

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

agriculture: 2.4% (2017 est.) | industry: 15.7% (2017 est.) | services: 82% (2017 est.)

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

$25,400 (2017 est.) | $24,500 (2016 est.) | $23,700 (2015 est.) | note: data are in 2017 dollars

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

5.4% (2017 est.) | 5% (2016 est.) | 5.8% (2015 est.)

Gross national saving [time series]

38.9% of GDP (2017 est.) | 39.2% of GDP (2016 est.) | 36.8% of GDP (2015 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 38.9% (2014 est.) | highest 10%: 38.9% (2014 est.)

Imports [time series]

$21.91 billion (2017 est.) | $20.51 billion (2016 est.) | note: includes the Colon Free Zone

Imports - commodities [time series]

fuels, machinery, vehicles, iron and steel rods, pharmaceuticals

Imports - partners [time series]

US 24.4%, China 9.8%, Mexico 4.9% (2017)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

6.3% (2017 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

0.9% (2017 est.) | 0.7% (2016 est.)

Labor force [time series]

1.633 million (2017 est.) | note: shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor

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.) | $10.68 billion (31 December 2011 est.) | $8.348 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

23% (2015 est.)

Public debt [time series]

37.8% of GDP (2017 est.) | 37.4% of GDP (2016 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$2.703 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $3.878 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$8.347 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $8.249 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$11.38 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $10.71 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$56.7 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $50.62 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$51.05 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $46.41 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$8.347 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $8.249 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

20.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

6% (2017 est.) | 5.5% (2016 est.)

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

26.08 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2018)

Electricity - consumption [time series]

8.708 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports [time series]

139 million kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

36% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

51% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

13% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

30 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

3.4 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

10.6 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity access [time series]

population without electricity: 300,000 (2013) | electrification - total population: 91% (2013) | electrification - urban areas: 94% (2013) | electrification - rural areas: 80% (2013)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

146,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

66 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

129,200 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 75,420 sq km | 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 [time series]

mean elevation: 360 m | elevation extremes: 0 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean | 3475 highest point: Volcan Baru

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

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]

321 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 687 km | border countries (2): Colombia 339 km, Costa Rica 348 km

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 30.5% (2011 est.) | arable land: 7.3% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 2.5% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 20.7% (2011 est.) | forest: 43.6% (2011 est.) | other: 25.9% (2011 est.)

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 | exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or edge of continental margin | contiguous zone: 24 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

occasional severe storms and forest fires in the Darien area

Natural resources [time series]

copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower

Population distribution [time series]

population is concentrated towards the center of the country, particularly around the Canal, but a sizeable segment of the populace also lives in the far west around David; the eastern third of the country is sparsely inhabited

Terrain [time series]

interior mostly steep, rugged mountains with dissected, upland plains; coastal plains with rolling hills

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

10 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 3 indigenous regions* (comarcas); Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Embera-Wounaan*, Herrera, Guna 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)

Citizenship [time series]

citizenship by birth: yes | citizenship by descent only: yes | dual citizenship recognized: no | residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Constitution [time series]

history: several previous; latest effective 11 October 1972 (2018) | amendments: proposed by the National Assembly, by the Cabinet, or by the Supreme Court of Justice; passage requires approval by one of two procedures: 1) absolute majority vote of the Assembly membership in each of three readings and by absolute majority vote of the next elected Assembly in a single reading without text modifications; 2) absolute majority vote of the Assembly membership in each of three readings, followed by absolute majority vote of the next elected Assembly in each of three readings with text modifications, and approval in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2004; note - in May 2018, President VARELA began the process to amend the constitution (2018)

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Panama | conventional short form: Panama | local long form: Republica de Panama | local short form: Panama | etymology: according to tradition, the name derives from a former indigenous fishing village and its nearby beach that were called "Panama" meaning "an abundance of fish"

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant), Charge d'Affairs Roxanne CABRAL (since 9 March 2018) | 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] 317-5445 (2018)

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Emanuel Arturo GONZALEZ-REVILLA Lince (since 18 September 2014) | chancery: 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20007 | telephone: [1] (202) 483-1407 | FAX: [1] (202) 483-8413 | consulate(s) general: Houston, Miami, Long Beach (CA), New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Tampa, Washington DC

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Juan Carlos VARELA (since 1 July 2014); Vice President Isabel de SAINT MALO de Alvarado (since 1 July 2014); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government | head of government: President Juan Carlos VARELA (since 1 July 2014); Vice President Isabel de SAINT MALO de Alvarado (since 1 July 2014) | cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president | elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term; president eligible for a single non-consecutive term); election last held on 4 May 2014 (next to be held in 2019) | election results: Juan Carlos VARELA elected president; percent of vote - Juan Carlos VARELA (PP) 39.1%, Jose Domingo ARIAS (CD) 31.4%, Juan Carlos NAVARRO (PRD) 28.2%, other 1.3%

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]

presidential republic

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, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, 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 courts: 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 of the 10 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]

description: unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (71 seats; 45 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies - populous towns and cities - by proportional representation vote and 26 directly elected in single-seat constituencies - outlying rural districts - by plurality vote; members serve 5-year terms) | elections: last held on 4 May 2014 (next to be held in May 2019) | election results: percent of vote by party - CD 33.7%, PRD 31.5%, Panamenista Party 20%, MOLIRENA 7.2%, PP 3.3%, other 1%, independent 3%; seats by party - PRD 30, CD 25, Panamenista 12, MOLIRENA 2, PP 1, independent 1 | note: an alliance between the Panamenista Party and Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) fractured after the 2014 election, but a loose coalition composed of Panamenista and moderate PRD and CD legislators generally work together to support the president’s agenda

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "Himno Istmeno" (Isthmus Hymn) | lyrics/music: Jeronimo DE LA OSSA/Santos A. JORGE | note: adopted 1925

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day (Separation Day), 3 November (1903)

National symbol(s) [time series]

harpy eagle; national colors: blue, white, red

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

Democratic Change or CD [Romulo ROUX] Democratic Revolutionary Party or PRD [Benicio ROBINSON] Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement or MOLIRENA [Francisco "Pancho" ALEMAN] Panamenista Party [Jose Luis "Popi" VARELA Rodriguez] (formerly the Arnulfista Party) Popular Party or PP [Juan Carlos ARANGO Reese] (formerly Christian Democratic Party or PDC)

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

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. An ambitious expansion project to more than double the Canal's capacity - by allowing for more Canal transits and larger ships - was carried out between 2007 and 2016. | PANAMA SUMMARY: PDF

Military and Security

Military - note [time series]

on 10 February 1990, the government of then President Guillermo ENDARA abolished Panama's military and reformed the security apparatus by creating the Panamanian Public Forces; in October 1994, Panama's National 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: 26.13% (male 506,953 /female 486,129) | 15-24 years: 16.84% (male 326,207 /female 313,894) | 25-54 years: 40.35% (male 776,395 /female 757,008) | 55-64 years: 8.11% (male 152,894 /female 155,353) | 65 years and over: 8.57% (male 149,415 /female 176,396) (2018 est.) | population pyramid: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Central America :: Panama Print Image Description This is the population pyramid for Panama. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends. For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.

Birth rate [time series]

17.6 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]

3.9% (2008)

Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]

62.8% (2013)

Death rate [time series]

5 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

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: 54.8 (2015 est.) | youth dependency ratio: 43.1 (2015 est.) | elderly dependency ratio: 11.7 (2015 est.) | potential support ratio: 8.5 (2015 est.)

Drinking water source [time series]

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

3.2% of GDP (2011)

Ethnic groups [time series]

mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 65%, Native American 12.3% (Ngabe 7.6%, Kuna 2.4%, Embera 0.9%, Bugle 0.8%, other 0.4%, unspecified 0.2%), black or African descent 9.2%, mulatto 6.8%, white 6.7% (2010 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

1% (2017 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

<1000 (2017 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

25,000 (2017 est.)

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

8% of GDP (2014)

Hospital bed density [time series]

2.3 beds/1,000 population (2013)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 9.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.) | male: 10.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.) | female: 8.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages [time series]

Spanish (official), indigenous languages (including Ngabere (or Guaymi), Buglere, Kuna, Embera, Wounaan, Naso (or Teribe), and Bri Bri), Panamanian English Creole (similar to Jamaican English Creole; a mixture of English and Spanish with elements of Ngabere; also known as Guari Guari and Colon Creole), English, Chinese (Yue and Hakka), Arabic, French Creole, other (Yiddish, Hebrew, Korean, Japanese) | note: many Panamanians are bilingual

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 78.9 years (2018 est.) | male: 76.1 years (2018 est.) | female: 81.9 years (2018 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.) | total population: 95% (2015 est.) | male: 95.7% (2015 est.) | female: 94.4% (2015 est.)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: intermediate (2016) | food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea (2016) | vectorborne diseases: dengue fever (2016) | note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus

Major urban areas - population [time series]

1.783 million PANAMA CITY (capital) (2018)

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

94 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 29.5 years | male: 29 years | female: 29.9 years (2018 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Panamanian(s) | adjective: Panamanian

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

22.7% (2016)

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

1.59 physicians/1,000 population (2013)

Population [time series]

3,800,644 (July 2018 est.)

Population distribution [time series]

Population growth rate [time series]

1.24% (2018 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%

Sanitation facility access [time series]

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 13 years (2013) | male: 12 years (2013) | female: 13 years (2013)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.) | 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.) | 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.) | 25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female (2017 est.) | 55-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female (2017 est.) | 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female (2017 est.) | total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.28 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 11.5% (2016 est.) | male: 9% (2016 est.) | female: 16% (2016 est.)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 67.7% of total population (2018) | rate of urbanization: 2.06% annual rate of change (2015-20 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): 15,614 (Colombia) (2016), 60,699 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum or have received alternative legal stay) (2018)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

117 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 57 (2017) | over 3,047 m: 1 (2017) | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2017) | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2017) | 914 to 1,523 m: 20 (2017) | under 914 m: 30 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 60 (2013) | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013) | 914 to 1,523 m: 8 (2013) | under 914 m: 51 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]

HP (2016)

Heliports [time series]

3 (2013)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 8,052 (2017) | by type: bulk carrier 2665, container ship 617, general cargo 1293, oil tanker 809, other 2668 (2017)

National air transport system [time series]

number of registered air carriers: 4 (2015) | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 103 (2015) | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 12,018,103 (2015) | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 121,567,075 mt-km (2015)

Pipelines [time series]

128 km oil (2013)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

major seaport(s): Balboa, Colon, Cristobal | container port(s) (TEUs): Balboa (2,831,893), Colon (3,258,381) (2016)

Railways [time series]

total: 77 km (2014) | standard gauge: 77 km 1.435-m gauge (2014)

Roadways [time series]

total: 15,137 km (2010) | paved: 6,351 km (2010) | unpaved: 8,786 km (2010)

Waterways [time series]

800 km (includes the 82-km Panama Canal that is being widened) (2011)