1996 Edition

Description

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

Location

9 00 N, 80 00 W -- Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica Flag ----

Area

comparative area

slightly smaller than South Carolina

land area

75,990 sq km

total area

78,200 sq km

Climate

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

Coastline

2,490 km

Environment

current issues

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

international agreements

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

natural hazards

NA

Geographic coordinates

9 00 N, 80 00 W

Geographic note

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

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

320 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Colombia 225 km, Costa Rica 330 km

total

555 km

Land use

arable land

6%

forest and woodland

54%

meadows and pastures

15%

other

23%

permanent crops

2%

Location

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

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

territorial sea

200 nm

Natural resources

copper, mahogany forests, shrimp

Terrain

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

highest point

Volcan de Chiriqui 3,475 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Age structure

0-14 years: 33% (male 445,382; female 426,111) 15-64 years: 62% (male 828,384; female 806,205) 65 years and over: 5% (male 71,823; female 77,189) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

23.2 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

5.42 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

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

Infant mortality rate

29.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

Spanish (official), English 14%

note

many Panamanians bilingual

Life expectancy at birth

female

76.75 years (1996 est.)

male

71.19 years

total population

73.92 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)

female

90.2%

male

91.4%

total population

90.8%

Nationality

adjective

Panamanian

noun

Panamanian(s)

Net migration rate

-1.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

2,655,094 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

1.64% (1996 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%

Sex ratio

all ages

1.03 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

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: 0.93 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

2.71 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

Panama

Constitution

11 October 1972; major reforms adopted April 1983

Data code

PM

Diplomatic representation in US

chancery

2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Ricardo Alberto ARIAS

consulate(s) general

Atlanta, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Tampa

telephone

[1] (202) 483-1407

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet was appointed by the president

chief of state and head of government

President Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES Gonzalez Revilla (since 1 September 1994), First Vice President Tomas Gabriel ALTAMIRANO DUQUE (since 1 September 1994), Second Vice President Felipe Alejandro VIRZI Lopez (since 1 September 1994) were elected for five-year terms by popular vote; 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%

FAX

[507] 227-1964

Flag

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

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

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia), nine judges appointed for 10-year terms; five superior courts; three courts of appeal

Legal system

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

Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa)

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

unicameral

Name of country

conventional long form

Republic of Panama

conventional short form

Panama

local long form

Republica de Panama

local short form

Panama

National holiday

Independence Day, 3 November (1903)

Other political or pressure groups

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 and leaders

governing coalition

Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), Gerardo GONZALEZ; Liberal Republican Party (PLR), Rodolfo CHIARI; Labor Party (PALA), Carlos Lopez GUEVARA

other parties

Solidarity Party (PS), Samuel LEWIS GALINDO; Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement (MOLIRENA), Delia CARDENAS; Authentic Liberal Party (PLA), Arnulfo ESCALONA; Arnulfista Party (PA), Mireya MOSCOSO DE GRUBER; Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Ruben AROSEMENA; Liberal Party (PL), Roberto ALEMAN Zubieta; Papa Egoro Movement (MPE), Gloria YOUNG; 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

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Type of government

constitutional republic

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission

Ambassador William John HUGHES

embassy

Avenida Balboa and Calle 38, Apartado 6959, Panama City 5

mailing address

American Embassy Panama, Unit 0945, APO AA 34002

telephone

[507] 227-1377

Agriculture

bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane, vegetables; livestock; fishing (shrimp)

Budget

expenditures

$1.86 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995)

revenues

$1.86 billion

Currency

1 balboa (B) = 100 centesimos

Economic aid

recipient

ODA, $58 million (1993)

Economic overview

Because of its key geographic location, Panama's economy is service-based, heavily weighted toward banking, commerce, and tourism. The manufacturing and agriculture sectors have become inefficient under protectionist policies. After fast growth during the early 1990s, the economy has slowed down in the last two years, with GDP growth at 2.8% in 1994 and in 1995. The slowdown has been due mostly to a reduction in construction activities and stagnation in the Colon Free Zone and financial services, the three fastest growing sectors early in the decade. To counter the slowdown, the PEREZ BALLADARES administration has launched an economic reform program designed to reverse unemployment, attract foreign investment, cut back the size of government, and modernize the economy. In 1995, Panama reached an agreement in principle to reschedule its commercial debt - one of the highest in the world in per capita terms - which will allow the country to reenter international financial markets. Panama should complete all requirements to join the World Trade Organization (WTrO) in 1996.

Electricity

capacity

960,000 kW

consumption per capita

1,047 kWh (1993)

production

2.8 billion kWh

Exchange rates

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

Exports

$548 million (f.o.b., 1995)

commodities

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

partners

US 39%, EU, Central America and Caribbean

External debt

$6.7 billion (yearend 1993 est.)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $13.6 billion (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

10%

industry

16%

services

74% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita

$5,100 (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate

2.8% (1995 est.)

Illicit drugs

major cocaine transshipment point and major drug money laundering center; minor producer of coca leaf; active eradication program

Imports

$2.45 billion (c.i.f., 1995)

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

0.4% (1995 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.1% (1995)

Labor force

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

Unemployment rate

13.8% (1995)

Branches

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

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $78 million, NA% of GDP (1995); note - for police and security forces

Manpower availability

males age 15-49

705,427

males fit for military service

484,571 (1996 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 91, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios

564,000 (1992 est.)

Telephone system

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

273,000 (1991 est.)

Television broadcast stations

23

Televisions

420,000 (1992 est.) Defense

Airports

total

99

with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

5

with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m

1

with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m

14

with paved runways over 3 047 m

1

with paved runways under 914 m

60

with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m

18 (1995 est.)

Highways

paved

3,233 km

total

10,103 km

unpaved

6,870 km (1992 est.)

Merchant marine

note

a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 83 countries among which are Japan 1,212, Greece 360, Hong Kong 263, Taiwan 203, South Korea 198, US 160, China 152, Singapore 118, UK 79, Switzerland 67, and Norway 58 (1995 est.)

ships by type

bulk 902, cargo 1,050, chemical tanker 168, combination bulk 40, combination ore/oil 19, container 307, liquefied gas tanker 155, livestock carrier 7, multifunction large-load carrier 3, oil tanker 488, passenger 31, passenger-cargo 5, refrigerated cargo 295, roll-on/roll-off cargo 93, short-sea passenger 34, specialized tanker 11, vehicle carrier 150

total

3,758 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 69,960,500 GRT/107,632,713 DWT

Pipelines

crude oil 130 km

Ports

Balboa, Cristobal, Coco Solo North, Vacamonte

Railways

broad gauge

76 km 1.524-m gauge

narrow gauge

279 km 0.914-m gauge

total

355 km

Waterways

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