1998 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1998 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 78,200 sq km land: 75,990 sq km water: 2,210 sq km
Area-comparative
slightly smaller than South Carolina
Climate
tropical; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry season (January to May)
Coastline
2,490 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Volcan de Chiriqui 3,475 m
Environment-current issues
water pollution from agricultural runoff threatens fishery resources; deforestation of tropical rain forest; land degradation
Environment-international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, 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 signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geographic coordinates
9 00 N, 80 00 W
Geography-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
Irrigated land
320 sq km (1993 est.)
Land boundaries
total: 555 km border countries: Colombia 225 km, Costa Rica 330 km
Land use
arable land: 7% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 20% forests and woodland: 44% other: 27% (1993 est.)
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 hazards
NA
Natural resources
copper, mahogany forests, shrimp
Terrain
interior mostly steep, rugged mountains and dissected, upland plains; coastal areas largely plains and rolling hills
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 32% (male 446,001; female 428,532) 15-64 years: 62% (male 864,382; female 841,870) 65 years and over: 6% (male 74,529; female 80,629) (July 1998 est.)
Birth rate
21.99 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate
5.14 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Ethnic groups
mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 70%, Amerindian and mixed (West Indian) 14%, white 10%, Amerindian 6%
Infant mortality rate
24 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Languages
Spanish (official), English 14% note: many Panamanians bilingual
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 74.47 years male: 71.73 years female: 77.31 years (1998 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 90.8% male: 91.4% female: 90.2% (1995 est.)
Nationality
noun: Panamanian(s) adjective: Panamanian
Net migration rate
-1.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Population
2,735,943 (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate
1.56% (1998 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%
Sex ratio
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 (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate
2.57 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
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
Constitution
11 October 1972; major reforms adopted April 1983
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Panama conventional short form: Panama local long form: Republica de Panama local short form: Panama
Data code
PM
Executive branch
chief of state: 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); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government 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); 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%
FAX
[507] 227-1964
Flag 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
Government type
constitutional republic
Independence
3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain 28 November 1821)
International organization participation
AG (associate), CACM, 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, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Eloy ALFARO de Alba chancery: 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-1407 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Tampa Diplomatic representation from the US: 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] 227-1777
Judicial branch
Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia), nine judges appointed for 10-year terms; five superior courts; three courts of appeal Political parties and leaders: governing coalition: Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), Gerardo GONZALEZ; National Liberal Party (PLN), Raul ARANGO, founder; Popular Nationalist Party, Jorge FLORES other parties: Solidarity Party (PS), Samuel LEWIS GALINDO; Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement (MOLIRENA), Guillermo FORD; Arnulfista Party (PA), Mireya MOSCOSO DE GRUBER; Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Ruben AROSEMENA; Papa Egoro Movement (MPE), Ruben BLADES; Civic Renewal Party (PRC), Carlos ABADIA; National Renovation Movement (MORENA), Pedro VALLARINO; Authentic Liberal Party (PLA); Labor Party (PALA); Independent Democratic Union (UDI) Political pressure groups and leaders: 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)
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 branch
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 capital
Panama
National holiday
Independence Day, 3 November (1903)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Economy
Agriculture-products
bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane, vegetables; livestock; fishing (shrimp)
Budget
revenues: $2.4 billion expenditures: $2.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $341 million (1997 est.)
Currency
1 balboa (B) = 100 centesimos
Debt-external
$7.26 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid
recipient: NA
Economy-overview
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 and will take effect in June. After two years of near stagnation, the reforms are beginning to take root; GDP grew by 3.6% in 1997 and is expected to grow by more than 5% in 1998. The most important sectors driving growth have been the Panama Canal and the shipping and port activities. The Colon Free Zone also rebounded from a slow year in 1996.
Electricity-capacity
957 million kW (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita
1,355 kWh (1995)
Electricity-production
3.6 billion kWh (1995)
Exchange rates
balboas (B) per US$1-1.000 (fixed rate)
Exports
total value: $592 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.) commodities: bananas 43%, shrimp 11%, sugar 4%, clothing 5%, coffee 2% partners: US 37%, EU, Central America and Caribbean
Fiscal year
calendar year Communications
GDP
purchasing power parity-$18 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector
agriculture: 8% industry: 18% services: 74% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita
purchasing power parity-$6,700 (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate
3.6% (1997 est.)
Imports
total value: $2.95 billion (c.i.f., 1997 est.) commodities: capital goods 21%, crude oil 11%, foodstuffs 9%, consumer goods, chemicals partners: US 48%, 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 price index
1.2% (1997)
Labor force
total: 1.044 million (1997 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
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.)
Unemployment rate
13.1% (1997 est.)
Transportation
Airports
109 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 40 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: 19 (1997 est.) Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 69 914 to 1,523 m: 17 under 914 m: 52 (1997 est.)
Highways
total: 11,100 km paved: 3,730 km (including 30 km of expressways) unpaved: 7,370 km (1996 est.)
Merchant marine
total: 4,350 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 89,622,112 GRT/137,529,188 DWT ships by type: bulk 1,240, cargo 1,033, chemical tanker 195, combination bulk 67, combination ore/oil 19, container 426, liquefied gas tanker 175, livestock carrier 9, multifunction large-load carrier 5, oil tanker 524, passenger 40, passenger-cargo 6, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 296, roll-on/roll-off cargo 101, short-sea passenger 40, specialized tanker 15, vehicle carrier 158 note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 76 countries among which are Japan 1,236, Greece 418, Hong Kong 273, South Korea 247, Taiwan 227, China 185, Singapore 119, US 112, Switzerland 85, and Indonesia 60 (1997 est.)
Pipelines
crude oil 130 km Ports and harbors: Balboa, Cristobal, Coco Solo, Vacamonte, Manzanillo
Railways
total: 355 km broad gauge: 76 km 1.524-m gauge narrow gauge: 279 km 0.914-m gauge
Waterways
800 km navigable by shallow draft vessels; 82 km Panama Canal
Military and Security
Military branches
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
$78 million (1995); note-for police and security forces
Military expenditures-percent of GDP
NA%
Military manpower-availability
males age 15-49: 733,019 (1998 est.) Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 502,731 (1998 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes-international
none
Illicit drugs
major cocaine transshipment point and major drug money-laundering center; no recent signs of coca cultivation; monitoring of financial transactions is improving