2000 Edition

Background

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. On 7 September 1977, an agreement was signed for the complete transfer of the Canal from the US to Panama by 1999. Certain portions of the Zone and increasing responsibility over the Canal were turned over in the intervening years. 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 turned over to Panama on 31 December 1999.

Area

land

75,990 sq km

total

78,200 sq km

water

2,210 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than South Carolina

Climate

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

Coastline

2,490 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Volcan de Chiriqui 3,475 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

water pollution from agricultural runoff threatens fishery resources; deforestation of tropical rain forest; land degradation and soil erosion threatens siltation of Panama Canal

Environment - international agreements

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

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

border countries

Colombia 225 km, Costa Rica 330 km

total

555 km

Land use

arable land

7%

forests and woodland

44%

other

27% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

2%

permanent pastures

20%

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

contiguous zone

24 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower

Terrain

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 31% (male 439,590; female 422,949) 15-64 years: 63% (male 901,793; female 878,138) 65 years and over: 6% (male 79,330; female 86,468) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

19.53 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

4.95 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Infant mortality rate

20.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

Spanish (official), English 14%

note

many Panamanians bilingual

Life expectancy at birth

female

78.31 years (2000 est.)

male

72.74 years

total population

75.47 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

90.2% (1995 est.)

male

91.4%

total population

90.8%

Nationality

adjective

Panamanian

noun

Panamanian(s)

Net migration rate

-1.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

2,808,268 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

1.34% (2000 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

total population

1.02 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.32 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Administrative divisions

9 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 2 territories* (comarca); Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los Santos, Ngobe-Bugle*, Panama, San Blas*, and Veraguas

Capital

Panama

Constitution

11 October 1972; major reforms adopted April 1983 and in 1994

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

telephone

227-1777

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Guillermo FORD

consulate(s) general

Atlanta, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Tampa

telephone

(202) 483-1407

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president

chief of state

President Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO Rodriguez (since 1 September 1999); First Vice President Arturo Ulises VALLARINO (since 1 September 1999); Second Vice President (Dominador) Kaiser Baldonero BAZAN (since 1 September 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

election results

Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO Rodriguez elected president; percent of vote - Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO Rodriguez (PA) 44%, Martin TORRIJOS (PRD) 37%

elections

president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 2 May 1999 (next to be held NA May 2004)

head of government

President Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO Rodriguez (since 1 September 1999); First Vice President Arturo Ulises VALLARINO (since 1 September 1999); Second Vice President (Dominador) Kaiser Baldonero BAZAN (since 1 September 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

note

government coalition - PRD, PLN, and Popular Nationalist Party

FAX

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 democracy

Independence

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

International organization participation

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

Supreme Court of Justice or 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 branch

unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRD 35, PA 18, PS 4, PDC 4, MOLIRENA 3, PRC 2, PLN 2, Democratic Change 2, MORENA 1; note - one seat had yet to be decided

elections

last held 2 May 1999 (next to be held May 2004)

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

Independence Day, 3 November (1903)

Political parties and leaders

Arnulfista Party or PA [Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO Rodriguez]; Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Ruben AROSEMENA]; Civic Renewal Party or PRC ; Democratic Change ; Democratic Revolutionary Party or PRD ; National Liberal Party or PLN [Dr. Roberto ALEMAN Zubieta, Oscar UCROS, Raul ARANGO]; National Renovation Movement or MORENA ; Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement or MOLIRENA ; Solidarity Party or PS

Political pressure groups and leaders

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

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

revenues

$2.4 billion

Currency

1 balboa (B) = 100 centesimos

Debt - external

$7 billion (1999)

Economic aid - recipient

$197.1 million (1995)

Economy - overview

Because of its key geographic location, Panama's economy is service-based, heavily weighted toward banking, commerce, and tourism. The hand-over of the canal and military installations by the US has given rise to new construction projects. The MOSCOSO administration inherited an economy that is much more structurally sound and liberalized than the one inherited by its predecessor. Even though export demand is likely to remain slack in some key markets - especially the Andean countries - GDP growth in 2000 probably will be 3% to 4%. Key reform initiatives from the previous administration - including the privatization of public utilities - remain uncompleted. Although President MOSCOSO is unlikely to overturn any previous reforms, her populist leanings make it unlikely any new initiatives will be undertaken in the near future. Indeed, the government has failed to formulate a comprehensive economic policy framework, and the only concrete step it has taken by yearend 1999 has been a hike in agricultural tariffs.

Electricity - consumption

4.329 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

13 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

136 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

4.523 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

25.56%

hydro

73.78%

nuclear

0%

other

0.66% (1998)

Exchange rates

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

Exports

$4.7 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Exports - commodities

bananas, shrimp, sugar, coffee

Exports - partners

US 40%, Sweden, Costa Rica, Spain, Benelux, Honduras (1998)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $21 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

8%

industry

25%

services

67% (1997 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $7,600 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4.4% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$6.4 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Imports - commodities

capital goods, crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, chemicals

Imports - partners

US 40%, Central America and Caribbean, Japan (1998)

Industrial production growth rate

0.4% (1995 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.5% (1999 est.)

Labor force

1.044 million (1997 est.)

note

shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 18%, industry 18%, services 64% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

13.1% (1997 est.)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

3 (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 80, FM 44, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

815,000 (1997)

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 - main lines in use

325,300 (1998)

Telephones - mobile cellular

0 (1995)

Television broadcast stations

9 (plus 17 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

510,000 (1997)

Airports

105 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

41 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 21 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

64 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 49 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

3,783 km (including 30 km of expressways)

total

11,258 km

unpaved

7,475 km (1999 est.)

Merchant marine

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.)

ships by type

bulk 1,377, cargo 976, chemical tanker 323, combination bulk 68, combination ore/oil 15, container 525, liquified gas 184, livestock carrier 8, multi-functional large load carrier 12, passenger 46, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 496, rail car carrier 2, refrigerated cargo 313, roll-on/roll-off 106, short-sea passenger 42, specialized tanker 33, vehicle carrier 202 (1999 est.)

total

4,732 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 106,054,086 GRT/159,304,019 DWT

Pipelines

crude oil 130 km

Ports and harbors

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

Military - note

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 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

$132 million (FY97)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.6% (FY97)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 761,568 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 521,487 (2000 est.)

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, yet Panama has failed to prosecute anyone for money laundering - official corruption remains a major problem

PAPUA NEW GUINEA