# Library

ABOUT REFERENCES APPENDICES FAQs CONTACT

Central America and Caribbean :: Panama

- ## Introduction :: PANAMA

- Background:
  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 2016.

- ## Geography :: PANAMA

- Location:
  Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica
  Geographic coordinates:
  9 00 N, 80 00 W
  Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean
  Area:
  total: 75,420 sq km
  land: 74,340 sq km
  water: 1,080 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 118
  Area - comparative:
  slightly smaller than South Carolina
  Area comparison map:
  Land boundaries:
  total: 687 km
  border countries (2): Colombia 339 km, Costa Rica 348 km
  Coastline:
  2,490 km
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  contiguous zone: 24 nm
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or edge of continental margin
  Climate:
  tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry season (January to May)
  Terrain:
  interior mostly steep, rugged mountains with dissected, upland plains; coastal plains with rolling hills
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
  highest point: Volcan Baru 3,475 m
  Natural resources:
  copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 30.5%
  arable land 7.3%; permanent crops 2.5%; permanent pasture 20.7%
  forest: 43.6%
  other: 25.9% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  346.2 sq km (2003)
  Total renewable water resources:
  148 cu km (2011)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 0.91 cu km/yr (27%/2%/71%)
  per capita: 296.1 cu m/yr (2005)
  Natural hazards:
  occasional severe storms and forest fires in the Darien area
  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; air pollution in urban areas; mining threatens natural resources
  Environment - international agreements:
  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
  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

- ## People and Society :: PANAMA

- Nationality:
  noun: Panamanian(s)
  adjective: Panamanian
  Ethnic groups:
  mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 65%, Native American 12.3% (Ngabe 7.6%, Kuna 2.4%, Embera .9%, Bugle .8%, other .4%, unspecified .2%), black or African descent 9.2%, mulatto 6.8%, white 6.7% (2010 est.)
  Languages:
  Spanish (official), indigenous languages (including Ngabe, Bugle, Kuna, Embera, Wounaan, Naso Tjerdi, and Bri Bri)
  note: many Panamanians are bilingual
  Religions:
  Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%
  Demographic profile:
  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.
  Population:
  3,657,024 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 131
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 27.06% (male 505,079/female 484,471)
  15-24 years: 17.2% (male 320,329/female 308,717)
  25-54 years: 40.24% (male 745,309/female 726,211)
  55-64 years: 7.55% (male 136,506/female 139,513)
  65 years and over: 7.95% (male 133,930/female 156,959) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 53.4%
  youth dependency ratio: 41.7%
  elderly dependency ratio: 11.7%
  potential support ratio: 8.5% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 28.6 years
  male: 28.2 years
  female: 29 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  1.32% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 91
  Birth rate:
  18.32 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 98
  Death rate:
  4.81 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 193
  Net migration rate:
  -0.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 125
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 66.6% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 2.07% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  PANAMA CITY (capital) 1.673 million (2015)
  Sex ratio:
  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: 0.98 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 10.41 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 11.16 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 9.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 134
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 78.47 years
  male: 75.67 years
  female: 81.39 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 56
  Total fertility rate:
  2.35 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 86
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  52.2% (2009)
  Health expenditures:
  7.2% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 64
  Physicians density:
  1.65 physicians/1,000 population (2013)
  Hospital bed density:
  2.2 beds/1,000 population (2011)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 97.7% of population
  rural: 86.6% of population
  total: 94.7% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 2.3% of population
  rural: 11.4% of population
  total: 5.3% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 83.5% of population
  rural: 58% of population
  total: 75% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 16.5% of population
  rural: 42% of population
  total: 25% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  0.65% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 58
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  15,500 (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 88
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  600 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 81
  Major infectious diseases:
  degree of risk: intermediate
  food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
  vectorborne disease: dengue fever (2013)
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  26.5% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 55
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  3.9% (2008)
  country comparison to the world: 99
  Education expenditures:
  3.3% of GDP (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 122
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 95%
  male: 95.7%
  female: 94.4% (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 13 years
  male: 13 years
  female: 14 years (2012)
  Child labor - children ages 5-14:
  total number: 59,294
  percentage: 7%
  note: data represents children ages 5-17 (2010 est.)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 10.3%
  male: 8.7%
  female: 13.3% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 99

- ## Government :: PANAMA

- Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Panama
  conventional short form: Panama
  local long form: Republica de Panama
  local short form: Panama
  Government type:
  constitutional democracy
  Capital:
  name: Panama City
  geographic coordinates: 8 58 N, 79 32 W
  time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
  Administrative divisions:
  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
  Independence:
  3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain on 28 November 1821)
  National holiday:
  Independence Day, 3 November (1903)
  Constitution:
  several previous; latest effective 11 October 1972; amended several times, last in 2004 (2010)
  Legal system:
  civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Justice
  International law organization participation:
  accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  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 Ricardo MARTINELLI Berrocal (since 1 July 2009); Vice President Juan Carlos VARELA Rodriguez (since 1 July 2009)
  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%
  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 merged with CD, and CD and the Panamenista Party ran separate candidates for the 2014 presidency
  Legislative branch:
  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 - NA; seats by party - PRD 26, CD 25, Panamenista 16, MOLIRENA 2, PP 1, independent 1; note - only 57 deputies were officially installed because fourteen runners-up challenged the election
  Judicial branch:
  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 of the 10 provinces); municipal courts; electoral, family, maritime, and adolescent courts
  Political parties and leaders:
  Democratic Change or CD [Ricardo MARTINELLI Berrocal]
  Democratic Revolutionary Party or PRD [Carlos PEREZ Herrera]
  Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement or MOLIRENA [Francisco "Pancho" ALEMAN]
  Panamenista Party [Juan Carlos VARELA Rodriguez] (formerly the Arnulfista Party)
  Popular Party or PP [Milton C. HENRIQUEZ] (formerly Christian Democratic Party or PDC)
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  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
  International organization participation:
  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
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  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: Honolulu, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Diego, Tampa (FL), Washington DC
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  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
  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; 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
  National symbol(s):
  harpy eagle; national colors: blue, white, red
  National anthem:
  name: "Himno Istmeno" (Isthmus Hymn)
  lyrics/music: Jeronimo DE LA OSSA/Santos A. JORGE
  note: adopted 1925

- ## Economy :: PANAMA

- Economy - overview:
  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. Economic growth will be bolstered by the Panama Canal expansion project that began in 2007 and is estimated to be completed by 2016 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 completed a metro system in Panama City, valued at $1.2 billion in 2014. Panama's transportation and logistics services sectors, along with infrastructure development projects, have boosted economic growth; however, public debt surpassed $17 billion in 2014 because of excessive government spending and public works projects. Foreign direct investment 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. The US-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement was approved by Congress and signed into law in October 2011, and entered into force in October 2012.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $76.42 billion (2014 est.)
  $71.95 billion (2013 est.)
  $66.39 billion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 91
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $43.78 billion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  6.2% (2014 est.)
  8.4% (2013 est.)
  10.7% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 24
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $19,500 (2014 est.)
  $18,300 (2013 est.)
  $16,900 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 82
  Gross national saving:
  17.8% of GDP (2014 est.)
  17.8% of GDP (2013 est.)
  18.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 87
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 52.9%
  government consumption: 11.3%
  investment in fixed capital: 28.7%
  investment in inventories: 5.8%
  exports of goods and services: 75.3%
  imports of goods and services: -74%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 2.9%
  industry: 14.1%
  services: 83% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane, vegetables; livestock; shrimp
  Industries:
  construction, brewing, cement and other construction materials, sugar milling
  Industrial production growth rate:
  8.2% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 21
  Labor force:
  1.563 million
  note: shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 128
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 17%
  industry: 18.6%
  services: 64.4% (2009 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  4.1% (2014 est.)
  4.1% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 44
  Population below poverty line:
  26% (2012 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 1.1%
  highest 10%: 40.1% (2010 est.)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  51.9 (2010 est.)
  56.1 (2003)
  country comparison to the world: 15
  Budget:
  revenues: $10.86 billion
  expenditures: $12.69 billion (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  24.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 124
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -4.1% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 143
  Public debt:
  37.2% of GDP (2014 est.)
  36.8% of GDP (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 104
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  2.6% (2014 est.)
  4% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 118
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  6.6% (31 December 2014 est.)
  6.59% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 127
  Stock of narrow money:
  $6.887 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $6.347 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 91
  Stock of broad money:
  $28.22 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $25.81 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 77
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $40.11 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $28.83 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 67
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $12.54 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
  $10.68 billion (31 December 2011)
  $8.348 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 70
  Current account balance:
  -$5.257 billion (2014 est.)
  -$4.806 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 164
  Exports:
  $18.07 billion (2014 est.)
  $17.5 billion (2013 est.)
  note: includes the Colon Free Zone
  country comparison to the world: 76
  Exports - commodities:
  fruit and nuts, fish, iron and steel waste, wood
  Exports - partners:
  US 19.8%, Germany 10.7%, China 8.5%, Costa Rica 6.7%, Netherlands 5.2%, Vietnam 4.3% (2014)
  Imports:
  $25.65 billion (2014 est.)
  $24.26 billion (2013 est.)
  note: includes the Colon Free Zone
  country comparison to the world: 73
  Imports - commodities:
  fuels, machinery, vehicles, iron and steel rods, pharmaceuticals
  Imports - partners:
  US 25.1%, China 8.1%, Mexico 4.2% (2014)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $3.048 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $2.848 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 109
  Debt - external:
  $15.47 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $13.88 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 94
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $39.39 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $35.69 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 59
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
  $8.34 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $7.835 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 60
  Exchange rates:
  balboas (PAB) per US dollar -
  1 (2014 est.)
  1 (2013 est.)
  1 (2012 est.)
  1 (2011 est.)
  1 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: PANAMA

- Electricity - production:
  7.642 billion kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 102
  Electricity - consumption:
  6.626 billion kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 104
  Electricity - exports:
  59 million kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 86
  Electricity - imports:
  19 million kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 109
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  2.391 million kW (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 100
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  43.5% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 163
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 163
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  56.5% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 39
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 115
  Crude oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 208
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 169
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 110
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 177
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 185
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  101,400 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 77
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 208
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  111,100 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 47
  Natural gas - production:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 181
  Natural gas - consumption:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 186
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 162
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 118
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 183
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  16.23 million Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 90

- ## Communications :: PANAMA

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 590,000
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 92
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 6.2 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 172 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 110
  Telephone system:
  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)
  Broadcast media:
  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)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 101, FM 134, shortwave 0 (1998)
  Television broadcast stations:
  38 (including repeaters) (1998)
  Internet country code:
  .pa
  Internet users:
  total: 1.7 million
  percent of population: 48.4% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 105

- ## Transportation :: PANAMA

- Airports:
  117 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 49
  Airports - with paved runways:
  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:
  total: 60
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 8
  under 914 m:
  51 (2013)
  Heliports:
  3 (2013)
  Pipelines:
  oil 128 km (2013)
  Railways:
  total: 77 km
  standard gauge: 77 km 1.435-m gauge (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 129
  Roadways:
  total: 15,137 km
  paved: 6,351 km
  unpaved: 8,786 km (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 122
  Waterways:
  800 km (includes the 82-km Panama Canal that is being widened) (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 72
  Merchant marine:
  total: 6,413
  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: 5,151 (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)
  country comparison to the world: 1
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Balboa, Colon, Cristobal
  container port(s) (TEUs): Balboa (3,232,265), Colon (2,390,976), Manzanillo (2,391,066)

- ## Military :: PANAMA

- Military branches:
  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)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 890,006 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 731,254
  females age 16-49: 728,329 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 32,142
  female: 30,879 (2010 est.)
  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"

- ## Transnational Issues :: PANAMA

- Disputes - international:
  organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia operate within the remote border region with Panama
  Refugees and internally displaced persons:
  refugees (country of origin): 15,551 (Colombia) (2014)
  Trafficking in persons:
  current situation: Panama is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; most Panamanian victims are sexually exploited domestically; indigenous girls and women are also forced into domestic servitude in the country; foreign women from nearby countries migrate to Panama legally but some are subsequently exploited in sex trafficking or, to a lesser extent, in domestic service; Chinese adults and men from neighboring countries are subjected to debt bondage, while Colombian and Middle Eastern men are used as forced labor in restaurants
  tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List – Panama does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; several public awareness events were conducted in 2013, but the government did not demonstrate overall increasing anti-trafficking efforts; authorities did not report whether any internal sex trafficking or forced labor involving the movement of victims was investigated or prosecuted in 2013; many officials lack an understanding of human trafficking; fewer trafficking victims were identified and assisted in 2013; victim assistance mechanisms required by Panamanian law were not implemented (2014)
  Illicit drugs:
  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

GO TOP