Panama

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Introduction - Panama:
Country	Panama
Background	Explored and settled by the Spanish in the 16th century, Panama broke with Spain in 1821 and joined a union of Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador - 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 to expand the Canal. The project, which is to begin in 2007 and could double the Canals capacity, is expected to be completed in 2014-15.
Location - 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: 78,200 sq km land: 75,990 sq km water: 2,210 sq km
Area comparative	slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries	total: 555 km border countries: Colombia 225 km, Costa Rica 330 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 and dissected, upland plains; coastal areas largely plains and 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	arable land: 7.26% permanent crops: 1.95% other: 90.79% (2005)
Irrigated land	430 sq km (2003)
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, 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 - Panama:
Population	3,242,173 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure	0-14 years: 30% (male 496,195/female 476,508) 15-64 years: 63.6% (male 1,044,139/female 1,016,805) 65 years and over: 6.4% (male 97,365/female 111,161) (2007 est.)
Median age	total: 26.4 years male: 26 years female: 26.7 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate	1.564% (2007 est.)
Birth rate	21.45 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate	5.44 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate	-0.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio	at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.041 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.027 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.876 male(s)/female total population: 1.021 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate	total: 15.96 deaths/1,000 live births male: 17.33 deaths/1,000 live births female: 14.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth	total population: 75.19 years male: 72.69 years female: 77.8 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate	2.66 children born/woman (2007 est.)
Hiv aids adult prevalence rate	0.9% (2003 est.)
Hiv aids people living with hiv aids	16,000 (2003 est.)
Hiv aids deaths	less than 500 (2003 est.)
Nationality	noun: Panamanian(s) adjective: Panamanian
Ethnic groups	mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 70%, Amerindian and mixed (West Indian) 14%, white 10%, Amerindian 6%
Religions	Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%
Languages	Spanish (official), English 14%; note - many Panamanians bilingual
Literacy	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 91.9% male: 92.5% female: 91.2% (2000 census)
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 geographic coordinates: 8 58 N, 79 32 W time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions	9 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 territory* (comarca); Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los Santos, Panama, San Blas*(Kuna Yala), and Veraguas
Independence	3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain 28 November 1821)
National holiday	Independence Day, 3 November (1903)
Constitution	11 October 1972; major reforms adopted 1978, 1983, 1994, and 2004
Legal system	based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage	18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch	chief of state: President Martin TORRIJOS Espino (since 1 September 2004); First Vice President Samuel LEWIS Navarro (since 1 September 2004); Second Vice President Ruben AROSEMENA Valdes (since 1 September 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Martin TORRIJOS Espino (since 1 September 2004); First Vice President Samuel LEWIS Navarro (since 1 September 2004); Second Vice President Ruben AROSEMENA Valdes (since 1 September 2004) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms (eligible for two more terms); election last held 2 May 2004 (next to be held on 3 May 2009); note - beginning in 2009, Panama will have only one vice president. election results: Martin TORRIJOS Espino elected president; percent of vote - Martin TORRIJOS Espino 47.5%, Guillermo ENDARA Galimany 30.6%, Jose Miguel ALEMAN 17%, Ricardo MARTINELLI 4.9% note: government coalition - PRD (Democratic Revolutionary Party), PP (Popular Party)
Legislative branch	unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (78 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - in 2009, the number of seats will change to 71 elections: last held 2 May 2004 (next to be held 3 May 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRD 41, PA 17, PS 9, MOLIRENA 4, CD 3, PLN 3, PP 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
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
Political parties and leaders	Democratic Change or CD [Ricardo MARTINELLI]; Democratic Revolutionary Party or PRD [Hugo GUIRAUD]; Liberal Party or PLN [Joaquin F. Franco VASQUEZ]; Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement or MOLIRENA [Gisela CHUNG]; Panamenista Party or PA [Juan Carlos VARELA] (formerly the Arnulfista Party); Patriotic Union Party or PUP [Jose Raul MULINO and Anibal GALINDO]; Popular Party or PP [Rene ORILLAC] (formerly Christian Democratic Party or PDC); 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; 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	CAN (observer), CSN (observer), FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the us	chief of mission: Ambassador Federico HUMBERT Arias chancery: 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-1407 FAX: [1] (202) 483-8416 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 A. EATON embassy: Avenida Balboa and Calle 37, Apartado Postal 0816-02561, Zona 5, Panama City 5 mailing address: American Embassy Panama, Unit 0945, APO AA 34002 telephone: [507] 207-7000 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
Economy - Panama:
Economy overview	Panamas dollarized economy rests primarily on a well-developed services sector that accounts for three-fourths of GDP. Services include operating the Panama Canal, banking, the Colon Free Zone, insurance, container ports, flagship registry, and tourism. A slump in the Colon Free Zone and agricultural exports, the global slowdown, and the withdrawal of US military forces held back economic growth in 2000-03; growth picked up in 2004-06 led by export-oriented services and a construction boom stimulated by tax incentives. The government has implemented tax reforms, as well as social security reforms, and backs regional trade agreements and development of tourism. Unemployment remains high. In October 2006, voters passed a referendum to expand the Panama Canal to accommodate ships that are now too large to transverse the transoceanic crossway. Not a CAFTA signatory, Panama in December 2006 independently negotiated a free trade agreement with the US, which, when implemented, will help promote the countrys economic growth.
Gdp purchasing power parity	$26.04 billion (2006 est.)
Gdp official exchange rate	$16.47 billion (2006 est.)
Gdp real growth rate	8.1% (2006 est.)
Gdp per capita ppp	$8,200 (2006 est.)
Gdp composition by sector	agriculture: 7.2% industry: 16.4% services: 76.4% (2006 est.)
Labor force	1.441 million note: shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor (2006 est.)
Labor force by occupation	agriculture: 20.8% industry: 18% services: 61.2% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate	8.8% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line	37% (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share	lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 35.7% (1997)
Distribution of family income gini index	56.4 (2000)
Inflation rate consumer prices	2.6% (2006 est.)
Investment gross fixed	17.5% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget	revenues: $4.157 billion expenditures: $4.489 billion; including capital expenditures of $471 million (2006 est.)
Public debt	61.3% of GDP (2006 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	3% (2006 est.)
Electricity production	7.545 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity consumption	6.888 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity exports	207 million kWh (2004)
Electricity imports	78 million kWh (2004)
Oil production	0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil consumption	79,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil exports	NA bbl/day
Oil imports	NA bbl/day
Oil proved reserves	0 bbl
Natural gas production	0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas consumption	0 cu m (2004 est.)
Current account balance	-$467 million (2006 est.)
Exports	$8.087 billion f.o.b.; note - includes the Colon Free Zone (2006 est.)
Exports commodities	bananas, shrimp, sugar, coffee, clothing
Exports partners	Spain 26.8%, US 18.9%, Italy 5.7%, Germany 5.4% (2006)
Imports	$9.365 billion f.o.b. (includes the Colon Free Zone) (2006 est.)
Imports commodities	capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, chemicals
Imports partners	Japan 33.2%, China 16%, US 11.2%, Singapore 11.2% (2006)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold	$1.236 billion (2006 est.)
Debt external	$9.993 billion (2006 est.)
Economic aid recipient	$197.1 million (1995)
Currency code	balboa (PAB); US dollar (USD)
Exchange rates	balboas per US dollar - 1 (2006), 1 (2005), 1 (2004), 1 (2003), 1 (2002)
Communications - Panama:
Fiscal year	calendar year
Telephones main lines in use	432,900 (2006)
Telephones mobile cellular	1.694 million (2005)
Telephone system	general assessment: domestic and international facilities well developed domestic: NA international: country code - 507; 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to the Central American Microwave System
Radio broadcast stations	AM 101, FM 134, shortwave 0 (1998)
Television broadcast stations	38 (including repeaters) (1998)
Internet country code	.pa
Internet hosts	7,149 (2006)
Internet users	220,000 (2006)
Transportation - Panama:
Airports	117 (2006)
Airports with paved runways	total: 53 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 28 (2006)
Airports with unpaved runways	total: 64 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 53 (2006)
Railways	total: 355 km standard gauge: 77 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 278 km 0.914-m gauge (2006)
Roadways	total: 11,643 km paved: 4,028 km unpaved: 7,615 km (2000)
Waterways	800 km (includes 82 km Panama Canal) (2007)
Merchant marine	total: 5,473 ships (1000 GRT or over) 146,511,342 GRT/219,940,567 DWT by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 1,776, cargo 992, chemical tanker 476, combination ore/oil 2, container 663, liquefied gas 193, livestock carrier 7, passenger 49, passenger/cargo 77, petroleum tanker 518, refrigerated cargo 299, roll on/roll off 123, specialized tanker 23, vehicle carrier 274 foreign-owned: 4,922 (Anguilla 1, Argentina 9, Australia 3, Bahamas, The 2, Belgium 11, Bermuda 1, Bulgaria 1, Canada 4, Chile 9, China 420, Colombia 5, Croatia 5, Cuba 11, Cyprus 14, Denmark 34, Egypt 16, Estonia 3, France 15, Gabon 1, Germany 35, Greece 524, Hong Kong 169, India 19, Indonesia 50, Iran 4, Ireland 2, Israel 6, Italy 15, Japan 2007, Jordan 13, South Korea 291, Kuwait 2, Latvia 3, Lebanon 2, Lithuania 5, Malaysia 13, Maldives 1, Malta 3, Mexico 5, Monaco 9, Morocco 1, Netherlands 21, Nigeria 7, Norway 66, Pakistan 3, Peru 15, Philippines 13, Poland 15, Portugal 10, Qatar 1, Romania 9, Russia 7, Saudi Arabia 8, Singapore 67, South Africa 3, Spain 53, Sri Lanka 5, Sudan 1, Sweden 5, Switzerland 226, Syria 18, Taiwan 308, Thailand 9, Trinidad and Tobago 1, Turkey 42, UAE 105, UK 37, Ukraine 8, US 94, Venezuela 14, Vietnam 4, Yemen 3) registered in other countries: 1 (Venezuela 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals	Balboa, Colon, Cristobal
Military - Panama:
Military branches	an amendment to the Constitution abolished the armed forces, but there are security forces (Panamanian Public Forces or PPF includes the Panamanian National Police, National Maritime Service, and National Air Service)
Manpower available for military service	males age 18-49: 751,065 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service	males age 18-49: 591,604 (2005 est.)
Military note	on 10 February 1990, the government of then President ENDARA abolished Panamas military and reformed the security apparatus by creating the Panamanian Public Forces; in October 1994, Panamas 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
Manpower reaching military service age annually	males age 18-49: 29,724
Military expenditures percent of gdp	1% (2006)
Disputes international	organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia operate within the remote border region with Panama