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Background:
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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 the end of 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 by or on 31 December 1999.
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Location:
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Central
America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North
Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica |
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Geographic coordinates:
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9 00 N,
80 00 W |
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Map references:
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Central
America and the Caribbean |
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Area:
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total:
78,200 sq km
land: 75,990 sq km
water: 2,210 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly
smaller than South Carolina |
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Land boundaries:
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total:
555 km
border countries: Colombia 225 km, Costa Rica 330
km |
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Coastline:
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2,490 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
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Climate:
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tropical
maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season
(May to January), short dry season (January to May) |
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Terrain:
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interior
mostly steep, rugged mountains and dissected, upland
plains; coastal areas largely plains and rolling hills
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Volcan de Chiriqui 3,475 m |
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Natural resources:
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copper,
mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower |
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Land use:
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arable
land: 7.36%
permanent crops: 1.98%
other: 90.66% (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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320 sq km
(1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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occasional severe storms and forest fires in the Darien
area |
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Environment - current issues:
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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 |
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Environment - international agreements:
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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 |
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Geography - note:
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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 |
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Population:
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3,039,150
(July 2005 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14
years: 29.8% (male 460,840/female 443,359)
15-64 years: 63.9% (male 984,558/female 956,748)
65 years and over: 6.4% (male 91,383/female
102,262) (2005 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
26.18 years
male: 25.89 years
female: 26.48 years (2005 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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1.26%
(2005 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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19.96
births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Death rate:
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6.54
deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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-0.86
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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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: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
20.47 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 22.59 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2005
est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 75.25 years
male: 72.68 years
female: 77.93 years (2005 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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2.45
children born/woman (2005 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.9%
(2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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16,000
(2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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less than
500 (2003 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Panamanian(s)
adjective: Panamanian |
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Ethnic groups:
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mestizo
(mixed Amerindian and white) 70%, Amerindian and mixed
(West Indian) 14%, white 10%, Amerindian 6% |
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Religions:
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Roman
Catholic 85%, Protestant 15% |
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Languages:
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Spanish
(official), English 14%; note - many Panamanians
bilingual |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.6%
male: 93.2%
female: 91.9% (2003 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of Panama
conventional short form: Panama
local long form: Republica de Panama
local short form: Panama |
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Government type:
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constitutional democracy |
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Capital:
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Panama
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Administrative divisions:
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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 |
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Independence:
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3
November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from
Spain 28 November 1821) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 3 November (1903) |
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Constitution:
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11
October 1972; major reforms adopted 1978, 1983, 1994,
and 2004 |
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Legal system:
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based on
civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in
the Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations |
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Suffrage:
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18 years
of age; universal and compulsory |
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Executive branch:
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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); 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 2 May 2004 (next to be held 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) |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral National Assembly (formerly called
Legislative 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 40, PA 17, PS 8, MOLIRENA 3, CD 2,
PP 2, PLN 1, other 5
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 |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme
Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (nine
judges appointed for 10-year terms); five superior
courts; three courts of appeal |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Democratic Change or CD [Ricardo MARTINELLI]; Democratic
Revolutionary Party or PRD [Martin TORRIJOS]; National
Liberal Party or PLN [Anibal GALINDO]; Nationalist
Republican Liberal Movement or MOLIRENA [Jesus ROSAS];
Panamenista Party or PA (formerly the Arnulfista Party)
[Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO Rodriguez]; Popular Party or PP
(formerly Christian Democratic Party or PDC) [Ruben
AROSEMENA]; Solidarity Party or PS [Jose Raul MULINO]
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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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 |
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International organization participation:
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FAO,
G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS,
OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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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 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Linda Ellen WATT
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 |
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Flag description:
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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 |
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Economy - overview:
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Panama's
dollarised economy rests primarily on a well-developed
services sector that accounts for four-fifths of GDP.
Services include operating the Panama Canal, banking,
the Colon Free Zone, insurance, container ports,
flagship registry, and tourism. A slump in 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 led by
export-oriented services and a construction boom
stimulated by tax incentives. The government has been
backing tax reforms, reform of the social security
program, new regional trade agreements, and development
of tourism. Unemployment remains high. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$20.57
billion (2004 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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6% (2004
est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $6,900 (2004 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 7.2%
industry: 13%
services: 79.8% (2004 est.) |
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Labor force:
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1.32
million
note: shortage of skilled labor, but an
oversupply of unskilled labor (2004 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 20.8%, industry 18%, services 61.2% (1995
est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
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12.6%
(2004 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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37% (1999
est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest
10%: 1.2%
highest 10%: 35.7% (1997) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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48.5
(1997) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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2% (2004
est.) |
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Investment (gross fixed):
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25% of
GDP (2004 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $3.095 billion
expenditures: $3.737 billion, including capital
expenditures of $471 million (2004 est.) |
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Public debt:
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69.2% of
GDP (2004 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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bananas,
rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane, vegetables; livestock;
shrimp |
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Industries:
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construction, brewing, cement and other construction
materials, sugar milling |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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5.4%
(2004 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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4.873
billion kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil
fuel: 37%
hydro: 61.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 1.7% (2001) |
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Electricity - consumption:
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4.473
billion kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - exports:
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120
million kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - imports:
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61
million kWh (2002) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day
(2004 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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40,520
bbl/day (2003 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA |
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Oil - imports:
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NA |
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Current account balance:
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$-469.6
million (2004 est.) |
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Exports:
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$5.699
billion f.o.b. (includes the Colon Free Zone) (2004
est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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bananas,
shrimp, sugar, coffee, clothing (1999) |
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Exports - partners:
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US 50.5%,
Sweden 6.6%, Spain 5.1%, Netherlands 4.4%, Costa Rica
4.2% (2004) |
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Imports:
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$7.164
billion f.o.b. (includes the Colon Free Zone) (2004
est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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capital
goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, chemicals |
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Imports - partners:
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US 33.3%,
Netherlands Antilles 8.1%, Japan 6%, Costa Rica 5.7%,
Mexico 4.6%, Colombia 4.2% (2004) |
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$1.076
billion (2004 est.) |
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Debt - external:
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$8.78
billion (2004 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$197.1
million (1995) |
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Currency (code):
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balboa
(PAB); US dollar (USD) |
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Currency code:
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PAB; USD
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Exchange rates:
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balboas
per US dollar - 1 (2004), 1 (2003), 1 (2002), 1 (2001),
1 (2000) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar
year |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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386,900
(2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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834,000
(2003) |
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Telephone system:
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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 |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 101,
FM 134, shortwave 0 (1998) |
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Radios:
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815,000
(1997) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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38
(including repeaters) (1998) |
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Televisions:
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510,000
(1997) |
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Internet country code:
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.pa |
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Internet hosts:
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7,129
(2003) |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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6 (2000)
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Internet users:
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120,000
(2002) |
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Railways:
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total:
355 km
standard gauge: 76 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 279 km 0.914-m gauge (2004) |
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Highways:
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total:
11,643 km
paved: 4,028 km (including 30 km of expressways)
unpaved: 7,615 km (2000 est.) |
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Waterways:
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800 km
(includes 82 km Panama Canal) (2004) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Balboa,
Colon, Cristobal |
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Merchant marine:
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total:
5,005 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 122,960,929
GRT/183,615,337 DWT
by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 1,548,
cargo 886, chemical tanker 465, combination ore/oil 13,
container 605, liquefied gas 183, livestock carrier 8,
passenger 42, passenger/cargo 77, petroleum tanker 521,
refrigerated cargo 298, roll on/roll off 97, specialized
tanker 5, vehicle carrier 256
foreign-owned: 4,388 (Andorra 1, Argentina 9,
Australia 3, Bahamas 1, Belgium 14, Brazil 1, Canada 1,
Chile 14, China 310, Colombia 5, Croatia 1, Cuba 9,
Cyprus 7, Denmark 13, Egypt 15, France 7, Germany 23,
Greece 546, Hong Kong 159, India 8, Indonesia 46,
Ireland 1, Isle of Man 2, Israel 3, Italy 8, Japan 1814,
Jordan 9, Latvia 2, Lithuania 5, Malaysia 11, Maldives
1, Malta 1, Mexico 4, Monaco 8, Netherlands 22, New
Zealand 1, Nigeria 6, Norway 66, Pakistan 1, Peru 13,
Philippines 15, Poland 19, Portugal 8, Romania 13,
Russia 4, Saudi Arabia 4, Singapore 54, South Africa 3,
South Korea 292, Spain 41, Sri Lanka 1, Sudan 1, Sweden
4, Switzerland 188, Syria 7, Taiwan 301, Thailand 10,
Trinidad & Tobago 1, Tunisia 1, Turkey 18, Ukraine 9,
UAE 83, United Kingdom 29, United States 88, Venezuela
20, Vietnam 2, Yemen 1) (2005) |
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Airports:
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105 (2004
est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total:
44
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 22 (2004 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total:
61
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 49 (2004 est.) |
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Military branches:
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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)
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Manpower available for military service:
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males
age 18-49: 733,031 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males
age 18-49: 511,905 (2005 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$147
million (2004) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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1.1%
(2004) |
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Military - note:
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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" |
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Disputes - international:
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organized
illegal narcotics operations in Colombia operate within
the border region with Panama |
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Illicit drugs:
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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 |
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This page was last updated on
20 October, 2005 |
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