Panama

Radio broadcast stations

AM 91, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios

564,000 (1992 est.)

Telephone system

domestic and international facilities well developed domestic: NA international: 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to the Central American Microwave System

Telephones

273,000 (1991 est.)

Television broadcast stations

23

Televisions

420,000 (1992 est.)

Agriculture - products

bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane, vegetables; livestock; fishing (shrimp)

Budget

revenues : $1.86 billion expenditures: $1.86 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995)

Currency

1 balboa (B) = 100 centesimos

Debt - external

$5.6 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $58 million (1993)

Economy - overview

Because of its key geographic location, Panama's economy is service-based, heavily weighted toward banking, commerce, and tourism. Panama's former protectionist policies have taken their toll, and the economy has been sluggish the last two years, with GDP growth at 1.9% in 1995 and 1.5% in 1996. Although tourism and the Panama Canal posted growth in 1996, most sectors remained stagnant, and some, like the Colon Free Zone, banana and shrimp exports, and construction, were down from 1995. Although the PEREZ BALLADARES administration has advanced an economic reform program designed to liberalize the trade regime, attract foreign investment, privatize state-owned enterprises, institute fiscal reform, and encourage job-creation through labor code reform, the positive effects of this program have not yet been felt at the macroeconomic level. In 1996, the government concluded a Brady-type plan to restructure the country's commercial debt - one of the highest in the world in per capita terms - allowing it to reenter international financial markets. Panama also completed all requirements to join the World Trade Organization (WTrO) and is awaiting legislative ratification to become a full member.

Electricity - capacity

1.1405 billion kW (1995)

Electricity - consumption per capita

1,069 kWh (1995 est.)

Electricity - production

3.519 billion kWh (1995)

Exchange rates

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

Exports

total value: $570 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: bananas 43%, shrimp 11%, sugar 4%, clothing 5%, coffee 2% partners: US 39%, EU, Central America and Caribbean

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $14 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 10% industry : 16% services: 74% (1995 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $5,300 (1996 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.5% (1996 est.)

Imports

total value: $2.512 billion (c.i.f., 1996 est.) commodities: capital goods 21%, crude oil 11%, foodstuffs 9%, consumer goods, chemicals partners: US 40%, EU, Central America and Caribbean, Japan

Industrial production growth rate

0.4% (1995 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate - consumer price index

1.3% (1996 est.)

Labor force

total : 1.015 million (1996 est.) by occupation: government and community services 31.8%, agriculture, hunting, and fishing 26.8%, commerce, restaurants, and hotels 16.4%, manufacturing and mining 9.4%, construction 3.2%, transportation and communications 6.2%, finance, insurance, and real estate 4.3% note: shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor

Unemployment rate

14% (1996 est.)

Area

total: 78,200 sq km land: 75,990 sq km water: 2,210 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than South Carolina

Climate

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

Coastline

2,490 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Volcan de Chiriqui 3,475 m

Environment - current issues

water pollution from agricultural runoff threatens fishery resources; deforestation of tropical rain forest; land degradation

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geographic coordinates

9 00 N, 80 00 W

Geography - note

strategic location on eastern end of isthmus forming land bridge connecting North and South America; controls Panama Canal that links North Atlantic Ocean via Caribbean Sea with North Pacific Ocean

Irrigated land

320 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 555 km border countries: Colombia 225 km, Costa Rica 330 km

Land use

arable land: 7% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 20% forests and woodland : 44% other: 27% (1993 est.)

Location

Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 200 nm

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

copper, mahogany forests, shrimp

Terrain

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

Administrative divisions

9 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 territory* (comarca); Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los Santos, Panama, San Blas*, Veraguas

Constitution

11 October 1972; major reforms adopted April 1983

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Panama conventional short form: Panama local long form: Republica de Panama local short form: Panama

Data code

PM

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador William John HUGHES embassy: Avenida Balboa and Calle 38, Apartado 6959, Panama City 5 mailing address : American Embassy Panama, Unit 0945, APO AA 34002 telephone: [507] 227-1377

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Eduardo Gonzalez MORGAN chancery: 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-1407 consulate(s) general : Atlanta, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Tampa

Executive branch

chief of state : President Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES Gonzalez Revilla (since 1 September 1994); First Vice President Tomas Gabriel ALTAMIRANO DUQUE (since 1 September 1994); Second Vice President Felipe Alejandro VIRZI Lopez (since 1 September 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government : President Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES Gonzalez Revilla (since 1 September 1994); First Vice President Tomas Gabriel ALTAMIRANO DUQUE (since 1 September 1994); Second Vice President Felipe Alejandro VIRZI Lopez (since 1 September 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 8 May 1994 (next to be held 9 May 1999) election results: Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES elected president; percent of vote - Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES (PRD) 33%, Mireya MOSCOSO DE GRUBER (PA) 29%, Ruben BLADES (MPE) 17%, Ruben Dario CARLES (MOLIRENA) 16%

FAX

[507] 227-1964

Flag description

divided into four, equal rectangles; the top quadrants are white (hoist side) with a blue five-pointed star in the center and plain red, the bottom quadrants are plain blue (hoist side) and white with a red five-pointed star in the center

Government type

constitutional republic

Independence

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

International organization participation

AG (associate), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Justice (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) elections : last held 8 May 1994 (next to be held 9 May 1999) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRD 32, PS 4, PALA 1, PA 14, MPE 6, MOLIRENA 4, PLA 3, PRC 3, PL 2, PDC 1, UDI 1, MORENA 1 note: legislators from outlying rural districts are chosen on a plurality basis while districts located in more populous towns and cities elect multiple legislators by means of a proportion-based formula

National capital

Panama

National holiday

Independence Day, 3 November (1903)

Political parties and leaders

governing coalition : Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), Gerardo GONZALEZ; Liberal Republican Party (PLR), Rodolfo CHIARI; Labor Party (PALA), Carlos Lopez GUEVARA other parties: Solidarity Party (PS), Samuel LEWIS GALINDO; Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement (MOLIRENA), Ramon MORALES Quijano; Authentic Liberal Party (PLA), Arnulfo ESCALONA; Arnulfista Party (PA), Mireya MOSCOSO DE GRUBER; Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Ruben AROSEMENA; Liberal Party (PL), Roberto ALEMAN Zubieta; Papa Egoro Movement (MPE), Gloria YOUNG; Civic Renewal Party (PRC), Tomas HERRERA; National Unity Mission Party (MUN), Jose Manuel PAREDES; Independent Democratic Union (UDI), Jacinto CARDENAS; National Renovation Movement (MORENA), Pedro VALLERINO

Political pressure groups and leaders

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Military branches

Panamanian Public Forces (PPF; includes the National Police, National Maritime Service, National Air Service, and Institutional Protective Service); Judicial Technical Police; note - the Constitution prohibits armed forces

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$78 million (1995); note - for police and security forces

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

NA%

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 719,467 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males: 493,819 (1997 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 32% (male 444,673; female 426,823) 15-64 years: 62% (male 846,707; female 824,690) 65 years and over : 6% (male 72,472; female 78,052) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate

22.27 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate

5.15 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Infant mortality rate

24.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages

Spanish (official), English 14% note: many Panamanians bilingual

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 74.28 years male: 71.55 years female : 77.1 years (1997 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 90.8% male: 91.4% female : 90.2% (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun: Panamanian(s) adjective: Panamanian

Net migration rate

-1.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population

2,693,417 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate

1.58% (1997 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: 0.93 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.6 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

major cocaine transshipment point and major drug money-laundering center; minor producer of coca leaf; active eradication program PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Airports

97 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 80 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m : 59 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 17 (1996 est.)

Highways

total: 10,792 km paved : 3,615 km unpaved: 7,177 km (1995 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 4,062 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 80,120,443 GRT/122,668,194 DWT ships by type: bulk 1,051, cargo 1,049, chemical tanker 172, combination bulk 65, combination ore/oil 21, container 353, liquefied gas tanker 169, livestock carrier 8, multifunction large-load carrier 4, oil tanker 529, passenger 35, passenger-cargo 10, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 293, roll-on/roll-off cargo 90, short-sea passenger 38, specialized tanker 12, vehicle carrier 162 note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 76 countries among which are Japan 1,240, Greece 361, Hong Kong 301, South Korea 226, Taiwan 212, China 168, Singapore 132, US 127, Switzerland 76, and UK 65 (1996 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 130 km

Ports and harbors

Balboa, Cristobal, Coco Solo, Vacamonte

Railways

total : 355 km broad gauge: 76 km 1.524-m gauge narrow gauge: 279 km 0.914-m gauge

Waterways

800 km navigable by shallow draft vessels; 82 km Panama Canal