Panama

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 562,413 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2020 est.)

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 (2019)

Internet country code

.pa

Internet users

total: 2.992 million (2021 est.) percent of population: 68% (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

general assessment: Panama has seen a steady increase in revenue from the telecom sector in recent years; mobile services and broadband remain the key growth sectors, with mobile connections accounting for 90% of all connections, and over half of telecom sector revenue; the mobile market has effective competition; internet services have grown in recent years as consumers responded to government fixed-line projects, improved mobile broadband connectivity and mobile applications (2021) domestic: fixed-line is 18 per 100 and subscribership of mobile-cellular telephone is 138 per 100 (2021) international: country code - 507; landing points for the PAN-AM, ARCOS, SAC, AURORA, PCCS, PAC, and the MAYA-1 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 (2019)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 811,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 6.891 million (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 156 (2022 est.)

Agricultural products

sugarcane, bananas, rice, oranges, oil palm fruit, plantains, chicken, milk, pineapples, maize (2022) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Average household expenditures

on food: 15.6% of household expenditures (2022 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 1.7% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

Budget

revenues: $7.57 billion (2021 est.) expenditures: $11.553 billion (2021 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Credit ratings

Fitch rating: BBB (2011) Moody's rating: Baa1 (2019) Standard & Poors rating: BBB (2020) note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Current account balance

-$3.739 billion (2023 est.) -$475.146 million (2022 est.) -$778.779 million (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Economic overview

upper middle-income Central American economy; increasing Chinese trade; US dollar user; canal expansion fueling broader infrastructure investment; services sector dominates economy; historic money-laundering and illegal drug hub

Exchange rates

balboas (PAB) per US dollar - 1 (2023 est.) 1 (2022 est.) 1 (2021 est.) 1 (2020 est.) 1 (2019 est.)

Exports

$36.569 billion (2023 est.) $35.731 billion (2022 est.) $27.488 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

copper ore, ships, fish, bananas, refined petroleum (2022) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

China 17%, Japan 12%, South Korea 8%, US 5%, Spain 5% (2022) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP (official exchange rate)

$83.382 billion (2023 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 46.1% (2022 est.) government consumption: 12.8% (2022 est.) investment in fixed capital: 29.5% (2022 est.) investment in inventories: 11.7% (2022 est.) exports of goods and services: 47.9% (2022 est.) imports of goods and services: -48% (2022 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 2.4% (2023 est.) industry: 27.1% (2023 est.) services: 67.9% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

48.9 (2023 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.2% (2023 est.) highest 10%: 36.9% (2023 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports

$36.135 billion (2023 est.) $32.693 billion (2022 est.) $24.459 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

crude petroleum, refined petroleum, ships, garments, packaged medicine (2022) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

China 20%, US 20%, Guyana 11%, Colombia 11%, Ecuador 9% (2022) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

13.06% (2023 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.49% (2023 est.) 2.86% (2022 est.) 1.63% (2021 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

2.096 million (2023 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Population below poverty line

21.5% (2019 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt

37.8% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$159.867 billion (2023 est.) $148.968 billion (2022 est.) $134.436 billion (2021 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP growth rate

7.32% (2023 est.) 10.81% (2022 est.) 15.84% (2021 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per capita

$35,800 (2023 est.) $33,800 (2022 est.) $30,900 (2021 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Remittances

0.64% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.69% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.84% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$6.757 billion (2023 est.) $6.876 billion (2022 est.) $8.832 billion (2021 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Taxes and other revenues

7.46% (of GDP) (2021 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate

6.7% (2023 est.) 8.2% (2022 est.) 10.45% (2021 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 16.6% (2023 est.) male: 13.5% (2023 est.) female: 22% (2023 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Carbon dioxide emissions

25.763 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 1.89 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 23.114 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.) from consumed natural gas: 759,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Coal

consumption: 837,000 metric tons (2022 est.) exports: (2022 est.) less than 1 metric ton imports: 845,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 4.434 million kW (2022 est.) consumption: 11.608 billion kWh (2022 est.) exports: 502 million kWh (2022 est.) imports: 69.81 million kWh (2022 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 1.315 billion kWh (2022 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 95% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 99% electrification - rural areas: 100%

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 21.8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.) solar: 4.9% of total installed capacity (2022 est.) wind: 4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.) hydroelectricity: 69.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.) biomass and waste: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

87.16 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

Natural gas

consumption: 389.611 million cubic meters (2022 est.) imports: 389.611 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption: 146,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

Air pollutants

particulate matter emissions: 11.78 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 10.71 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 5.97 megatons (2020 est.)

Climate

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

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: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Land use

agricultural land: 30.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 7.3% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.5% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 20.7% (2018 est.) forest: 43.6% (2018 est.) other: 25.9% (2018 est.)

Major lakes (area sq km)

salt water lake(s): Laguna de Chiriqui - 900 sq km

Revenue from coal

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

0.08% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

139.3 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 760 million cubic meters (2020 est.) industrial: 10 million cubic meters (2020 est.) agricultural: 450 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 69.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 1,472,262 tons (2015 est.)

Area

total : 75,420 sq km land: 74,340 sq km water: 1,080 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

highest point: Volcan Baru 3,475 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 360 m

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

407 sq km (2020)

Land boundaries

total: 687 km border countries (2): Colombia 339 km; Costa Rica 348 km

Land use

agricultural land: 30.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 7.3% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.5% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 20.7% (2018 est.) forest: 43.6% (2018 est.) other: 25.9% (2018 est.)

Location

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

Major lakes (area sq km)

salt water lake(s): Laguna de Chiriqui - 900 sq km

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or edge of continental margin

Natural hazards

occasional severe storms and forest fires in the Darien area

Natural resources

copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower

Population distribution

population is concentrated towards the center of the country, particularly around the Canal, but a sizeable segment of the populace also lives in the far west around David; the eastern third of the country is sparsely inhabited

Terrain

interior mostly steep, rugged mountains with dissected, upland plains; coastal plains with rolling hills

Administrative divisions

10 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 4 indigenous regions* (comarcas); Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Embera-Wounaan*, Guna Yala*, Herrera, Los Santos, Naso Tjer Di*, Ngabe-Bugle*, Panama, Panama Oeste, Veraguas

Capital

name: Panama City geographic coordinates: 8 58 N, 79 32 W time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: according to tradition, the name derives from a former fishing area near the present capital - an indigenous village and its adjacent beach - that were called "panama" meaning "an abundance of fish"

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Constitution

history: several previous; latest effective 11 October 1972 amendments: proposed by the National Assembly, by the Cabinet, or by the Supreme Court of Justice; passage requires approval by one of two procedures: 1) absolute majority vote of the Assembly membership in each of three readings and by absolute majority vote of the next elected Assembly in a single reading without textual modifications; 2) absolute majority vote of the Assembly membership in each of three readings, followed by absolute majority vote of the next elected Assembly in each of three readings with textual modifications, and approval in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2004

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Panama conventional short form: Panama local long form: Rep blica de Panama local short form: Panama etymology: named after the capital city which was itself named after a former indigenous fishing village

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Mari Carmen APONTE (since 21 November 2022) embassy: Building 783, Demetrio Basilio Lakas Avenue, Clayton mailing address: 9100 Panama City PL, Washington, DC 20521-9100 telephone: [507] 317-5000 FAX: [507] 317-5568 email address and website: Panama-ACS@state.gov https://pa.usembassy.gov/

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Jos Miguel ALEM N HEALY (since 18 September 2024) chancery: 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-1407 FAX: [1] (202) 483-8413 email address and website: info@embassyofpanama.org https://www.embassyofpanama.org/ consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Tampa

Executive branch

chief of state: President Jos Ra l MULINO Quintero (since 1 July 2024) head of government: President Jos Ra l MULINO Quintero (since 1 July 2024) 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 5 May 2024 (next to be held in May 2029) election results: 2024: Jos Ra l MULINO Quintero elected president; percent of vote - Jos Ra l MULINO Quintero (RM) 34.2%, Ricardo Alberto LOMBANA Gonz lez (MOCA) 24.6%, Mart n Erasto TORRIJOS Espino (PP) 16%, Alberto ROUX Moses (CD) 11.4%, Zulay RODR GUEZ Lu (independent) 6.6%, Jos Gabriel CARRIZO Ja n (PRD) 5.9%, other 1.3% 2019: Laurentino "Nito" CORTIZO Cohen elected president; percent of vote - Laurentino CORTIZO Cohen (PRD) 33.3%, Romulo ROUX (CD) 31%, Ricardo LOMBANA (independent) 18.8%, Jose BLANDON (Paname ista Party) 10.8%, Ana Matilde GOMEZ Ruiloba (independent) 4.8%, other 1.3% note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

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

Government type

presidential republic

Independence

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

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ACS, 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, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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

Legal system

civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Justice

Legislative branch

description: unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (71 seats; 45 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies - populous towns and cities - by open list proportional representation vote and 26 directly elected in single-seat constituencies - outlying rural districts - by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms) elections: last held on 5 May 2024 (next to be held in May 2029) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independents 21, PRD 13, RM 13, CD 8, Paname ista 8, MOCA 3, PA 2, PP 2, MOLIRENA 1

National anthem

name: "Himno Istmeno" (Isthmus Hymn) lyrics/music: Jeronimo DE LA OSSA/Santos A. JORGE note: adopted 1925

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 5 (2 cultural, 3 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Caribbean Fortifications (c); Darien National Park (n); Talamanca Range-La Amistad National Park (n); Panam Viejo and Historic District of Panam (c); Coiba National Park (n)

National holiday

Independence Day (Separation Day), 3 November (1903)

National symbol(s)

harpy eagle; national colors: blue, white, red

Political parties

Alliance Party or PA Alternative Independent Socialist Party or PAIS Another Way Movement or MOCA Democratic Change or CD Democratic Revolutionary Party or PRD Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement or MOLIRENA Paname ista Party (formerly the Arnulfista Party) Popular Party or PP (formerly Christian Democratic Party or PDC) Realizing Goals Party or RM

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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 that was named the Republic of Gran Colombia. When the union 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 known as the Panama Canal Zone on either side of the structure. The US Army Corps of Engineers built the Panama Canal 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, Panamanian 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. An ambitious expansion project to more than double the Canal's capacity by allowing for more Canal transits and larger ships was carried out between 2007 and 2016.

Military - note

the Panama National Police is principally responsible for internal law enforcement and public order, while the National Border Service handles border security; the Aeronaval Service is responsible for carrying out air and naval operations that include some internal security responsibilities; key areas of focus are countering narcotics trafficking and securing the border, particularly along the southern border with Colombia (the area is known as the Dari n Gap) where the National Border Service (SENAFRONT) maintains a significant presence Panama created a paramilitary National Guard (Guardia Nacional de Panam ) in the 1950s from the former National Police (established 1904); the National Guard subsequently evolved into more of a military force with some police responsibilities; it seized power in a coup in 1968 and military officers ran the country until 1989; in 1983, the National Guard was renamed the Panama Defense Force (PDF); the PDF was disbanded after the 1989 US invasion and the current national police forces were formed in 1990; the armed forces were officially abolished under the 1994 Constitution (2024)

Military and security forces

no regular military forces; the paramilitary Panamanian Public Forces are under the Ministry of Public Security and include the Panama National Police ( La Polic a Nacional de Panam , PNP), National Aeronaval Service (Servicio Nacional Aeronaval, SENAN), and National Border Service (Servicio Nacional de Fronteras, SENAFRONT) (2024) note: the PNP includes a special forces directorate with counterterrorism and counternarcotics units; SENAFRONT has three regionally based border security brigades, plus a specialized brigade comprised of special forces, counternarcotics, maritime, and rapid reaction units

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 27,000 Ministry of Public Security personnel (2023)

Military expenditures

1.1% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.3% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2020 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2019 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 25% (male 574,336/female 544,180) 15-64 years: 64.8% (male 1,465,907/female 1,433,023) 65 years and over: 10.1% (2024 est.) (male 211,014/female 241,781)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 6.54 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 5.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 1.2 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

17.4 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

3% (2019)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

50.8% (2014/15)

Current health expenditure

9.7% of GDP (2020)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

58.6% (2023 est.)

Death rate

5.7 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

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.

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 53.8 youth dependency ratio: 40.6 elderly dependency ratio: 13.2 potential support ratio: 7.6 (2021 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 88.1% of population total: 96.2% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 11.9% of population total: 3.8% of population (2020 est.)

Education expenditures

3.9% of GDP (2020 est.)

Ethnic groups

Mestizo (mixed Indigenous and White) 65%, Indigenous 12.3% (Ngabe 7.6%, Kuna 2.4%, Embera 0.9%, Bugle 0.8%, other 0.4%, unspecified 0.2%), Black or African descent 9.2%, Mulatto 6.8%, White 6.7% (2010 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.14 (2024 est.)

Hospital bed density

2.3 beds/1,000 population (2016)

Infant mortality rate

total: 14.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.) male: 15.4 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Spanish (official), Indigenous languages (including Ngabere (Guaymi), Buglere, Kuna, Embera, Wounaan, Naso (Teribe), and Bri Bri), Panamanian English Creole (a mixture of English and Spanish with elements of Ngabere, also known as Guari Guari and Colon Creole), English, Chinese (Yue and Hakka), Arabic, French Creole, other (Yiddish, Hebrew, Korean, Japanese) major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de informaci n b sica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 79.2 years (2024 est.) male: 76.4 years female: 82.2 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95.7% male: 98.8% female: 95.4% (2019)

Major urban areas - population

1.977 million PANAMA CITY (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

50 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Median age

total: 31.5 years (2024 est.) male: 31 years female: 31.9 years

Nationality

noun: Panamanian(s) adjective: Panamanian

Net migration rate

3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

22.7% (2016)

Physician density

1.63 physicians/1,000 population (2019)

Population

total: 4,470,241 male: 2,251,257 female: 2,218,984 (2024 est.)

Population distribution

population is concentrated towards the center of the country, particularly around the Canal, but a sizeable segment of the populace also lives in the far west around David; the eastern third of the country is sparsely inhabited

Population growth rate

1.48% (2024 est.)

Religions

Evangelical 55%, Roman Catholic 33.4%, none 10.1%, unspecified 1.5% (2023 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 95.5% of population rural: 69.1% of population total: 87.2% of population unimproved: urban: 4.5% of population rural: 30.9% of population total: 12.8% of population (2020 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 13 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2016)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

total: 5% (2020 est.) male: 7.7% (2020 est.) female: 2.2% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.35 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 69.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Illicit drugs

not a major consumer or producer of illicit drugs; a prime sea and land passage for drugs, primarily cocaine, from South America to North America and Europe; drug traffickers also use millions of shipping containers to smuggle drugs to North America and Europe through the Panama

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 58,158 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum or have received alternative legal stay) (2023)

Airports

76 (2024)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

HP

Heliports

1 (2024)

Merchant marine

total: 8,174 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 2732, container ship 671, general cargo 1,428, oil tanker 866, other 2,477

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 4 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 122 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 12,939,350 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 47.63 million (2018) mt-km

Pipelines

128 km oil (2013)

Ports

total ports: 12 (2024) large: 0 medium: 3 small: 3 very small: 5 size unknown: 1 ports with oil terminals: 5 key ports: Bahia de las Minas, Balboa, Pedregal, Puerto Armuelles, Puerto Colon, Puerto Cristobal

Railways

total: 77 km (2014) standard gauge: 77 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

Waterways

800 km (2011) (includes the 82-km Panama Canal that is being widened)