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PANAMA

Geography

Location: Middle 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 area: 78,200 sq km

land area: 75,990 sq km

comparative area: 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: 200 nm

International disputes: none

Climate: tropical; 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

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point: Volcan de Chiriqui 3,475 m

Natural resources: copper, mahogany forests, shrimp

Land use:

arable land: 6%

permanent crops: 2%

meadows and pastures: 15%

forest and woodland: 54%

other: 23%

Irrigated land: 320 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:

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

natural hazards: NA

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

Geographic 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

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People

Population: 2,655,094 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 33% (male 445,382; female 426,111)

15-64 years: 62% (male 828,384; female 806,205)

65 years and over: 5% (male 71,823; female 77,189) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.64% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 23.2 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 5.42 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

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

all ages: 1.03 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 29.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.92 years

male: 71.19 years

female: 76.75 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.71 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Panamanian(s)

adjective: Panamanian

Ethnic divisions: mestizo (mixed Indian and European ancestry) 70%, West Indian 14%, white 10%, Indian 6%

Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%

Languages: Spanish (official), English 14%

note: many Panamanians bilingual

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)

total population: 90.8%

male: 91.4%

female: 90.2%

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Government

Name of country:

conventional long form: Republic of Panama

conventional short form: Panama

local long form: Republica de Panama

local short form: Panama

Data code: PM

Type of government: constitutional republic

Capital: Panama

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

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 April 1983

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 and 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) were elected for five-year terms by popular vote; election last held 8 May 1994 (next to be held 9 May 1999); results - Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES (PRD) 33%, Mireya MOSCOSO DE GRUBER (PA) 29%, Ruben BLADES (MPE) 17%, Ruben Dario CARLES (MOLIRENA) 16%

cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral

Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa): 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; elections last held 8 May 1994 (next to be held 9 May 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (72 total) PRD 32, PS 4, PALA 1, PA 14, MPE 6, MOLIRENA 4, PLA 3, PRC 3, PL 2, PDC 1, UDI 1, MORENA 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia), nine judges appointed for 10-year terms; five superior courts; three courts of appeal

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), Delia CARDENAS; 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

Other political or pressure groups: 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)

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

Diplomatic representation in US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Ricardo Alberto ARIAS

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

US diplomatic representation:

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

FAX: [507] 227-1964

Flag: 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

Economic overview: Because of its key geographic location, Panama's economy is service-based, heavily weighted toward banking, commerce, and tourism. The manufacturing and agriculture sectors have become inefficient under protectionist policies. After fast growth during the early 1990s, the economy has slowed down in the last two years, with GDP growth at 2.8% in 1994 and in 1995. The slowdown has been due mostly to a reduction in construction activities and stagnation in the Colon Free Zone and financial services, the three fastest growing sectors early in the decade. To counter the slowdown, the PEREZ BALLADARES administration has launched an economic reform program designed to reverse unemployment, attract foreign investment, cut back the size of government, and modernize the economy. In 1995, Panama reached an agreement in principle to reschedule its commercial debt - one of the highest in the world in per capita terms - which will allow the country to reenter international financial markets. Panama should complete all requirements to join the World Trade Organization (WTrO) in 1996.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $13.6 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 2.8% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $5,100 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:

agriculture: 10%

industry: 16%

services: 74% (1995 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.1% (1995)

Labor force: 979,000 (1994 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: 13.8% (1995)

Budget:

revenues: $1.86 billion

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

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

Industrial production growth rate: 0.4% (1995 est.)

Electricity:

capacity: 960,000 kW

production: 2.8 billion kWh

consumption per capita: 1,047 kWh (1993)

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

Illicit drugs: major cocaine transshipment point and major drug money laundering center; minor producer of coca leaf; active eradication program

Exports: $548 million (f.o.b., 1995)

commodities: bananas 43%, shrimp 11%, sugar 4%, clothing 5%, coffee 2%

partners: US 39%, EU, Central America and Caribbean

Imports: $2.45 billion (c.i.f., 1995)

commodities: capital goods 21%, crude oil 11%, foodstuffs 9%, consumer goods, chemicals

partners: US 40%, EU, Central America and Caribbean, Japan

External debt: $6.7 billion (yearend 1993 est.)

Economic aid:

recipient: ODA, $58 million (1993)

Currency: 1 balboa (B) = 100 centesimos

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

Fiscal year: calendar year

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Transportation

Railways:

total: 355 km

broad gauge: 76 km 1.524-m gauge

narrow gauge: 279 km 0.914-m gauge

Highways:

total: 10,103 km

paved: 3,233 km

unpaved: 6,870 km (1992 est.)

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

Pipelines: crude oil 130 km

Ports: Balboa, Cristobal, Coco Solo North, Vacamonte

Merchant marine:

total: 3,758 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 69,960,500 GRT/107,632,713 DWT

ships by type: bulk 902, cargo 1,050, chemical tanker 168, combination bulk 40, combination ore/oil 19, container 307, liquefied gas tanker 155, livestock carrier 7, multifunction large-load carrier 3, oil tanker 488, passenger 31, passenger-cargo 5, refrigerated cargo 295, roll-on/roll-off cargo 93, short-sea passenger 34, specialized tanker 11, vehicle carrier 150

note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 83 countries among which are Japan 1,212, Greece 360, Hong Kong 263, Taiwan 203, South Korea 198, US 160, China 152, Singapore 118, UK 79, Switzerland 67, and Norway 58 (1995 est.)

Airports:

total: 99

with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1

with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5

with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 14

with paved runways under 914 m: 60

with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 18 (1995 est.)

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Communications

Telephones: 273,000 (1991 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

Radio broadcast stations: AM 91, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios: 564,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 23

Televisions: 420,000 (1992 est.)

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Defense

Branches: Panamanian Public Forces (PPF; includes the National Police, National Maritime Service, National Air Service, and Institutional Protective Service); Judicial Technical Police

Manpower availability:

males age 15-49: 705,427

males fit for military service: 484,571 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $78 million, NA% of GDP (1995); note - for police and security forces

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