Republic of Panama
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Republic of Panama
When most people think of Panama, they think "canal." Though this
wonder of the modern world is one of Panama's major attractions, this
small isthmus has much more to offer.
Panama City, brimming with architectural and historical contrasts, is
Central America's most modern capital, possessing a population of
nearly one million, compared to just over 500,000 in 1990.
Panama is also home to the region's most important redistribution
center, the Colon Free Zone. The country also boasts stunning flora and
fauna, which can be found amidst the 15 national parks, 12 natural
reservations and 10 wildlife refugees, to protect over 954 bird species,
225 mammal species, 214 reptile species and 143 amphibian species,
in addition to more than 10,000 plant species.
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 Canal's capacity,
is expected to be completed in 2014-15.
Geography:
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
Area:
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:
Coastline: 2,490 km
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:
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:
Population: 3,242,173 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure:
Median age:
Population growth rate: 1.564% (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
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:
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:
Government:
Government type: constitutional democracy
Capital:
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
Military:
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)
Republic of Panama
When most people think of Panama, they think "canal." Though this
wonder of the modern world is one of Panama's major attractions, this
small isthmus has much more to offer.
Panama City, brimming with architectural and historical contrasts, is
Central America's most modern capital, possessing a population of
nearly one million, compared to just over 500,000 in 1990.
Panama is also home to the region's most important redistribution
center, the Colon Free Zone. The country also boasts stunning flora and
fauna, which can be found amidst the 15 national parks, 12 natural
reservations and 10 wildlife refugees, to protect over 954 bird species,
225 mammal species, 214 reptile species and 143 amphibian species,
in addition to more than 10,000 plant species.
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 Canal's capacity,
is expected to be completed in 2014-15.
Geography:
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
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
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
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:
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.)
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:
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
Military:
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)
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