Panama

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.

9 00 N, 80 00 W

occasional severe storms and forest fires in the Darien area

slightly smaller than South Carolina

water pollution from agricultural runoff; deforestation of tropical rainforest; land degradation and soil erosion in Panama Canal; air pollution in urban areas; effects of mining 

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

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

2,490 km

Total: 687 km

Border countries (2): Colombia 339 km; Costa Rica 348 km

Agricultural land: 29.5% (2023 est.)

Arable land: 7.6% (2023 est.)

Permanent crops: 1.6% (2023 est.)

Permanent pasture: 20.3% (2023 est.)

Forest: 62.3% (2023 est.)

Other: 8.2% (2023 est.)

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Contiguous zone: 24 nm

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or edge of continental margin

copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower

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

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

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

Central America and the Caribbean

394 sq km (2022)

139.304 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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

Highest point: Volcan Baru 3,475 m

Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

Mean elevation: 360 m

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

Total : 75,420 sq km

Land: 74,340 sq km

Water: 1,080 sq km

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)

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.)

Total population: 96.3% (2024 est.)

Male: 97.3% (2024 est.)

Female: 95.9% (2024 est.)

Noun: Panamanian(s)

Adjective: Panamanian

Total: 13 years (2016 est.)

Male: 12 years (2016 est.)

Female: 14 years (2016 est.)

Urban population: 69.5% of total population (2023)

Rate of urbanization: 1.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Improved:

Urban: 98.5% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 86.1% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 94.7% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved:

Urban: 1.5% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 13.9% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 5.3% of population (2022 est.)

1.977 million PANAMA CITY (capital) (2023)

1.63 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

1.9 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Total dependency ratio: 54.2 (2024 est.)

Youth dependency ratio: 38.6 (2024 est.)

Elderly dependency ratio: 15.6 (2024 est.)

Potential support ratio: 6.4 (2024 est.)

Improved:

Urban: 96.1% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 70.1% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 88% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved:

Urban: 3.9% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 29.9% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 12% of population (2022 est.)

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.)

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

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 información básica. (Spanish)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

9.7% of GDP (2021)

22.2% of national budget (2022 est.)

1.14 (2024 est.)

53.2% (2023 est.)

Total: 16.8% (2024 est.)

Male: 13.4% (2024 est.)

Female: 22.1% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

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

Total: 31.5 years (2024 est.)

Male: 31 years

Female: 31.9 years

37 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

2.35 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Total: 4,470,241 (2024 est.)

Male: 2,251,257

Female: 2,218,984

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

Total: 4.5% (2025 est.)

Male: 7.4% (2025 est.)

Female: 1.7% (2025 est.)

22.7% (2016)

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

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

2.9% (2019 est.)

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.)

Total population: 79.2 years (2024 est.)

Male: 76.4 years

Female: 82.2 years

2.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

16.3% national budget (2024 est.)

1.48% (2024 est.)

Municipal: 759.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Industrial: 6.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Agricultural: 446.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.472 million tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 14.2% (2022 est.)

11.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

23.458 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From coal and metallurgical coke: 1.969 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids: 20.389 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From consumed natural gas: 1.101 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

78.01 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Chief of mission: Ambassador Kevin Marino CABRERA (since 5 May 2025)

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/

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

Name: Panama City

Geographic coordinates: 8 58 N, 79 32 W

Time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Etymology: Origin is unclear; may come from a Guaraní word meaning "place of many fish"

History: Several previous; latest effective 11 October 1972

Amendment process: 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

Chief of state: President José Raúl MULINO Quintero (since 1 July 2024)

Head of government: President José Raúl MULINO Quintero (since 1 July 2024)

Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president

Election/appointment process: 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)

Most recent election date: 5 May 2024

Election results:
2024: José Raúl MULINO Quintero elected president; percent of vote - José Raúl MULINO Quintero (RM) 34.2%, Ricardo Alberto LOMBANA González (MOCA) 24.6%, Martín Erasto TORRIJOS Espino (PP) 16%, Alberto ROUX Moses (CD) 11.4%, Zulay RODRÍGUEZ Lu (independent) 6.6%, José Gabriel CARRIZO Jaén (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 (Panameñista Party) 10.8%, Ana Matilde GOMEZ Ruiloba (independent) 4.8%, other 1.3%

Expected date of next election: May 2029

Note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

Description: Divided into four equal rectangles; one of the top quadrants is white (left side) with a five-pointed blue star in the center, and the other is plain red; one of the bottom quadrants is plain blue (left side), and the other is white with a five-pointed red star in the center

Meaning: Blue and red stand for the main political parties, and white for peace between them; the blue star stands for the civic virtues of purity and honesty, and the red star for authority and law

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

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

civil law system; Supreme Court of Justice reviews legislative acts

Legislature name: National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional)

Legislative structure: Unicameral

Number of seats: 71 (all directly elected)

Electoral system: Mixed system

Scope of elections: Full renewal

Term in office: 5 years

Most recent election date: 5/5/2024

Parties elected and seats per party: Realizing Goals (RM) (14); Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) (13); Democratic Change (CD) (8); Panamenista Party (8); Independents (20); Other (8)

Percentage of women in chamber: 21.7%

Expected date of next election: May 2029

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

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

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
Panameñista Party (formerly the Arnulfista Party)
Popular Party or PP (formerly Christian Democratic Party or PDC)
Realizing Goals Party or RM

18 years of age; universal

presidential republic

Conventional long form: Republic of Panama

Conventional short form: Panama

Local long form: República de Panama

Local short form: Panama

Etymology: Origin is unclear; may come from a Guarani word meaning "place of many fish"

Chief of mission: Ambassador José Miguel ALEMÁN 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

Title: "Himno Istmeno" (Isthmus Hymn)

Lyrics/music: Jeronimo DE LA OSSA/Santos A. JORGE

History: Adopted 1925

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

harpy eagle

Citizenship by birth: Yes

Citizenship by descent only: Yes

Dual citizenship recognized: No

Residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Total World Heritage Sites: 6 (3 cultural, 3 natural)

Selected World Heritage Site locales: Caribbean Fortifications (c); Darien National Park (n); Talamanca Range-La Amistad National Park (n); Panamá Viejo and Historic District of Panamá (c); Coiba National Park (n); The Colonial Transisthmian Route of Panamá (c)

blue, white, red

21.8% (2021 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Lowest 10%: 1.2% (2023 est.)

Highest 10%: 36.9% (2023 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

copper ore, ships, refined petroleum, bananas, fish (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

China 25%, Japan 10%, USA 6%, Thailand 5%, Costa Rica 5% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

sugarcane, rice, bananas, oranges, oil palm fruit, chicken, plantains, maize, milk, pineapples (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Revenues: $7.57 billion (2021 est.)

Expenditures: $12.046 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

crude petroleum, ships, refined petroleum, nitrogen compounds, cars (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

balboas (PAB) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
1 (2024 est.)
1 (2023 est.)
1 (2022 est.)
1 (2021 est.)
1 (2020 est.)

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

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

$86.26 billion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Household consumption: 46.7% (2023 est.)

Government consumption: 12.2% (2023 est.)

Investment in fixed capital: 32.3% (2023 est.)

Investment in inventories: 5.4% (2023 est.)

Exports of goods and services: 46.5% (2023 est.)

Imports of goods and services: -43.1% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

USA 15%, Colombia 13%, China 13%, Ecuador 13%, Japan 11% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

On food: 15.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

On alcohol and tobacco: 1.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

0.6% of GDP (2024 est.)
0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

2.206 million (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

$6.856 billion (2024 est.)
$6.757 billion (2023 est.)
$6.876 billion (2022 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

6.6% (2024 est.)
6.6% (2023 est.)
8.1% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

7.5% (of GDP) (2021 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

$164.484 billion (2024 est.)
$159.908 billion (2023 est.)
$148.891 billion (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

0.7% (2024 est.)
1.5% (2023 est.)
2.9% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

$1.672 billion (2024 est.)
-$2.581 billion (2023 est.)
$28.769 million (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$36,400 (2024 est.)
$35,900 (2023 est.)
$33,800 (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

$30.887 billion (2024 est.)
$35.927 billion (2023 est.)
$32.646 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

$37.376 billion (2024 est.)
$37.905 billion (2023 est.)
$35.717 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

2.9% (2024 est.)
7.4% (2023 est.)
10.8% (2022 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

-2.6% (2024 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Agriculture: 2.6% (2024 est.)

Industry: 26.3% (2024 est.)

Services: 68.8% (2024 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Electrification - total population: 95% (2022 est.)

Electrification - urban areas: 99%

Electrification - rural areas: 100%

Consumption: 863,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Imports: 863,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Fossil fuels: 38.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Solar: 6.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Wind: 6.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Hydroelectricity: 47.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Biomass and waste: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Consumption: 564.786 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Imports: 564.786 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption: 131,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity: 4.485 million kW (2023 est.)

Consumption: 11.777 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Exports: 404.9 million kWh (2023 est.)

Imports: 234 million kWh (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses: 924.16 million kWh (2023 est.)

Percent of population: 78% (2023 est.)

.pa

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)

Total subscriptions: 6.98 million (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 156 (2022 est.)

Total: 809,000 (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2023 est.)

Total subscriptions: 811,000 (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2023 est.)

Total: 77 km (2014)

Standard gauge: 77 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

HP

77 (2025)

Total: 8,174 (2023)

By type: Bulk carrier 2732, container ship 671, general cargo 1,428, oil tanker 866, other 2,477

1 (2025)

the Panamanian Public Forces focus on law enforcement, border control, and maritime security; the National Police are responsible for internal law enforcement and public order, while the National Border Service (SENAFRONT) 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 frontier with Colombia where SENAFRONT maintains a significant presence

Panama created a paramilitary National Guard (Guardia Nacional de Panamá) 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 (2025)

1.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
1.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

approximately 30,000 Ministry of Public Security personnel (2025)

no regular military forces

Ministry of Public Security: National Police (Policía Nacional, PN), National Aeronaval Service (Servicio Nacional Aeronaval, SENAN), National Border Service (Servicio Nacional de Fronteras, SENAFRONT) (2025)

Note 1: collectively, the security forces are known as the Panamanian Public Forces

Note 2: The PNP includes a special forces directorate with counterterrorism and counternarcotics units; SENAFRONT has four regionally based border security brigades, plus a specialized brigade comprised of special forces, counternarcotics, maritime, and rapid reaction units

USG identification:
Major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country (2025)

Refugees: 10,801 (2024 est.)

Stateless persons: 928 (2024 est.)

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

Terrorist group(s): Tren de Aragua (TdA)

Note: Details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

48.9 (2023 est.)

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