Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
18 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
809,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: 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)
Communications: Internet country code
.pa
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
72.77% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
18 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
811,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
157 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
6.98 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
sugarcane, rice, bananas, oranges, oil palm fruit, chicken, plantains, maize, milk, pineapples (2023)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on alcohol and tobacco
1.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on food
15.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$12.046 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$7.57 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$4.084 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$6.677 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$4.848 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$4.508 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$3.745 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$5.307 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$3.590 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
$122.9 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$818.2 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
$28.769 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$2.581 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
$1.672 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
1.0000 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
balboas (PAB) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
1.0000 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
1.0000 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
1.0000 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
1.0000 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
1.0000 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
1.0000 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
1.0000 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
1.0000 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
1.0000 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
1.0000 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
1.0000 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
1.0000 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
copper ore, ships, refined petroleum, bananas, fish (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$27.746 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$28.228 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$26.426 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$24.945 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$26.677 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$28.507 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$28.061 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$20.695 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$28.041 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$35.717 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$37.905 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$37.376 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
46.5% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
12.2% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
46.7% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-43.1% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
32.3% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
5.4% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
2.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
26.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
68.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$41,369 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$86.26 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$186.807 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015
50.8 (2015 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016
50.4 (2016 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017
49.9 (2017 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018
49.2 (2018 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019
49.8 (2019 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021
50.9 (2021 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023
48.9 (2023 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2024
49.7 (2024 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
36.9% (2023 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
1.2% (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
crude petroleum, ships, refined petroleum, nitrogen compounds, cars (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$22.801 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$27.434 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$25.491 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$27.388 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$29.474 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$28.061 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$18.505 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$25.966 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$32.646 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$35.927 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$30.887 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
-2.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
0.14% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
0.74% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
0.88% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
0.76% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
-0.36% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
-1.55% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
1.63% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
2.86% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
1.49% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
0.69% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
2.206 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
21.70% (2023 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
37.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$94.874 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$107.892 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$121.987 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$137.443 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$140.760 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$115.991 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$134.415 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$148.891 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$159.908 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$164.484 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
5.27% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
4.57% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
5.74% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
3.92% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
3.10% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-17.82% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
16.47% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
11.04% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
7.17% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
2.75% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$24,376 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$27,245 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$30,277 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$33,533 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$33,240 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$27,017 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$30,933 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$36,333 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$39,813 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$461.4 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$756.4 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$554.2 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$386.5 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
$566.7 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
0.6% of GDP (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$3.378 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$3.847 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$2.703 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$2.121 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$3.423 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$9.614 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$8.832 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$6.876 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$6.757 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$6.856 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
7.5% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
6.26% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
14.66% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
10.18% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
8.09% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
6.54% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
8.45% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
22.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
13.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
16.8% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
863,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
863,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
100%
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
95% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
99%
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
38.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
47.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
6.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: wind
6.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
11.777 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: exports
404.9 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
234 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
4.485 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
924.16 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
78.01 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: consumption
564.786 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: imports
564.786 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
131,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
1.969 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from consumed natural gas
1.101 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
20.389 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
23.458 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry season (January to May)
Environment: Environmental issues
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
Environment: International environmental 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
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
Marine Life Conservation
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
29.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 7.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 1.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 20.3% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
62.3% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
8.2% (2023 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
11.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
139.304 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
446.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
6.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
759.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
1.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
66.00% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
1.472 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
14.2% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly smaller than South Carolina
Geography: Area: land
74,340 sq km
Geography: Area: water
1,080 sq km
Geography: Coastline
2,490 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Volcan Baru 3,475 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Pacific Ocean 0 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
360 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
9 00 N, 80 00 W
Geography: Geography - note
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
Geography: Irrigated land
394 sq km (2022)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Colombia 339 km; Costa Rica 348 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
687 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
29.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 7.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 1.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 20.3% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
62.3% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
8.2% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major lakes (area sq km): salt water lake(s)
Laguna de Chiriqui - 900 sq km
Geography: Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Geography: Maritime claims: contiguous zone
24 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
200 nm or edge of continental margin
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
occasional severe storms and forest fires in the Darien area
Geography: 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
Geography: Terrain
interior mostly steep, rugged mountains with dissected, upland plains; coastal plains with rolling hills
Government: Administrative divisions
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
Government: Capital: etymology
origin is unclear; may come from a Guaraní word meaning "place of many fish"
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
8 58 N, 79 32 W
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
yes
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
yes
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
no
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Government: Constitution: 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
Government: Constitution: history
several previous; latest effective 11 October 1972
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Panama
Government: Country name: etymology
origin is unclear; may come from a Guarani word meaning "place of many fish"
Government: Country name: local long form
República de Panama
Government: Country name: local short form
Panama
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Kevin Marino CABRERA (since 5 May 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
Panama-ACS@state.gov https://pa.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
Building 783, Demetrio Basilio Lakas Avenue, Clayton
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[507] 317-5568
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
9100 Panama City PL, Washington, DC 20521-9100
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[507] 317-5000
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador José Miguel ALEMÁN HEALY (since 18 September 2024)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s) general
Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Tampa
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
info@embassyofpanama.org https://www.embassyofpanama.org/
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 483-8413
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 483-1407
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the president
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President José Raúl MULINO Quintero (since 1 July 2024)
Government: Executive branch: 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%
Government: Executive branch: 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)
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
May 2029
Government: Executive branch: head of government
President José Raúl MULINO Quintero (since 1 July 2024)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
5 May 2024
Government: Flag
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
Government: International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: 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
Government: 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)
Government: Judicial branch: judge selection and term of office
magistrates appointed by the president for staggered 10-year terms
Government: Judicial branch: 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
Government: Legal system
civil law system; Supreme Court of Justice reviews legislative acts
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
mixed system
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
May 2029
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional)
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
5/5/2024
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
71 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch: 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)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
21.7%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
5 years
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1925
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Jeronimo DE LA OSSA/Santos A. JORGE
Government: National color(s)
blue, white, red
Government: National heritage: 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)
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
6 (3 cultural, 3 natural)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day (Separation Day), 3 November (1903)
Government: National symbol(s)
harpy eagle
Government: 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 Panameñista Party (formerly the Arnulfista Party) Popular Party or PP (formerly Christian Democratic Party or PDC) Realizing Goals Party or RM
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: 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 and Security: Military - note
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)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
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)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 30,000 Ministry of Public Security personnel (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
1.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
1.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
1.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
1.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
25% (male 574,336/female 544,180)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
64.8% (male 1,465,907/female 1,433,023)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
10.1% (2024 est.) (male 211,014/female 241,781)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
5.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
1.2 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
6.54 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
17.11 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
2.9% (2019 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
8.33% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
53.2% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
5.48 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
16 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
6.3 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
54.4 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
38.4 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 86.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 94.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 98.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 13.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 5.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 1.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
2.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
16.3% national budget (2024 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
2.47% (2023 est.)
People and Society: 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.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
1.13 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
9.7% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
22.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
1.10% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
1.9 beds/1,000 population (2023 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
12.9 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
15.4 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
12.0 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Languages: 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)
People and Society: Languages: 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.
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
82.7 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
76.9 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
95.9% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
97.3% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
96.23% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
1.977 million PANAMA CITY (capital) (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
37 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
31.9 years
People and Society: Median age: male
31 years
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Panamanian
People and Society: Net migration rate
2.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
22.7% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
1.63 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
People and Society: Population
4,515,577 (2024 est.)
People and Society: 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
People and Society: Population growth rate
1.27% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
2,251,903
People and Society: Population: male
2,284,105
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 70.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 88% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 96.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 29.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 12% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 3.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
14 years (2016 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
12 years (2016 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
13 years (2016 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.06 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
1.02 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.87 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.06 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
1.7% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
7.4% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
4.5% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
2.11 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
1.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
66.00% (2024 est.)
Terrorism: Terrorist group(s)
Tren de Aragua (TdA)
Transnational Issues: Illicit drugs: USG identification
major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country (2025)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
10,801 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons
928 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
77 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
HP
Transportation: Heliports
1 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
bulk carrier 2732, container ship 671, general cargo 1,428, oil tanker 866, other 2,477
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
8,174 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Bahia de las Minas, Balboa, Pedregal, Puerto Armuelles, Puerto Colon, Puerto Cristobal
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
3
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
5
Transportation: Ports: size unknown
1
Transportation: Ports: small
3
Transportation: Ports: total ports
12 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
5
Transportation: Railways: standard gauge
77 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: total
77 km (2014)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.