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Panama
Panama
Population
4.5M
Rank #128Source: World Bank
Capital
Panama City
Source: REST Countries
Region
Americas
Latin America & Caribbean
Source: REST Countries
GDP (Nominal)
$86.52B
Rank #78Source: World Bank
Land Area
75.4K km²
Rank #117Source: REST Countries
Life Expectancy
79.594 yrs
Source: World Bank
Historical Trends
Population Trend (5-Year)
Source: World Bank
GDP Trend (5-Year, Nominal USD)
Source: World Bank
Geography
Area: 75,417 km²
Landlocked: No
Independent: Yes
Climate: tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry season (January to May)
Terrain: interior mostly steep, rugged mountains with dissected, upland plains; coastal plains with rolling hills
Elevation: mean elevation: 360 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Volcan Baru 3,475 m
Natural Hazards: occasional severe storms and forest fires in the Darien area
Environmental 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...
Land Use: agricultural land: 30.5% (2011 est.) forest: 43.6% (2011 est.) other: 25.9% (2011 est.)
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
Natural Resources
coppermahogany forestsshrimphydropower
People & Society
Fertility Rate
2.12
Population
4.5M
Ethnic Groups
Mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) (65%)Native American 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%)
Religions
Roman Catholic (85%)Protestant (15%)
Economy
GDP per Capita
$19,161.219
GDP per Capita PPP
41,369.423
(2024)
(2024)
GNI per Capita
18,010
(2024)
(2024)
Gini Index
49.7
(2024)
(2024)
Unemployment
8.451%
(2024)
(2024)
Inflation
0.693%
(2024)
(2024)
Public Debt
Not Available
Energy
Electricity Access
97%
(2023)
(2023)
Renewable Energy
28%
(2021)
(2021)
CO₂ Emissions
12.365 Mt
(2024)
(2024)
Energy Intensity
1.41 MJ/$
(2021)
(2021)
Renewable Electricity
79.279%
(2021)
(2021)
Environment
Forest Coverage
56.344% of land
(2023)
(2023)
Communications
Internet Users
68.549%
(2023)
(2023)
Mobile Penetration
156.587%
(2023)
(2023)
Broadband Subscribers
18.134%
(2023)
(2023)
Transportation
Air Transport Freight
143.667 M ton-km
(2023)
(2023)
Container Port Traffic
8,518,425 TEU
(2022)
(2022)
Airports
123,804
Rail Lines
N/A
Roads Total
N/A
Military
Military Forces
no regular military forces; Panamanian Public Security Forces (subordinate to the Ministry of Public Security), comprising the National Police (PNP), National Air-Naval Service (SENAN), National...
Personnel Strength
the Panamanian Public Security Forces are comprised of approximately 26,000 personnel (20,000 National Police Force; 4,000 National Border Service; 2,000 National Air-Naval Service)
Military Expenditure (USD)
$0.00B
Equipment & Inventories
Panama's security forces do not maintain heavy military equipment, instead focusing on light air transport, patrol, and surveillance capabilities; since 2010, Italy and the US have been the leading...
Education
Pre-Primary Enrollment
26.972%
(2020)
(2020)
Primary Enrollment
95.203%
(2023)
(2023)
Secondary Enrollment
76.6%
(2017)
(2017)
Tertiary Enrollment
53.695%
(2023)
(2023)
Education Spending
2.472% of GDP
(2023)
(2023)
Adult Literacy Rate
96.256%
(2024)
(2024)
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
21.962:1
(2017)
(2017)
Health
Physicians per 1,000
1.625
(2022)
(2022)
Safe Water Access
95.263%
(2024)
(2024)
Safe Drinking Water
Not Available
Under-5 Mortality
13.3 per 1,000
(2023)
(2023)
Maternal Mortality (World Bank)
22.581 per 100,000
(2021)
(2021)
Hospital Beds per 1,000
77.239
(2021)
(2021)
UHC Coverage Index
82
(2023)
(2023)
Measles Immunization
72%
(2024)
(2024)
Social Indicators
Extreme Poverty Rate
3.1%
(2024)
(2024)
Food Insecurity
5.7%
(2023)
(2023)
Youth NEET Rate
19.714%
(2024)
(2024)
Governance
Women in Government
21.429%
(2024)
(2024)
Voice & Accountability
0.55
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Political Stability
0.21
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Government Effectiveness
-0.21
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Regulatory Quality
0.12
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Rule of Law
-0.35
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Control of Corruption
-0.63
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Government
Government Type
presidential republic
Legal System
civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Justice
Executive Branch
chief of state: President Laurentino "Nito" CORTIZO Cohen (since 1 July 2019); Vice President Jose Gabriel CARRIZO Jaen (since 1 July 2019); note - the president is both chief of state and head of...
Legislative Branch
description: unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (71 seats; 45 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies - populous towns and cities - by proportional representation vote...
Judicial Branch
highest courts: 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...
International Organizations
National Symbols
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...
National Symbols
harpy eagle; national colors: blue, white, red
National Anthem
name: "Himno Istmeno" (Isthmus Hymn) lyrics/music: Jeronimo DE LA OSSA/Santos A. JORGE note: adopted 1925
Safety
Homicide Rate
11.707 per 100,000
(2023)
(2023)
Travel Information
Language(s): Spanish
Currency: PAB (B/.), USD ($)
Timezone(s): UTC-05:00
Landlocked: No
Independent: Yes
Driving Side: Right
Calling Code: +507
Car Sign: PA
Week Starts: Monday
Photos
This shaded-relief perspective view - generated using topographic data from a space shuttle mission - shows the Panama Canal with the Pacific-side Gulf of Panama in the foreground and the Caribbean Sea in the distance. Water levels are maintained along its length by three reservoirs, the largest of which is Lake Gatun, visible at the right center of the image. Built by the US Army Corps of Engineers between 1904 and 1914, the canal extends for approximately 80 km (50 mi), and is widely considered to be one of the world's great engineering achievements. Imagery credit: NASA.
This shaded-relief perspective view - generated using topographic data from a space shuttle mission - shows the Panama Canal with the Pacific-side Gulf of Panama in the foreground and the Caribbean Sea in the distance. Water levels are maintained along its length by three reservoirs, the largest of which is Lake Gatun, visible at the right center of the image. Built by the US Army Corps of Engineers between 1904 and 1914, the canal extends for approximately 80 km (50 mi), and is widely considered to be one of the world's great engineering achievements. Imagery credit: NASA. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
A view of a portion of the Panama Canal showing two tugs and lock gates.
A view of a portion of the Panama Canal showing two tugs and lock gates. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
A tropical reef fish.
A tropical reef fish. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
All sizes of ships go through the Panama Canal.
All sizes of ships go through the Panama Canal. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
The ruins of a jungle prison on the island of Coiba in Panama. The entire island was once a penal colony, but is now a nature reserve. The last few prisoners, who have no other home, tend the ruins of the main prison grounds.
The ruins of a jungle prison on the island of Coiba in Panama. The entire island was once a penal colony, but is now a nature reserve. The last few prisoners, who have no other home, tend the ruins of the main prison grounds. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
A view of the Panama Canal at night, including one of the locks buildings and a "mule," one of the trains that pull ships through the locks.
A view of the Panama Canal at night, including one of the locks buildings and a "mule," one of the trains that pull ships through the locks. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
17 photos available
View All Photos→Data sources: World Bank, UN Data • Updated daily •Learn about our data