Facts About Panama

Research and Facts about Panama

(from CIA World Factbook)

Information Required When Travelling to Panama:

Country Name:	Panama
Location:	Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica
Area:	78,200 sq km
Land:	75,990 sq km
Water:	2,210 sq km
Land Boundaries:	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
Geography:	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
Population:	3,292,693 (July 2008 est.)
Age Structure:	(2008 est.)
0-14 Years:	29.8% (male 500,579/female 480,635)
15-64 Years:	63.6% (male 1,061,446/female 1,033,675)
65 Years and Over:	6.6% (male 100,780/female 115,578)
Average Age:	(2008 est.)
Total:	26.6 years
Male:	26.3 years
Female:	26.9 years
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
Government
Type:	constitutional democracy
Capital:	Panama
Provincial:	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)

Economy
Currency:	US Dollar (USD)
GDP Growth Rate:	7.8% (2007 est.)
Labour Occupations:	agriculture: 6.8% industry: 16.2% services: 77% (2007 est.)
Unemployment Rate:	7.2% (2007 est.)
Inflation Rate:	5.1% (2007 est.)
Agriculture Produce:	bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane, vegetables; livestock; shrimps

Transportation
Railways:	total: 355 km standard gauge: 77 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 278 km 0.914-m gauge (2006)
Roads:	total: 11,643 km paved: 4,028 km unpaved: 7,615 km (2000)
Airports:	total: 54 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 29 (2007)
Ports & Harbours:	Balboa, Colon, Cristobal

Communications
Mains Telephones:	432,900 (2006)
Mobile Telephones:	1.694 million (2005)
Television Stations:	38 (including repeaters) (1998)
Internet Users:	220,000 (2006)
Country Internet Code:	.pa