World · permanent entity record · PM
Panama
Thirty-second orientation
Panama at a glance
- Nationality / demonym
- noun: Panamanian(s); adjective: Panamanian
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04
- Government
- presidential republic
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04
- 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)
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04
Independently structured milestones · not a complete national history
Panama through time
Admitted to the United Nations
Panama became a member of the United Nations.
United Nations, Member States · source checked 2026-09-04
Source history · changed fields only
Changes since the final CIA profile
| Field | Maintained Almanac value | Final CIA profile |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,571,189World Bank, World Development Indicators · observation year 2025 | total: 4,536,008 (2025 est.) male: 2,284,105 female: 2,251,903CIA World Factbook · as of 2026-01-18 |
A difference may reflect a newer observation, a revised estimate, or a different source definition. This table reports the values and dates; it does not manufacture a trend.
World Development Indicators · latest available observation
People, economy, and access
Observation years vary by measure. Each row identifies the series and year instead of presenting unlike dates as one current snapshot.
- Gross domestic product
- $90.5 billion
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator NY.GDP.MKTP.CD · observation year 2025 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2025; indicator NY.GDP.MKTP.CD. Underlying providers: National statistical authorities, central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- Gross domestic product per person
- $19,790
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator NY.GDP.PCAP.CD · observation year 2025 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2025; indicator NY.GDP.PCAP.CD. Underlying providers: National statistical authorities, central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- Life expectancy at birth
- 79.8 years
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator SP.DYN.LE00.IN · observation year 2024 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2024; indicator SP.DYN.LE00.IN. Underlying providers: UN Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- Urban population
- 66.2%
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS · observation year 2025 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2025; indicator SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS. Underlying providers: UN Population Division, World Urbanization Prospects. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- Access to electricity
- 96.0%
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS · observation year 2024 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2024; indicator EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS. Underlying providers: World Bank ESMAP, Tracking SDG 7. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- People using the internet
- 72.8%
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator IT.NET.USER.ZS · observation year 2024 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2024; indicator IT.NET.USER.ZS. Underlying providers: International Telecommunication Union. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
World Development Indicators data are provided under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). The linked indicator metadata identifies the underlying statistical providers.
Maintained profile
- Capital
- Panama City
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · The nation set and displayed federal short name follow the current State Department independent-states register, dated August 11, 2026.
- Area
- 75,420 sq km
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · Final CIA source data preserved by a community mirror after the Factbook was retired; the mirror is not the issuing authority.
- Population
- 4,571,189
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · World Development Indicators observation for 2025; indicator SP.POP.TOTL. Underlying providers: UN Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- Currency
- balboas (PAB)
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · Currency label extracted from the Factbook exchange-rate field.
- 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)
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · Factbook language listing reproduced without inferring official status beyond the source wording.
- Nationality / demonym
- noun: Panamanian(s); adjective: Panamanian
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · The source’s noun and adjective forms are retained. These are language labels, not evidence of any individual person’s citizenship.
- Continent
- North America
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Continental label standardized from the archived profile region “Central America and the Caribbean.”
- Coastline
- 2,490 km
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- Climate
- tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry season (January to May)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- Religions
- Evangelical 55%, Roman Catholic 33.4%, none 10.1%, unspecified 1.5% (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- Flag colors
- white, blue, red
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Colors extracted from the flag description in the preserved final CIA profile.
- National symbol
- harpy eagle
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- Highest point
- Volcan Baru · 11,401 ft (3,475 m)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- Lowest point
- Pacific Ocean · 0 ft (0 m)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- NATO membership
- Not a member
- NATO, What is NATO? · Membership status is reported from the organization's current member list as of the stated date.
- BRICS membership
- Not a member
- BRICS Brazil, About the BRICS · Membership status is reported from the organization's current member list as of the stated date.
Preserved public-domain record · not maintained current data
Final CIA World Factbook profile
This is the preserved historical baseline from the Factbook’s final public snapshot. It is presented as the CIA stated it, not as a current Standard American Almanac finding. Current, independently maintained facts appear above when available.
CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · profile updated · pinned source record · commit d81154954b8b
Introduction1 fields
- 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.
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Geography18 fields
- Location
- Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Map references
- Central America and the Caribbean
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Area
- total : 75,420 sq km land: 74,340 sq km water: 1,080 sq km
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Area - comparative
- slightly smaller than South Carolina
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Land boundaries
- total: 687 km border countries (2): Colombia 339 km; Costa Rica 348 km
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Maritime claims
- territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or edge of continental margin
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Climate
- tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry season (January to May)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Terrain
- interior mostly steep, rugged mountains with dissected, upland plains; coastal plains with rolling hills
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Elevation
- highest point: Volcan Baru 3,475 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 360 m
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Natural resources
- copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Land use
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Major lakes (area sq km)
- salt water lake(s): Laguna de Chiriqui - 900 sq km
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Natural hazards
- occasional severe storms and forest fires in the Darien area
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
People and Society34 fields
- Population
- total: 4,536,008 (2025 est.) male: 2,284,105 female: 2,251,903
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Nationality
- noun: Panamanian(s) adjective: Panamanian
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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) 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.
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Religions
- Evangelical 55%, Roman Catholic 33.4%, none 10.1%, unspecified 1.5% (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Age structure
- 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)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Dependency ratios
- total dependency ratio: 54.4 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 38.4 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 16 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 6.3 (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Median age
- total: 31.7 years (2025 est.) male: 31 years female: 31.9 years
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Birth rate
- 17.11 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Death rate
- 5.48 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Net migration rate
- 2.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Urbanization
- urban population: 69.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Major urban areas - population
- 1.977 million PANAMA CITY (capital) (2023)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Sex ratio
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Maternal mortality ratio
- 37 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Infant mortality rate
- total: 13.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 15.4 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.9 deaths/1,000 live births
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Life expectancy at birth
- total population: 79.2 years (2024 est.) male: 76.4 years female: 82.2 years
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Total fertility rate
- 2.33 children born/woman (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Drinking water source
- urban: 98.5% of population (2022 est.) rural: 86.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 94.7% of population (2022 est.) urban: 1.5% of population (2022 est.) rural: 13.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 5.3% of population (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Health expenditure
- 9.7% of GDP (2021) 22.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Physician density
- 1.63 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Hospital bed density
- 1.9 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Sanitation facility access
- urban: 96.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 70.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 88% of population (2022 est.) urban: 3.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 29.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 12% of population (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Alcohol consumption per capita
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Tobacco use
- total: 4.5% (2025 est.) male: 7.4% (2025 est.) female: 1.7% (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Children under the age of 5 years underweight
- 2.9% (2019 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Currently married women (ages 15-49)
- 53.2% (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Education expenditure
- 2.5% of GDP (2023 est.) 16.3% national budget (2024 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Literacy
- total population: 96.3% (2024 est.) male: 97.3% (2024 est.) female: 95.9% (2024 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
- total: 13 years (2016 est.) male: 12 years (2016 est.) female: 14 years (2016 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Environment10 fields
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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 signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Climate
- tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry season (January to May)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Land use
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Urbanization
- urban population: 69.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Carbon dioxide emissions
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Particulate matter emissions
- 11.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Waste and recycling
- municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.472 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 14.2% (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Total water withdrawal
- municipal: 759.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 6.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 446.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Total renewable water resources
- 139.304 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Government23 fields
- Country name
- 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"
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Capital
- 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"
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Legal system
- civil law system; Supreme Court of Justice reviews legislative acts
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Constitution
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- International law organization participation
- accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Citizenship
- citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Executive branch
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Legislative branch
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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) 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Diplomatic representation in the US
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Diplomatic representation from the US
- 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/
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Independence
- 3 November 1903 (from Colombia); 28 November 1821 (from Spain)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- National holiday
- Independence Day (Separation Day), 3 November (1903)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- National anthem(s)
- title: "Himno Istmeno" (Isthmus Hymn) lyrics/music: Jeronimo DE LA OSSA/Santos A. JORGE history: adopted 1925
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- National heritage
- 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)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Economy31 fields
- Economic overview
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
- $164.484 billion (2024 est.) $159.908 billion (2023 est.) $148.891 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Real GDP growth rate
- 2.9% (2024 est.) 7.4% (2023 est.) 10.8% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Real GDP per capita
- $36,400 (2024 est.) $35,900 (2023 est.) $33,800 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- GDP (official exchange rate)
- $86.26 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Inflation rate (consumer prices)
- 0.7% (2024 est.) 1.5% (2023 est.) 2.9% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- GDP - composition, by sector of origin
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- GDP - composition, by end use
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Agricultural products
- sugarcane, rice, bananas, oranges, oil palm fruit, chicken, plantains, maize, milk, pineapples (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Industries
- construction, brewing, cement and other construction materials, sugar milling
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Industrial production growth rate
- -2.6% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Labor force
- 2.206 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Unemployment rate
- 6.6% (2024 est.) 6.6% (2023 est.) 8.1% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
- total: 16.8% (2024 est.) male: 13.4% (2024 est.) female: 22.1% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Population below poverty line
- 21.8% (2021 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
- 48.9 (2023 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Average household expenditures
- on food: 15.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 1.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Household income or consumption by percentage share
- lowest 10%: 1.2% (2023 est.) highest 10%: 36.9% (2023 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Remittances
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Budget
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Taxes and other revenues
- 7.5% (of GDP) (2021 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Current account balance
- $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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exports
- $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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exports - partners
- China 25%, Japan 10%, USA 6%, Thailand 5%, Costa Rica 5% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exports - commodities
- copper ore, ships, refined petroleum, bananas, fish (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Imports
- $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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Imports - partners
- USA 15%, Colombia 13%, China 13%, Ecuador 13%, Japan 11% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Imports - commodities
- crude petroleum, ships, refined petroleum, nitrogen compounds, cars (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
- $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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exchange rates
- balboas (PAB) per US dollar - 1 (2024 est.) 1 (2023 est.) 1 (2022 est.) 1 (2021 est.) 1 (2020 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Energy7 fields
- Electricity access
- electrification - total population: 95% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 99% electrification - rural areas: 100%
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Electricity
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Electricity generation sources
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Coal
- consumption: 863,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 863,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Petroleum
- refined petroleum consumption: 131,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Natural gas
- consumption: 564.786 million cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 564.786 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Energy consumption per capita
- 78.01 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Communications6 fields
- Telephones - fixed lines
- total subscriptions: 811,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Telephones - mobile cellular
- total subscriptions: 6.98 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 157 (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Internet users
- percent of population: 78% (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Broadband - fixed subscriptions
- total: 809,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Transportation6 fields
- Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
- HP
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Railways
- total: 77 km (2014) standard gauge: 77 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Merchant marine
- total: 8,174 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 2732, container ship 671, general cargo 1,428, oil tanker 866, other 2,477
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Ports
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Military and Security4 fields
- 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) 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Military expenditures
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Military and security service personnel strengths
- approximately 30,000 Ministry of Public Security personnel (2025)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Terrorism1 fields
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Transnational Issues2 fields
- Refugees and internally displaced persons
- refugees: 10,801 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 928 (2024 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Illicit drugs
- USG identification: major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country (2025)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
The underlying United States government material is public domain. The Almanac’s reuse terms do not change the legal status of this preserved source layer.