Panama

Code: PM | Region: Central America N Caribbean

Introduction

Background

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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.

Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

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9 00 N, 80 00 W

Map references

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Central America and the Caribbean

Area

total

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75,420 sq km

land

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74,340 sq km

water

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1,080 sq km

Area - comparative

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slightly smaller than South Carolina

Land boundaries

total

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687 km

border countries

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Colombia 339 km; Costa Rica 348 km

Coastline

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2,490 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea

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12 nm

contiguous zone

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24 nm

exclusive economic zone

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200 nm or edge of continental margin

Climate

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

Terrain

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

Elevation

highest point

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Volcan Baru 3,475 m

lowest point

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Pacific Ocean 0 m

mean elevation

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360 m

Natural resources

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copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower

Land use

agricultural land

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29.5% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

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arable land: 7.6% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

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permanent crops: 1.6% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

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permanent pasture: 20.3% (2023 est.)

forest

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62.3% (2023 est.)

other

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8.2% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

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394 sq km (2022)

Major lakes (area sq km)

salt water lake(s)

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Laguna de Chiriqui - 900 sq km

Population distribution

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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

Natural hazards

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occasional severe storms and forest fires in the Darien area

Geography - note

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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 

People and Society

Population

total

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4,536,008 (2025 est.)

male

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2,284,105

female

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2,251,903

Nationality

noun

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Panamanian(s)

adjective

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Panamanian

Ethnic groups

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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.)

Languages

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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)

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La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Religions

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

Age structure

0-14 years

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25% (male 574,336/female 544,180)

15-64 years

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64.8% (male 1,465,907/female 1,433,023)

65 years and over

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10.1% (2024 est.) (male 211,014/female 241,781)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio

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54.4 (2025 est.)

youth dependency ratio

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38.4 (2025 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

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16 (2025 est.)

potential support ratio

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6.3 (2025 est.)

Median age

total

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31.7 years (2025 est.)

male

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31 years

female

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31.9 years

Population growth rate

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1.44% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

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17.11 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

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5.48 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

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2.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population distribution

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Urbanization

urban population

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69.5% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization

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

Major urban areas - population

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1.977 million PANAMA CITY (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio

at birth

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1.06 male(s)/female

0-14 years

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1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years

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1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over

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0.87 male(s)/female

total population

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1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Infant mortality rate

total

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13.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

male

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15.4 deaths/1,000 live births

female

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12.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

total population

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79.2 years (2024 est.)

male

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76.4 years

female

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82.2 years

Total fertility rate

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2.33 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

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1.13 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban

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urban: 98.5% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

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rural: 86.1% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

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total: 94.7% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

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urban: 1.5% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

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rural: 13.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

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total: 5.3% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

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9.7% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

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22.2% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

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1.63 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Hospital bed density

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

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban

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urban: 96.1% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

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rural: 70.1% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

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total: 88% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

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urban: 3.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

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rural: 29.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

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total: 12% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

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22.7% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total

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6.54 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer

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5.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

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0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

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1.2 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

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0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use

total

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4.5% (2025 est.)

male

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7.4% (2025 est.)

female

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1.7% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

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2.9% (2019 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

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53.2% (2023 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

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2.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

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16.3% national budget (2024 est.)

Literacy

total population

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96.3% (2024 est.)

male

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97.3% (2024 est.)

female

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95.9% (2024 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total

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13 years (2016 est.)

male

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12 years (2016 est.)

female

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14 years (2016 est.)

Environment

Environmental issues

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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 

International environmental agreements

party to

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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

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Marine Life Conservation

Climate

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

Land use

agricultural land

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29.5% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

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arable land: 7.6% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

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permanent crops: 1.6% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

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permanent pasture: 20.3% (2023 est.)

forest

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62.3% (2023 est.)

other

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8.2% (2023 est.)

Urbanization

urban population

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69.5% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization

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

Carbon dioxide emissions

total emissions

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23.458 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke

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1.969 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

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20.389 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas

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1.101 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

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11.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

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1.472 million tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

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14.2% (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

municipal

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759.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

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6.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

agricultural

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446.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total renewable water resources

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139.304 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Government

Country name

conventional long form

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Republic of Panama

conventional short form

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Panama

local long form

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República de Panama

local short form

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Panama

etymology

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origin is unclear; may come from a Guarani word meaning "place of many fish"

Government type

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presidential republic

Capital

name

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Panama City

geographic coordinates

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8 58 N, 79 32 W

time difference

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

etymology

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origin is unclear; may come from a Guaraní word meaning "place of many fish"

Administrative divisions

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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

Legal system

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civil law system; Supreme Court of Justice reviews legislative acts

Constitution

history

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several previous; latest effective 11 October 1972

amendment process

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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

International law organization participation

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accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

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yes

citizenship by descent only

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yes

dual citizenship recognized

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residency requirement for naturalization

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5 years

Suffrage

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18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state

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President José Raúl MULINO Quintero (since 1 July 2024)

head of government

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President José Raúl MULINO Quintero (since 1 July 2024)

cabinet

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Cabinet appointed by the president

election/appointment process

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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

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5 May 2024

election results

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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

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May 2029

note

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

Legislative branch

legislature name

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National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional)

legislative structure

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unicameral

number of seats

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71 (all directly elected)

electoral system

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mixed system

scope of elections

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full renewal

term in office

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5 years

most recent election date

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5/5/2024

parties elected and seats per party

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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

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21.7%

expected date of next election

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May 2029

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

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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

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magistrates appointed by the president for staggered 10-year terms

subordinate courts

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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

Political parties

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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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

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Ambassador José Miguel ALEMÁN HEALY (since 18 September 2024)

chancery

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2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone

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[1] (202) 483-1407

FAX

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[1] (202) 483-8413

email address and website

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info@embassyofpanama.org https://www.embassyofpanama.org/

consulate(s) general

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Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Tampa

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

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Ambassador Kevin Marino CABRERA (since 5 May 2025)

embassy

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Building 783, Demetrio Basilio Lakas Avenue, Clayton

mailing address

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9100 Panama City PL, Washington, DC 20521-9100

telephone

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[507] 317-5000

FAX

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[507] 317-5568

email address and website

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Panama-ACS@state.gov https://pa.usembassy.gov/

International organization participation

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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

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

National holiday

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

Flag

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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

National symbol(s)

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harpy eagle

National color(s)

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blue, white, red

National anthem(s)

title

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"Himno Istmeno" (Isthmus Hymn)

lyrics/music

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Jeronimo DE LA OSSA/Santos A. JORGE

history

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adopted 1925

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites

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6 (3 cultural, 3 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales

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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)

Economy

Economic overview

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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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

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$164.484 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

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$159.908 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

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$148.891 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2024

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2.9% (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

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7.4% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

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10.8% (2022 est.)

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024

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$36,400 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

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$35,900 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

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$33,800 (2022 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

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$86.26 billion (2024 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

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0.7% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

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1.5% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

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2.9% (2022 est.)

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note: annual % change based on consumer prices

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

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2.6% (2024 est.)

industry

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26.3% (2024 est.)

services

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68.8% (2024 est.)

note

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

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption

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46.7% (2023 est.)

government consumption

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12.2% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

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32.3% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

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5.4% (2023 est.)

exports of goods and services

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46.5% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

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-43.1% (2023 est.)

note

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

Agricultural products

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

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

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-2.6% (2024 est.)

note

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

Labor force

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2.206 million (2024 est.)

note

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

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2024

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6.6% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

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6.6% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

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8.1% (2022 est.)

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total

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16.8% (2024 est.)

male

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13.4% (2024 est.)

female

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22.1% (2024 est.)

note

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

Population below poverty line

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21.8% (2021 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023

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48.9 (2023 est.)

note

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

Average household expenditures

on food

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15.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco

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1.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%

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1.2% (2023 est.)

highest 10%

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36.9% (2023 est.)

note

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

Remittances

Remittances 2024

text

0.6% of GDP (2024 est.)

Remittances 2023

text

0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2022

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0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)

note

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

Budget

revenues

text

$7.57 billion (2021 est.)

expenditures

text

$12.046 billion (2021 est.)

note

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

Public debt

Public debt 2016

text

37.4% of GDP (2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

text

7.5% (of GDP) (2021 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Current account balance

Current account balance 2024

text

$1.672 billion (2024 est.)

Current account balance 2023

text

-$2.581 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2022

text

$28.769 million (2022 est.)

note

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

Exports

Exports 2024

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$37.376 billion (2024 est.)

Exports 2023

text

$37.905 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2022

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$35.717 billion (2022 est.)

note

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

Exports - partners

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

note

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

Exports - commodities

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

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports

Imports 2024

text

$30.887 billion (2024 est.)

Imports 2023

text

$35.927 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2022

text

$32.646 billion (2022 est.)

note

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

Imports - partners

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

note

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

Imports - commodities

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

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

text

$6.856 billion (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

text

$6.757 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

text

$6.876 billion (2022 est.)

note

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

Exchange rates

Currency

text

balboas (PAB) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2024

text

1 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

text

1 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

text

1 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

text

1 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

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1 (2020 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

electrification - total population

text

95% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas

text

99%

electrification - rural areas

text

100%

Electricity

installed generating capacity

text

4.485 million kW (2023 est.)

consumption

text

11.777 billion kWh (2023 est.)

exports

text

404.9 million kWh (2023 est.)

imports

text

234 million kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

text

924.16 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

text

38.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

text

6.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind

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6.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity

text

47.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

biomass and waste

text

0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal

consumption

text

863,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports

text

863,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

text

131,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

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564.786 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports

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564.786 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

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78.01 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions

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811,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

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18 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions

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6.98 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

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157 (2023 est.)

Broadcast media

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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)

Internet country code

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.pa

Internet users

percent of population

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78% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total

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809,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

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18 (2023 est.)

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

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Airports

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77 (2025)

Heliports

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1 (2025)

Railways

total

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77 km (2014)

standard gauge

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77 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

Merchant marine

total

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8,174 (2023)

by type

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bulk carrier 2732, container ship 671, general cargo 1,428, oil tanker 866, other 2,477

Ports

total ports

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12 (2024)

large

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medium

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small

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very small

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size unknown

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ports with oil terminals

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key ports

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Bahia de las Minas, Balboa, Pedregal, Puerto Armuelles, Puerto Colon, Puerto Cristobal

Military and Security

Military and security forces

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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

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

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2024

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1.1% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

text

1.1% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

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1.2% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

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1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2020

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1.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

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

Military - note

text

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)

Terrorism

Terrorist group(s)

text

Tren de Aragua (TdA)

note

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

Transnational Issues

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees

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10,801 (2024 est.)

stateless persons

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928 (2024 est.)

Illicit drugs

USG identification

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major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country (2025)