Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a governor-general. Prime minister : Freundel Stuart
President: Ricardo Martinelli
Population
287,733
3,510,045
Life Expectancy
74.520 years
77.960 years
Capital City
Bridgetown
Panama
Largest city
Bridgetown (population: 98,511)
Panama (population: 408,168)
Human Development Index
0.889
0.832
GDP per capita
$23,700 US
$14,300 US
Literacy Rate
99.7%
91.9%
Corruption Perception Index
7
3.4
Percentage of Women in Parliament
13.7%
16.7%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
12.000%
4.500%
Death Penalty
Legal
Abolished
Political System
parliamentary democracy
constitutional democracy
Independence date
30 November 1966 (from UK)
3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain 28 November 1821)
Religions
Protestant 63.4% (Anglican 28.3%, Pentecostal 18.7%, Methodist 5.1%, other 11.3%), Roman Catholic 4.2%, other Christian 7%, other 4.8%, none or unspecified 20.6% (2008 est.)
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%
Languages
English
Spanish (official), English 14%; note - many Panamanians bilingual
Exports
manufactures, sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages, chemicals, electrical components
bananas, shrimp, sugar, coffee, clothing
External Debt
$668,000,000 $
$13,340,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Barbadian dollars (BBD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 2 (2006), 2 (2005), 2 (2004), 2 (2003)
balboas (PAB) per US dollar - 1 (2008 est.), 1 (2007), 1 (2006), 1 (2005), 1 (2004) note: the US dollar is the legal currency
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
0.800%
1.000%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
0
1
Location
Caribbean, island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica
Area
430 km sq
75,420 km sq
Coastline
97 km
2,490 km
Climate
tropical; rainy season (June to October)
tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry season (January to May)
