|
Country
|
Gabon | 
Panama |
|
Leader
|
President: Ali Ben Bongo
|
President: Ricardo Martinelli
|
|
Population
|
1,640,286
| 3,559,408
|
|
Life Expectancy
|
52.150 years
| 78.130 years
|
|
Capital City
|
Libreville
| Panama
|
|
Largest city
|
| Libreville (population: 578,156) | Panama (population: 408,168) |
|
Human Development Index
|
0.729
| 0.832
|
| GDP per capita |
$17,300 US
| $15,300 US
|
|
Literacy Rate
|
63.2%
| 91.9%
|
|
Corruption Perception Index
|
3.1
| 3.4
|
|
Percentage of Women in Parliament
|
16.1%
| 16.7%
|
| Wealthiest Citizens |
|
|
| Unemployment Rate |
21.000%
| 4.400%
|
|
Death Penalty
|
Abolished in practice
| Abolished
|
| |
|
Political System
|
republic; multiparty presidential regime
| constitutional democracy
|
|
Independence date
|
17 August 1960 (from France)
| 3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain 28 November 1821)
|
| Religions |
Christian 55%-75%, animist, Muslim less than 1%
| Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%
|
| Languages |
French (official), Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi
| Spanish (official), English 14%; note - many Panamanians bilingual
|
| Exports |
crude oil 77%, timber, manganese, uranium (2001)
| bananas, shrimp, sugar, coffee, clothing
|
| External Debt |
$2,758,000,000 $
| $14,200,000,000 US
|
| Exchange Rate |
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar 441.72 (2008 est.), 481.83 (2007), 522.89 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004)
| 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 |
1.800%
| 1.000%
|
| Beijing Olympics Medal Count |
0
| 1
|
| Location |
Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea
| Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica
|
| Area |
267,667 km sq
| 75,420 km sq
|
| Coastline |
885 km
| 2,490 km
|
| Climate |
tropical; always hot, humid
| tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry season (January to May)
|
|
|
|
