3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain 28 November 1821)
25 December 1000 (crowning of King STEPHEN I, traditional founding date)
Religions
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%
Roman Catholic 51.9%, Calvinist 15.9%, Lutheran 3%, Greek Catholic 2.6%, other Christian 1%, other or unspecified 11.1%, unaffiliated 14.5% (2001 census)
Languages
Spanish (official), English 14%; note - many Panamanians bilingual
Hungarian 93.6%, other or unspecified 6.4% (2001 census)
Exports
machinery and equipment 61.1%, other manufactures 28.7%, food products 6.5%, raw materials 2%, fuels and electricity 1.6% (2003)
External Debt
$170,300,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
forints (HUF) per US dollar - 171.8 (2008), 183.83 (2007), 210.39 (2006), 199.58 (2005), 202.75 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
0.830%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
10
Location
Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica
Central Europe, northwest of Romania
Area
75,420 km sq
93,028 km sq
Coastline
2,490 km
0 km
Climate
tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry season (January to May)
Rankings + Records
