1143 (Kingdom of Portugal recognized); 5 October 1910 (republic proclaimed)
3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain 28 November 1821)
Religions
Roman Catholic 84.5%, other Christian 2.2%, other 0.3%, unknown 9%, none 3.9% (2001 census)
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%
Languages
Portuguese (official), Mirandese (official - but locally used)
Spanish (official), English 14%; note - many Panamanians bilingual
Exports
agricultural products, food products, oil products, chemical products, plastics and rubber, skins and leather, wood and cork, wood pulp and paper, textile materials, clothing, footwear, minerals and mineral products, base metals, machinery and tools, vehicles and other transport material, and optical and precision
bananas, shrimp, sugar, coffee, clothing
External Debt
$548,300,000,000 $
$13,340,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6734 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (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
2.300%
1.000%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
2
1
Location
Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain
Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica
Area
92,090 km sq
75,420 km sq
Coastline
1,793 km
2,490 km
Climate
maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south
tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry season (January to May)
