World Atlas: Panama. On this page you can see the map, country flag and many detailed information about the people, history and economy of Panama.
Here you can find online selected information about the geography, inhabitants, government, economy and history of Panama. Included are selected statistics, an overview map and the detailed map of Panama. But let's start with the flag of Panama here:
Panama - Overview:
What you should know about Panama? Let's start with this: 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 - named the Republic of Gran Colombia. When the latter 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 on either side of the structure (the Panama Canal Zone). The Panama Canal was built by the US Army Corps of Engineers 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, 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 of Panama
Where on the globe is Panama? The location of this country is Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica. Total area of Panama is 75,420 sq km, of which 74,340 sq km is land. So this is not a large country. How could we describe the terrain of the country? This way: interior mostly steep, rugged mountains with dissected, upland plains; coastal plains with rolling hills. The lowest point of Panama is Pacific Ocean 0 m, the highest point Volcan Baru 3,475 m. And the climate is tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry season (January to May).
Inhabitants of Panama
Let's take a look how many people live in Panama. The number is: 3,753,142 (July 2017 est.). So this is not very populous country. Who lives here? mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 65%, Native American 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.). What are the languages in Panama? Spanish (official), indigenous languages (including Ngabere (or Guaymi), Buglere, Kuna, Embera, Wounaan, Naso (or Teribe), and Bri Bri), Panamanian English Creole (similar to Jamaican 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). And the religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%. How old are the people in average? 29.2 years. We have to add that this number is the median - so one half of the people is older than this, one half is younger. And what is their life expectancy (at birth)? This: 78.8 years. Where the people live in Panama? Here: 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. The major urban areas of Panama are: Panama CITY (capital) 1.673 million (2015).
Government and Economy of Panama
The capital of Panama is Panama City and the government type presidential republic. Let's take a look at the administrative divisions - 10 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 3 indigenous regions (comarcas); Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Embera-Wounaan, Herrera, Guna Yala, Los Santos, Ngobe-Bugle, Panama, Panama Oeste, Veraguas. Regarding the economy of Panama, important industrial products are construction, brewing, cement and other construction materials, sugar milling. Important agricultural products are bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane, vegetables; livestock; shrimp. The most important export commodities are fruit and nuts, fish, iron and steel waste, wood and the most important export partners are US 21.4%, Netherlands 15.2%, Costa Rica 6%, China 5.6% (2016). The most important import commodities are fuels, machinery, vehicles, iron and steel rods, pharmaceuticals and the most important import partners are US 25.7%, China 9.2%, Mexico 5.3% (2016). How rich is Panama and how rich are people in this country? The most important number here is GDP per capita (PPP): $24,300 (2017 est.). This means the living standards are good here. Let's add that this means Gross Domestic Product per person, which is recalculated with respect to the relative cost of local goods and services. And one more important number - population below poverty line: 23% (2015 est.).