Panama

Geography

Economics

Demographics

Military

Politics

Surface

Surface (in square kilometers)

Surface (in square miles)

Surface (water)

Water Surface (in square kilometers)

Water Surface (in square miles)

Share of water (%)

Temperature

Average temperature (in Celcius)

Average temperature (in Farenheit)

Average high temperature (in Celcius)

Average high temperature (in Farenheit)

Average low temperature (in Celcius)

Average low temperature (in Farenheit)

Rainfall

Average rainfall (mm)

Average rainfall (inch)

Distance to other capitals (kilometers)

Distance to other capitals (miles)

Proximity

Economic organizations

Gross Domestic Product (US$)

Gross Domestic Product per capita

Amount of memberships (economic organizations)

Absolute earnings for every 1$

Relative earnings

GDP in PPP per capita (in US$)

GDP in PPP per capita

Gross Domestic product (in million US$)

GDP per capita (in US$)

Surface GDP

GDP per square kilometer (in US$)

GDP per square mile(in US$)

Relative GDP in PPP

Population

Population density

Emigration

Immigration

Literacy

Health

Population density (in km2)

Population density (in mi2)

Religion

Christianity (share of the total population)

Islam (share of the total population)

Buddhism (share of the total population)

Hinduism (share of the total population)

Judaism (share of the total population)

Other religions (share of the total population)

Non-religious (share of the total population)

Military spending (in % of GDP)

Military spending

In total, Panama spends US$111 million on its military, or 0.2 percent of its GDP. This makes Panama the 134th highest military spender in the world and represents 0.00006 percent of total global military expenditure.

After installing a new government by the United States, the military of Panama has named itself the Panamanian Armed Forces and consists of a Navy and an air force. It does not have ground forces, but it has a larger police force which is tasked with maintaining internal stability.

Military membership

Panama is also a member of five international military organizations. This makes it the 84th most militarily connected state in the world. It is a member of the following organizations:

System of Cooperation Among the American Air Forces
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
International Atomic Energy Agency
Non-Aligned Movement

Military membership

International wars

Panama has partaken in two international wars. These are:

Coto War 1911-1911
Cuban invasion of Panama 1959-1959

Number of international wars fought

Military spending (in US$ million)

Membership (international political organizations)

In total, Panama is a member of 13 international political organizations. This makes it the 74th most connected state in the world. It is a member of the following organizations:

Member state of the United Nations
International Labour Organization
Organization of American States
Association of Caribbean States
Community of Latin American and Caribbean States
Organization of Ibero-American States
International Criminal Court

Political Membership

Democracy/dictatorship rating

After the instalment of a democratic government, Panama has transformed itself into a democratic republic with elections taking place regularly. However, there is a large amount of corruption in Panama which is present throughout all layers of government. This makes Panama the 45th most democratic state in the world.

Democracy/Dictatorship

The politics of Panama take place in the form of a presidential republic. The president is allowed to serve a single term of five years and has the power to appoint a cabinet.

Interpol
Permanent Court of Arbitration
Association of World Election Bodies
International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance
South Centre (organization)
World Organization for Animal Health

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If you want to know more about other states, click on the flag on the right to discover Papua Neu Guinea.

Known for its biodiversity as well as having the most famous canal in the world, Panama has become the central economic hub of north and south America. Before contact with the Europeans, Panama was inhabited by the Cueva people which were mainly Hunter gatherers. At the start of the 16th century, the Cueva people came into contact with Spanish explorers and shortly afterwards became incorporated into the Spanish Empire. After briefly becoming part of the Colombian Empire, it became fully independent in 1903. Since then, Panama has allowed the United States to construct its famous Panama Canal as well as several railroads. After a military coup in 1968 as well as a failed coup in 1988 this infrastructure came under threat. After the United States invaded Panama, it aided with the creation of a government. At the start of the 21st century, Panama gained full control over its territory and became a relatively stable state. .

Located in the most southern parts of Central America, the geography of Panama consists of mountain range to its west and a flat plain to its east. Most of its landscape is a densely forested with the exception of populated areas. It borders the Caribbean Sea to the north, Colombia to the east, the Pacific Ocean to the south and Costa Rica to the west.

It is the 116th largest state with a total surface area of 75.794 square kilometers or 29265 square miles. This makes Panama slightly smaller than Sierra Leone and slightly larger than the Czech Republic.

It has a total water surface area of 1085 square kilometers or 422 square miles. This makes Panama the 107th largest state in the world.

Below, a graph is shown which displays the absolute amount of water of each state in square kilometers and square miles.

Most of the water in Panama is supplied by rivers as well as constructed lakes. Not all people in Panama have access to clean drinking water, but with more than 90 percent availability it is among the highest in central America.

The climate of Panama is a tropical climate which has a rainy season and a dry season. The only exception to this tropical climate are its highlands where it is exposed to a moderate climate. The average temperature is 25.7 degrees Celsius or 78.3 degrees Fahrenheit. This makes Panama the 47th warmest state in the world.

During the rainy season, from May to December, the average high temperature is 29.9 degrees Celsius or 85.8 degrees Fahrenheit.

The average low temperature is 22.8 degrees Celsius or 73 degrees Fahrenheit. This mainly occurs between January to May.

On average, Panama receives 224 centimetres or 88.1 inches of rainfall per year which ranks it as the 24th highest in the world.

The capital of Panama is Panama City which has a population of 1.1 million people. The closest capital is San Jose, Costa Rica, with a distance of 516 kilometers or 320 miles. The capital that is the furthest removed is Jakarta, Indonesia, with a distance of 19272 kilometers or 11975 miles.

The economy of Panama is largely focused on the Panama Canal which has been the largest source of income. At the start of the 21st century, Panama has made plans to widen the Panama Canal in order to allow for more shipping. This shipping is mainly done by the United States and China. Aside from the Panama Canal, other sources of income are tourism as well as being a tax friendly state. The products that are exported are bananas and copper which are mainly exported to the United States and the Dominican Republic which represent 30 percent of all exports. Most of its imports comes from China and the United States which represent nearly 40 percent of all imports.

Panama is a member of 11 international economic organizations. This makes it the 137th most connected state in the world. It is a member of the following organizations:

Inter-American Development Bank
International Monetary Fund
World Bank Group
World Customs Organization
World Trade Organization
International Bamboo and Rattan Organization
Central American Bank for Economic Integration
Central American Integration System
International Renewable Energy Agency
Group of 77
Advisory Centre on World Trade Organization Law

It has a GDP of US$64 billion, which makes it the 78th highest in the world and represents 0.08 percent of total global GDP.

Its GDP per surface area is the 73rd highest in the world with US$844.913 per square kilometer or US$2.188.291 per square mile.

Its GDP per capita is the 55th highest in the world with US$15100.

The absolute earnings (GDP per capita) reflect the average yearly income. The figure below shows how much, on average, an inhabitant of another state earns for every $1 earned by a citizen of this state.

Its purchasing power parity per capita is the 51st highest in the world with US$29062.

The relative Gross Domestic Product in Purchasing Power Parity compares the purchasing power of this state with that of the rest of the world. The graph on the left shows how much purchasing power of 1$ compared to the purchasing power of other states

After the Spanish control in the 16th century, the demographics of Panama has shifted from indigenous to a racial mix between indigenous, Spanish and African. These are currently the majority within Panama. It has the 124th highest population density in the world with 56 people per square kilometer or 144 people per square mile.

Approximately 3.8 percent of the population, or more than 150,000 people have migrated to other states. The majority of these migrants have been men that have migrated to the United States, which is solely responsible for more than 80 percent of all emigration. This makes Panama the 147th state with the highest number of emigrants and represents 0.063 percent of total global emigration.

Immigration to Panama is represented by 4.3 percent of the population, or just over 170,000 people. This makes Panama the 91st state with the highest number of immigrants and represents 0.072 percent of total global immigration. The largest supplier of immigrants has been Colombia due to its social economic situation. Other large suppliers of migrants have been the United States, mainly through marriage or remigration as well as China.

The educational system of Panama is free and compulsory between the ages of five and 14. It is argued that its educational system has not changed for the last two decades due to a strong school lobby. Its current literacy rate is 94.6 percent which is the 95th highest in the world.

The health care system of Panama consists of free and universal public health care as well as the availability of private healthcare. However, due to the large income discrepancies, the majority of the people of Panama have limited access to privatized and specialized health care. The average life expectancy is 79.12 years which is the 65th highest in the world. Women have an average life expectancy of 82.2 years, while men have an average life expectancy of 76.1 years.

Panama provides freedom of religion towards all religions and generally respects these rights.

Christianity is followed by 77.7 percent of the population and makes Panama the 65th most Christian state in the world. These are mainly Catholics as a result of the Spanish colonization era.

On the right, the global share of Christians per state is displayed

With 0.7 percent of the population adhering to Islam, Panama is the 131st most Islamic state in the world. Aside from Arabs that are present in Panama during the Spanish colonial era, Islam only started to gain a foothold during the second half of the 20th century and expanded.

Buddhism is represented by 0.2 percent of the population and are mainly descendants of Chinese workers that arrived in Panama during the construction of the Panama Canal.

Hinduism is represented by 0.13 percent of the population and are mainly Indian migrants that arrived from British colonies like Trinidad and Tobago.

Judaism is represented by 0.35 percent of the population. The first Jews arrived during the Spanish colonial period. Other large arrivals of Jews came during the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire as well as during the second world war.

Other religions are mainly adherence to the Baha'i faith which started to spread during the second half of the 20th century. Currently, affiliates to the Baha'i faith represent more than 0.5 percent of the population.

Irreligion is represented by 3.2 percent of the population.