Panama Facts, Map, Population, GDP

Capital

Panama City

Population

4,536,008 (2025 est.)

Area

75,420 sq km

Location

Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica

🧭 Background

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 that was named the Republic of Gran Colombia. When the union 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 known as the Panama Canal Zone on either side of the structure. The US Army Corps of Engineers built the Panama Canal 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, Panamanian 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

Location

Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica

Geographic coordinates

9 00 N, 80 00 W

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Area — total

75,420 sq km

Area — land

74,340 sq km

Area — water

1,080 sq km

Area - comparative

Slightly smaller than South Carolina

Land boundaries — total

687 km

Land boundaries — border countries

Colombia 339 km; Costa Rica 348 km

Coastline

2,490 km

Maritime claims — territorial sea

12 nm

Maritime claims — contiguous zone

24 nm

Maritime claims — exclusive economic zone

200 nm or edge of continental margin

Climate

Tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry season (January to May)

Terrain

Interior mostly steep, rugged mountains with dissected, upland plains; coastal plains with rolling hills

Elevation — highest point

Volcan Baru 3,475 m

Elevation — lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Elevation — mean elevation

360 m

Natural resources

Copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower

Land use — agricultural land

29.5% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 7.6% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 1.6% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 20.3% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

62.3% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

8.2% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

394 sq km (2022)

Major lakes (area sq km) — salt water lake(s)

Laguna de Chiriqui - 900 sq km

Population distribution

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

Natural hazards

Occasional severe storms and forest fires in the Darien area

Geography - note

Strategic location on eastern end of isthmus forming land bridge that connects North and South America; controls the Panama Canal, which links the North Atlantic Ocean with the North Pacific Ocean via the Caribbean Sea

👥 People and Society⬆️ Top

Population — total

4,536,008 (2025 est.)

Population — male

2,284,105

Population — female

2,251,903

Nationality — noun

Panamanian(s)

Nationality — adjective

Panamanian

Ethnic groups

Mestizo (mixed Indigenous and White) 65%, Indigenous 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.)

Languages — Languages

Spanish (official), Indigenous languages (including Ngabere (Guaymi), Buglere, Kuna, Embera, Wounaan, Naso (Teribe), and Bri Bri), Panamanian 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)

Languages — major-language sample(s)

La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Religions

Evangelical 55%, Roman Catholic 33.4%, none 10.1%, unspecified 1.5% (2023 est.)

Age structure — 0-14 years

25% (male 574,336/female 544,180)

Age structure — 15-64 years

64.8% (male 1,465,907/female 1,433,023)

Age structure — 65 years and over

10.1% (2024 est.) (male 211,014/female 241,781)

Dependency ratios — total dependency ratio

54.4 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — youth dependency ratio

38.4 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — elderly dependency ratio

16 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — potential support ratio

6.3 (2025 est.)

Median age — total

31.7 years (2025 est.)

Median age — male

31 years

Median age — female

31.9 years

Population growth rate

1.44% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

17.11 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

5.48 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

2.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population distribution

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

Urbanization — urban population

69.5% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

1.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

1.977 million PANAMA CITY (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio — at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 15-64 years

1.02 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 65 years and over

0.87 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — total population

1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

37 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate — total

13.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Infant mortality rate — male

15.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Infant mortality rate — female

12.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth — total population

79.2 years (2024 est.)

Life expectancy at birth — male

76.4 years

Life expectancy at birth — female

82.2 years

Total fertility rate

2.33 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.13 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: urban

Urban: 98.5% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: rural

Rural: 86.1% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: total

Total: 94.7% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: urban

Urban: 1.5% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: rural

Rural: 13.9% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: total

Total: 5.3% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

9.7% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

22.2% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

1.63 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Hospital bed density

1.9 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: urban

Urban: 96.1% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: rural

Rural: 70.1% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: total

Total: 88% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: urban

Urban: 3.9% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: rural

Rural: 29.9% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: total

Total: 12% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

22.7% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita — total

6.54 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — beer

5.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — wine

0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — spirits

1.2 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — other alcohols

0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use — total

4.5% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — male

7.4% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — female

1.7% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

2.9% (2019 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

53.2% (2023 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% GDP)

2.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% national budget)

16.3% national budget (2024 est.)

Literacy — total population

96.3% (2024 est.)

Literacy — male

97.3% (2024 est.)

Literacy — female

95.9% (2024 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — total

13 years (2016 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — male

12 years (2016 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — female

14 years (2016 est.)

🌿 Environment⬆️ Top

Environmental issues

Water pollution from agricultural runoff; deforestation of tropical rainforest; land degradation and soil erosion in Panama Canal; air pollution in urban areas; effects of mining

International environmental agreements — party to

Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

International environmental agreements — signed, but not ratified

Marine Life Conservation

Climate

Tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry season (January to May)

Land use — agricultural land

29.5% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 7.6% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 1.6% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 20.3% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

62.3% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

8.2% (2023 est.)

Urbanization — urban population

69.5% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

1.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — total emissions

23.458 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from coal and metallurgical coke

1.969 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from petroleum and other liquids

20.389 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from consumed natural gas

1.101 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

11.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Waste and recycling — municipal solid waste generated annually

1.472 million tons (2024 est.)

Waste and recycling — percent of municipal solid waste recycled

14.2% (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — municipal

759.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — industrial

6.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — agricultural

446.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total renewable water resources

139.304 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

🏛️ Government⬆️ Top

Country name — conventional long form

Republic of Panama

Country name — conventional short form

Panama

Country name — local long form

República de Panama

Country name — local short form

Panama

Country name — etymology

Origin is unclear; may come from a Guarani word meaning "place of many fish"

Government type

Presidential republic

Capital — name

Panama City

Capital — geographic coordinates

8 58 N, 79 32 W

Capital — time difference

UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Capital — etymology

Origin is unclear; may come from a Guaraní word meaning "place of many fish"

Administrative divisions

10 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 4 indigenous regions* (comarcas); Bocas del Toro, Chiriquí, Coclé, Colon, Darien, Embera-Wounaan*, Guna Yala*, Herrera, Los Santos, Naso Tjer Di*, Ngabe-Bugle*, Panama, Panama Oeste, Veraguas

Legal system

Civil law system; Supreme Court of Justice reviews legislative acts

Constitution — history

Several previous; latest effective 11 October 1972

Constitution — amendment process

Proposed by the National Assembly, by the Cabinet, or by the Supreme Court of Justice; passage requires approval by one of two procedures: 1) absolute majority vote of the Assembly membership in each of three readings and by absolute majority vote of the next elected Assembly in a single reading without textual modifications; 2) absolute majority vote of the Assembly membership in each of three readings, followed by absolute majority vote of the next elected Assembly in each of three readings with textual modifications, and approval in a referendum

International law organization participation

Accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship — citizenship by birth

Yes

Citizenship — citizenship by descent only

Yes

Citizenship — dual citizenship recognized

No

Citizenship — residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch — chief of state

President José Raúl MULINO Quintero (since 1 July 2024)

Executive branch — head of government

President José Raúl MULINO Quintero (since 1 July 2024)

Executive branch — cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president

Executive branch — election/appointment process

President and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by simple-majority popular vote for a 5-year term; president eligible for a single non-consecutive term)

Executive branch — most recent election date

5 May 2024

Executive branch — election results

2024: José Raúl MULINO Quintero elected president; percent of vote - José Raúl MULINO Quintero (RM) 34.2%, Ricardo Alberto LOMBANA González (MOCA) 24.6%, Martín Erasto TORRIJOS Espino (PP) 16%, Alberto ROUX Moses (CD) 11.4%, Zulay RODRÍGUEZ Lu (independent) 6.6%, José Gabriel CARRIZO Jaén (PRD) 5.9%, other 1.3% 2019: Laurentino "Nito" CORTIZO Cohen elected president; percent of vote - Laurentino CORTIZO Cohen (PRD) 33.3%, Romulo ROUX (CD) 31%, Ricardo LOMBANA (independent) 18.8%, Jose BLANDON (Panameñista Party) 10.8%, Ana Matilde GOMEZ Ruiloba (independent) 4.8%, other 1.3%

Executive branch — expected date of next election

May 2029

Legislative branch — legislature name

National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional)

Legislative branch — legislative structure

Unicameral

Legislative branch — number of seats

71 (all directly elected)

Legislative branch — electoral system

Mixed system

Legislative branch — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch — term in office

5 years

Legislative branch — most recent election date

5/5/2024

Legislative branch — parties elected and seats per party

Realizing Goals (RM) (14); Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) (13); Democratic Change (CD) (8); Panamenista Party (8); Independents (20); Other (8)

Legislative branch — percentage of women in chamber

21.7%

Legislative branch — expected date of next election

May 2029

Judicial branch — highest court(s)

Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of 9 magistrates and 9 alternates and divided into civil, criminal, administrative, and general business chambers)

Judicial branch — judge selection and term of office

Magistrates appointed by the president for staggered 10-year terms

Judicial branch — subordinate courts

Appellate courts or Tribunal Superior; Labor Supreme Courts; Court of Audit; circuit courts or Tribunal Circuital (2 each in 9 of the 10 provinces); municipal courts; electoral, family, maritime, and adolescent courts

Political parties

Alliance Party or PA Alternative Independent Socialist Party or PAIS Another Way Movement or MOCA Democratic Change or CD Democratic Revolutionary Party or PRD Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement or MOLIRENA Panameñista Party (formerly the Arnulfista Party) Popular Party or PP (formerly Christian Democratic Party or PDC) Realizing Goals Party or RM

Diplomatic representation in the US — chief of mission

Ambassador José Miguel ALEMÁN HEALY (since 18 September 2024)

Diplomatic representation in the US — chancery

2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation in the US — telephone

[1] (202) 483-1407

Diplomatic representation in the US — FAX

[1] (202) 483-8413

Diplomatic representation in the US — email address and website

Info@embassyofpanama.org https://www.embassyofpanama.org/

Diplomatic representation in the US — consulate(s) general

Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Tampa

Diplomatic representation from the US — chief of mission

Ambassador Kevin Marino CABRERA (since 5 May 2025)

Diplomatic representation from the US — embassy

Building 783, Demetrio Basilio Lakas Avenue, Clayton

Diplomatic representation from the US — mailing address

9100 Panama City PL, Washington, DC 20521-9100

Diplomatic representation from the US — telephone

[507] 317-5000

Diplomatic representation from the US — FAX

[507] 317-5568

Diplomatic representation from the US — email address and website

Panama-ACS@state.gov https://pa.usembassy.gov/

International organization participation

ACS, BCIE, CAN (observer), CD, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, SICA, UN, UNASUR (observer), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Independence

3 November 1903 (from Colombia); 28 November 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday

Independence Day (Separation Day), 3 November (1903)

Flag

Description: divided into four equal rectangles; one of the top quadrants is white (left side) with a five-pointed blue star in the center, and the other is plain red; one of the bottom quadrants is plain blue (left side), and the other is white with a five-pointed red star in the center meaning: blue and red stand for the main political parties, and white for peace between them; the blue star stands for the civic virtues of purity and honesty, and the red star for authority and law

National symbol(s)

Harpy eagle

National color(s)

Blue, white, red

National anthem(s) — title

"Himno Istmeno" (Isthmus Hymn)

National anthem(s) — lyrics/music

Jeronimo DE LA OSSA/Santos A. JORGE

National anthem(s) — history

Adopted 1925

National heritage — total World Heritage Sites

6 (3 cultural, 3 natural)

National heritage — selected World Heritage Site locales

Caribbean Fortifications (c); Darien National Park (n); Talamanca Range-La Amistad National Park (n); Panamá Viejo and Historic District of Panamá (c); Coiba National Park (n); The Colonial Transisthmian Route of Panamá (c)

💹 Economy⬆️ Top

Economic overview

Upper middle-income Central American economy; increasing Chinese trade; US dollar user; canal expansion fueling broader infrastructure investment; services sector dominates economy; historic money-laundering and illegal drug hub

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$164.484 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$159.908 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$148.891 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2024

2.9% (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2023

7.4% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2022

10.8% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2024

$36,400 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2023

$35,900 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2022

$33,800 (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$86.26 billion (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

0.7% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

1.5% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

2.9% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — agriculture

2.6% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — industry

26.3% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — services

68.8% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — household consumption

46.7% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — government consumption

12.2% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in fixed capital

32.3% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in inventories

5.4% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — exports of goods and services

46.5% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — imports of goods and services

-43.1% (2023 est.)

Agricultural products

Sugarcane, rice, bananas, oranges, oil palm fruit, chicken, plantains, maize, milk, pineapples (2023)

Industries

Construction, brewing, cement and other construction materials, sugar milling

Industrial production growth rate

-2.6% (2024 est.)

Labor force

2.206 million (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2024

6.6% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2023

6.6% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2022

8.1% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — total

16.8% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — male

13.4% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — female

22.1% (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

21.8% (2021 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income — Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023

48.9 (2023 est.)

Average household expenditures — on food

15.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Average household expenditures — on alcohol and tobacco

1.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — lowest 10%

1.2% (2023 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — highest 10%

36.9% (2023 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2024

0.6% of GDP (2024 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2023

0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2022

0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)

Budget — revenues

$7.57 billion (2021 est.)

Budget — expenditures

$12.046 billion (2021 est.)

Public debt — Public debt 2016

37.4% of GDP (2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

7.5% (of GDP) (2021 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2024

$1.672 billion (2024 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2023

-$2.581 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2022

$28.769 million (2022 est.)

Exports — Exports 2024

$37.376 billion (2024 est.)

Exports — Exports 2023

$37.905 billion (2023 est.)

Exports — Exports 2022

$35.717 billion (2022 est.)

Exports - partners

China 25%, Japan 10%, USA 6%, Thailand 5%, Costa Rica 5% (2023)

Exports - commodities

Copper ore, ships, refined petroleum, bananas, fish (2023)

Imports — Imports 2024

$30.887 billion (2024 est.)

Imports — Imports 2023

$35.927 billion (2023 est.)

Imports — Imports 2022

$32.646 billion (2022 est.)

Imports - partners

USA 15%, Colombia 13%, China 13%, Ecuador 13%, Japan 11% (2023)

Imports - commodities

Crude petroleum, ships, refined petroleum, nitrogen compounds, cars (2023)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$6.856 billion (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$6.757 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$6.876 billion (2022 est.)

Exchange rates — Currency

Balboas (PAB) per US dollar -

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2024

1 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2023

1 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2022

1 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2021

1 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2020

1 (2020 est.)

⚡ Energy⬆️ Top

Electricity access — electrification - total population

95% (2022 est.)

Electricity access — electrification - urban areas

99%

Electricity access — electrification - rural areas

100%

Electricity — installed generating capacity

4.485 million kW (2023 est.)

Electricity — consumption

11.777 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — exports

404.9 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — imports

234 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — transmission/distribution losses

924.16 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — fossil fuels

38.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — solar

6.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — wind

6.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — hydroelectricity

47.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — biomass and waste

0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal — consumption

863,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — imports

863,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum — refined petroleum consumption

131,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Natural gas — consumption

564.786 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Natural gas — imports

564.786 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita — Total energy consumption per capita 2023

78.01 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

📡 Communications⬆️ Top

Telephones - fixed lines — total subscriptions

811,000 (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

18 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — total subscriptions

6.98 million (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

157 (2023 est.)

Broadcast media

Multiple privately owned TV networks and a government-owned educational TV station; multi-channel cable and satellite TV subscription services are available; more than 100 commercial radio stations (2019)

Internet country code

.pa

Internet users — percent of population

78% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — total

809,000 (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

18 (2023 est.)

🚚 Transportation⬆️ Top

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

HP

Airports

77 (2025)

Heliports

1 (2025)

Railways — total

77 km (2014)

Railways — standard gauge

77 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

Merchant marine — total

8,174 (2023)

Merchant marine — by type

Bulk carrier 2732, container ship 671, general cargo 1,428, oil tanker 866, other 2,477

Ports — total ports

12 (2024)

Ports — large

0

Ports — medium

3

Ports — small

3

Ports — very small

5

Ports — size unknown

1

Ports — ports with oil terminals

5

Ports — key ports

Bahia de las Minas, Balboa, Pedregal, Puerto Armuelles, Puerto Colon, Puerto Cristobal

🛡️ Military and Security⬆️ Top

Military and security forces

No regular military forces Ministry of Public Security: National Police (Policía Nacional, PN), National Aeronaval Service (Servicio Nacional Aeronaval, SENAN), National Border Service (Servicio Nacional de Fronteras, SENAFRONT) (2025)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2024

1.1% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2023

1.1% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2022

1.2% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2021

1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2020

1.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

Approximately 30,000 Ministry of Public Security personnel (2025)

Military - note

The Panamanian Public Forces focus on law enforcement, border control, and maritime security; the National Police are responsible for internal law enforcement and public order, while the National Border Service (SENAFRONT) handles border security; the Aeronaval Service is responsible for carrying out air and naval operations that include some internal security responsibilities; key areas of focus are countering narcotics trafficking and securing the border, particularly along the frontier with Colombia where SENAFRONT maintains a significant presence Panama created a paramilitary National Guard (Guardia Nacional de Panamá) in the 1950s from the former National Police (established 1904); the National Guard subsequently evolved into more of a military force with some police responsibilities; it seized power in a coup in 1968 and military officers ran the country until 1989; in 1983, the National Guard was renamed the Panama Defense Force (PDF); the PDF was disbanded after the 1989 US invasion and the current national police forces were formed in 1990; the armed forces were officially abolished under the 1994 Constitution (2025)

🚨 Terrorism⬆️ Top

Terrorist group(s)

Tren de Aragua (TdA)

🌐 Transnational Issues⬆️ Top

Refugees and internally displaced persons — refugees

10,801 (2024 est.)

Refugees and internally displaced persons — stateless persons

928 (2024 est.)

Illicit drugs — USG identification

Major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country (2025)