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panamamore about panama

panama


  3  definitions  found 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  Panama 
  n  1:  a  republic  on  the  Isthmus  of  Panama  [syn:  {Panama}] 
  2:  a  stiff  straw  hat  with  a  flat  crown  [syn:  {boater},  {leghorn}, 
  {Panama},  {sailor},  {skimmer},  {straw  hat}] 
 
  From  U.S.  Gazetteer  (1990)  [gazetteer]: 
 
  Panama,  IA  (city,  FIPS  61275) 
  Location:  41.72672  N,  95.47527  W 
  Population  (1990):  201  (95  housing  units) 
  Area:  0.7  sq  km  (land),  0.0  sq  km  (water) 
  Zip  code(s):  51562 
  Panama,  IL  (village,  FIPS  57498) 
  Location:  39.02871  N,  89.52517  W 
  Population  (1990):  294  (145  housing  units) 
  Area:  0.8  sq  km  (land),  0.0  sq  km  (water) 
  Panama,  NE  (village,  FIPS  38225) 
  Location:  40.59957  N,  96.51118  W 
  Population  (1990):  207  (78  housing  units) 
  Area:  0.7  sq  km  (land),  0.0  sq  km  (water) 
  Panama,  NY  (village,  FIPS  56231) 
  Location:  42.07501  N,  79.48613  W 
  Population  (1990):  468  (193  housing  units) 
  Area:  5.6  sq  km  (land),  0.1  sq  km  (water) 
  Zip  code(s):  14767 
  Panama,  OK  (town,  FIPS  56900) 
  Location:  35.17088  N,  94.66988  W 
  Population  (1990):  1528  (681  housing  units) 
  Area:  3.9  sq  km  (land),  0.0  sq  km  (water) 
 
  From  The  CIA  World  Factbook  (1995)  [world95]: 
 
  Panama 
 
  Panama:Geography 
 
  Location:  Middle  America,  bordering  both  the  Caribbean  Sea  and  the 
  North  Pacific  Ocean,  between  Colombia  and  Costa  Rica 
 
  Map  references:  Central  America  and  the  Caribbean 
 
  Area: 
  total  area:  78,200  sq  km 
  land  area:  75,990  sq  km 
  comparative  area:  slightly  smaller  than  South  Carolina 
 
  Land  boundaries:  total  555  km  Colombia  225  km  Costa  Rica  330  km 
 
  Coastline:  2,490  km 
 
  Maritime  claims: 
  territorial  sea:  200  nm 
 
  International  disputes:  none 
 
  Climate:  tropical;  hot,  humid,  cloudy;  prolonged  rainy  season  (May  to 
  January),  short  dry  season  (January  to  May) 
 
  Terrain:  interior  mostly  steep,  rugged  mountains  and  dissected,  upland 
  plains;  coastal  areas  largely  plains  and  rolling  hills 
 
  Natural  resources:  copper,  mahogany  forests,  shrimp 
 
  Land  use: 
  arable  land:  6% 
  permanent  crops:  2% 
  meadows  and  pastures:  15% 
  forest  and  woodland:  54% 
  other:  23% 
 
  Irrigated  land:  320  sq  km  (1989  est.) 
 
  Environment: 
  current  issues:  water  pollution  from  agricultural  runoff  threatens 
  fishery  resources;  deforestation  of  tropical  rain  forest;  land 
  degradation 
  natural  hazards:  NA 
  international  agreements:  party  to  -  Biodiversity,  Endangered  Species, 
  Hazardous  Wastes,  Marine  Dumping,  Nuclear  Test  Ban,  Ozone  Layer 
  Protection,  Ship  Pollution,  Tropical  Timber  83,  Wetlands;  signed,  but 
  not  ratified  -  Climate  Change,  Law  of  the  Sea,  Marine  Life 
  Conservation,  Tropical  Timber  94 
 
  Note:  strategic  location  on  eastern  end  of  isthmus  forming  land  bridge 
  connecting  North  and  South  America;  controls  Panama  Canal  that  links 
  North  Atlantic  Ocean  via  Caribbean  Sea  with  North  Pacific  Ocean 
 
  Panama:People 
 
  Population:  2,680,903  (July  1995  est.) 
 
  Age  structure: 
  0-14  years:  34%  (female  439,491;  male  458,817) 
  15-64  years:  61%  (female  812,876;  male  823,124) 
  65  years  and  over:  5%  (female  74,672;  male  71,923)  (July  1995  est.) 
 
  Population  growth  rate:  1.9%  (1995  est.) 
 
  Birth  rate:  24.12  births/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Death  rate:  4.79  deaths/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Net  migration  rate:  -0.36  migrant(s)/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Infant  mortality  rate:  15.8  deaths/1,000  live  births  (1995  est.) 
 
  Life  expectancy  at  birth: 
  total  population:  75.2  years 
  male:  72.57  years 
  female:  77.97  years  (1995  est.) 
 
  Total  fertility  rate:  2.8  children  born/woman  (1995  est.) 
 
  Nationality: 
  noun:  Panamanian(s) 
  adjective:  Panamanian 
 
  Ethnic  divisions:  mestizo  (mixed  Indian  and  European  ancestry)  70%, 
  West  Indian  14%,  white  10%,  Indian  6% 
 
  Religions:  Roman  Catholic  85%,  Protestant  15% 
 
  Languages:  Spanish  (official),  English  14% 
  note:  many  Panamanians  bilingual 
 
  Literacy:  age  15  and  over  can  read  and  write  (1990) 
  total  population:  89% 
  male:  89% 
  female:  88% 
 
  Labor  force:  979,000  (1994  est.) 
  by  occupation:  government  and  community  services  31.8%,  agriculture, 
  hunting,  and  fishing  26.8%,  commerce,  restaurants,  and  hotels  16.4%, 
  manufacturing  and  mining  9.4%,  construction  3.2%,  transportation  and 
  communications  6.2%,  finance,  insurance,  and  real  estate  4.3% 
  note:  shortage  of  skilled  labor,  but  an  oversupply  of  unskilled  labor 
 
  Panama:Government 
 
  Names: 
  conventional  long  form:  Republic  of  Panama 
  conventional  short  form:  Panama 
  local  long  form:  Republica  de  Panama 
  local  short  form:  Panama 
 
  Digraph:  PM 
 
  Type:  constitutional  republic 
 
  Capital:  Panama 
 
  Administrative  divisions:  9  provinces  (provincias,  singular  - 
  provincia)  and  1  territory*  (comarca);  Bocas  del  Toro,  Chiriqui 
  Cocle,  Colon,  Darien,  Herrera  Los  Santos  Panama,  San  Blas*,  Veraguas 
 
  Independence:  3  November  1903  (from  Colombia;  became  independent  from 
  Spain  28  November  1821) 
 
  National  holiday:  Independence  Day  3  November  (1903) 
 
  Constitution:  11  October  1972;  major  reforms  adopted  April  1983 
 
  Legal  system:  based  on  civil  law  system;  judicial  review  of 
  legislative  acts  in  the  Supreme  Court  of  Justice;  accepts  compulsory 
  ICJ  jurisdiction,  with  reservations 
 
  Suffrage:  18  years  of  age;  universal  and  compulsory 
 
  Executive  branch: 
  chief  of  state  and  head  of  government:  President  Ernesto  PEREZ 
  BALLADARES  Gonzalez  Revilla  (since  1  September  1994,  elected  8  May 
  1994);  First  Vice  President  Tomas  Gabriel  ALTAMIRANO  DUQUE  (since  1 
  September  1994);  Second  Vice  President  Felipe  Alejandro  VIRZI  Lopez 
  (since  1  September  1994  election  last  held  8  May  1994  (next  to  be  held 
  9  May  1999);  results  -  Ernesto  PEREZ  BALLADARES  (PRD)  33%,  Mireya 
  MOSCOSO  DE  GRUBER  PA  29%,  Ruben  BLADES  (MPE)  17%,  Ruben  Dario  CARLES 
  MOLIRENA  16% 
  cabinet:  Cabinet;  appointed  by  the  president 
 
  Legislative  branch:  unicameral 
  Legislative  Assembly  (Asamblea  Legislativa):  legislators  from  outlying 
  rural  districts  are  chosen  on  a  plurality  basis  while  districts 
  located  in  more  populous  towns  and  cities  elect  multiple  legislators 
  by  means  of  a  proportion-based  formula;  elections  last  held  8  May  1994 
  (next  to  be  held  9  May  1999);  results  -  percent  of  vote  by  party  NA  ; 
  seats  -  (72  total)  PRD  32,  PS  4,  PALA  1,  PA  14,  MPE  6,  MOLIRENA  4,  PLA 
  3,  PRC  3,  PL  2,  PDC  1,  UDI  1,  MORENA  1 
 
  Judicial  branch:  Supreme  Court  of  Justice  (Corte  Suprema  de  Justicia), 
  5  superior  courts,  3  courts  of  appeal 
 
  Political  parties  and  leaders: 
  governing  coalition:  Democratic  Revolutionary  Party  (PRD),  Gerardo 
  GONZALEZ;  Solidarity  Party  (PS),  Samuel  LEWIS  GALINDO  Liberal 
  Republican  Party  (PLR),  Rodolfo  CHIARI  Labor  Party  (PALA),  Carlos 
  Lopez  GUEVARA 
  other  parties:  Nationalist  Republican  Liberal  Movement  (MOLIRENA), 
  Alfredo  RAMIREZ  Authentic  Liberal  Party  (PLA),  Arnulfo  ESCALONA; 
  Arnulfista  Party  (PA),  Mireya  MOSCOSO  DE  GRUBER;  Christian  Democratic 
  Party  (PDC),  Raul  OSSA;  Liberal  Party  (PL),  Roberto  ALEMAN  Zubieta 
  Papa  Egoro  Movement  (MPE),  Ruben  BLADES;  Civic  Renewal  Party  (PRC), 
  Tomas  HERRERA  National  Unity  Mission  Party  (MUN),  Jose  Manuel 
  PAREDES  Independent  Democratic  Union  (UDI),  Jacinto  CARDENAS 
  National  Renovation  Movement  (MORENA),  Pedro  VALLERINO 
 
  Other  political  or  pressure  groups:  National  Council  of  Organized 
  Workers  (CONATO);  National  Council  of  Private  Enterprise  (CONEP); 
  Panamanian  Association  of  Business  Executives  (APEDE);  National  Civic 
  Crusade;  Chamber  of  Commerce;  Panamanian  Industrialists  Society  (SIP); 
  Workers  Confederation  of  the  Republic  of  Panama  (CTRP) 
 
  Member  of:  AG  (associate),  CG  ECLAC  FAO,  G-77,  IADB,  IAEA,  IBRD, 
  ICAO,  ICFTU  ICRM,  IDA,  IFAD,  IFC,  IFRCS  ILO,  IMF,  IMO,  INMARSAT 
  INTELSAT,  INTERPOL,  IOC,  IOM,  ITU,  LAES,  LAIA  (observer),  NAM,  OAS, 
  OPANAL  PCA,  UN  UNCTAD  UNESCO,  UNIDO  UPU,  WCL,  WFTU  WHO  WIPO, 
  WMO,  WTO 
 
  Diplomatic  representation  in  US: 
  chief  of  mission:  Ambassador  Ricardo  Alberto  ARIAS 
  chancery:  2862  McGill  Terrace  NW  Washington,  DC  20008 
  telephone:  [1]  (202)  483-1407 
  consulate(s)  general:  Atlanta,  Houston,  Miami,  New  Orleans,  New  York, 
  San  Francisco,  San  Juan  (Puerto  Rico),  Tampa 
 
  US  diplomatic  representation: 
  chief  of  mission:  (vacant);  Charge  d'Affaires  Oliver  P.  GARZA 
  embassy:  Avenida  Balboa  and  Calle  38,  Apartado  6959,  Panama  City  5 
  mailing  address:  American  Embassy  Panama,  Unit  0945;  APO  AA  34002 
  telephone:  [507]  27-1777 
  FAX:  [507]  27-1964 
 
  Flag:  divided  into  four  equal  rectangles;  the  top  quadrants  are  white 
  (hoist  side)  with  a  blue  five-pointed  star  in  the  center  and  plain 
  red,  the  bottom  quadrants  are  plain  blue  (hoist  side)  and  white  with  a 
  red  five-pointed  star  in  the  center 
 
  Economy 
 
  Overview:  Because  of  its  key  geographic  location,  Panama's  economy  is 
  service-based,  heavily  weighted  toward  banking,  commerce,  and  tourism. 
  Trade  and  financial  ties  with  the  US  are  especially  close  GDP  grew  at 
  3.6%  in  1994,  a  respectable  rate,  yet  below  the  7.1%  average  of  the 
  early  1990s.  Banking  and  financial  services  and  trade  through  the 
  Colon  Free  Zone  continued  to  expand  rapidly,  with  the  industrial  and 
  agricultural  sectors  experiencing  little  growth.  The  new 
  administration,  inaugurated  1  September  1994,  has  launched  an  economic 
  plan  designed  to  reverse  rising  unemployment,  attract  foreign 
  investment,  cut  back  the  size  of  government,  and  modernize  the 
  economy.  The  success  of  the  plan  in  meeting  its  goals  for  1995  and 
  beyond  depends  largely  on  the  success  of  the  administration  in 
  reforming  the  labor  code  and  instituting  the  reforms  necessary  to  join 
  the  GATT. 
 
  National  product:  GDP  -  purchasing  power  parity  -  $12.3  billion  (1994 
  est.) 
 
  National  product  real  growth  rate:  3.6%  (1994  est.) 
 
  National  product  per  capita:  $4,670  (1994  est.) 
 
  Inflation  rate  (consumer  prices):  1.8%  (1994  est.) 
 
  Unemployment  rate:  12.9%  (1994  est.) 
 
  Budget: 
  revenues:  $1.93  billion 
  expenditures:  $1.93  billion,  including  capital  expenditures  of  $NA 
  (1994) 
 
  Exports:  $520  million  (f.o.b.,  1994  est.) 
  commodities:  bananas  43%,  shrimp  11%,  sugar  4%,  clothing  5%,  coffee  2% 
 
  partners:  US  45%,  EU  Central  America  and  Caribbean 
 
  Imports:  $2.205  billion  (c.i.f.,  1994  est.) 
  commodities:  capital  goods  21%,  crude  oil  11%,  foodstuffs  9%,  consumer 
  goods,  chemicals 
  partners:  US  40%,  EU  Central  America  and  Caribbean,  Japan 
 
  External  debt:  $6.7  billion  (yearend  1993  est.) 
 
  Industrial  production:  growth  rate  1.8%  (1994  est.);  accounts  for 
  about  9%  of  GDP 
 
  Electricity: 
  capacity:  960,000  kW 
  production:  2.8  billion  kWh 
  consumption  per  capita:  1,047  kWh  (1993) 
 
  Industries:  manufacturing  and  construction,  petroleum  refining, 
  brewing,  cement  and  other  construction  materials,  sugar  milling 
 
  Agriculture:  accounts  for  10%  of  GDP  (1992  est.);  crops  -  bananas, 
  rice,  corn,  coffee,  sugarcane;  livestock;  fishing;  importer  of  food 
  grain,  vegetables 
 
  Illicit  drugs:  major  cocaine  transshipment  point  and  drug  money 
  laundering  center 
 
  Economic  aid: 
  recipient:  US  commitments,  including  Ex-Im  (FY70-89),  $516  million; 
  Western  (non-US)  countries,  ODA  and  OOF  bilateral  commitments 
  (1970-89),  $582  million;  Communist  countries  (1970-89),  $4  million 
 
  Currency:  1  balboa  B  =  100  centesimos 
 
  Exchange  rates:  balboas  B  per  US$1  -  1.000  (fixed  rate) 
 
  Fiscal  year:  calendar  year 
 
  Panama:Transportation 
 
  Railroads: 
  total:  238  km 
  broad  gauge:  78  km  1.524-m  gauge 
  narrow  gauge:  160  km  0.914-m  gauge 
 
  Highways: 
  total:  8,530  km 
  paved:  2,745  km 
  unpaved:  gravel,  crushed  stone  3,270  km  improved,  unimproved  earth 
  2,515  km 
 
  Inland  waterways:  800  km  navigable  by  shallow  draft  vessels;  82  km 
  Panama  Canal 
 
  Pipelines:  crude  oil  130  km 
 
  Ports:  Bahia  de  las  Minas,  Balboa,  Colon,  Cristobal  Panama 
 
  Merchant  marine: 
  total:  3,526  ships  (1,000  GRT  or  over)  totaling  60,748,525 
  GRT/95,102,552  DWT 
  ships  by  type:  barge  carrier  1,  bulk  787,  cargo  1,070,  chemical  tanker 
  175,  combination  bulk  33,  combination  ore/oil  25,  container  259, 
  liquefied  gas  tanker  125,  livestock  carrier  8,  multifunction 
  large-load  carrier  6,  oil  tanker  465,  passenger  24,  passenger-cargo  3, 
  refrigerated  cargo  284,  roll-on/roll-off  cargo  81,  short-sea  passenger 
  34,  specialized  tanker  9,  vehicle  carrier  137 
  note:  a  flag  of  convenience  registry;  includes  93  countries;  the  10 
  major  fleet  flags  are:  Japan  1,171  ships,  Greece  323,  Hong  Kong  276, 
  US  212,  Taiwan  184,  Singapore  181,  South  Korea  172,  China  145  ships, 
  UK  102,  and  Norway  70 
 
  Airports: 
  total:  115 
  with  paved  runways  over  3,047  m:  1 
  with  paved  runways  2,438  to  3,047  m:  1 
  with  paved  runways  1,524  to  2,437  m:  5 
  with  paved  runways  914  to  1,523  m:  14 
  with  paved  runways  under  914  m:  74 
  with  unpaved  runways  914  to  1,523  m:  20 
 
  Panama:Communications 
 
  Telephone  system:  220,000  telephones;  domestic  and  international 
  facilities  well  developed 
  local:  NA 
  intercity:  NA 
  international:  1  coaxial  submarine  cable;  2  INTELSAT  (Atlantic  Ocean) 
  earth  stations;  connected  to  the  Central  American  Microwave  System 
 
  Radio: 
  broadcast  stations:  AM  91,  FM  0,  shortwave  0 
  radios:  NA 
 
  Television: 
  broadcast  stations:  23 
  televisions:  NA 
 
  Panama:Defense  Forces 
 
  Branches:  Panamanian  Public  Forces  (PPF;  includes  the  National  Police 
  or  PNP,  Maritime  Service,  National  Air  Service,  and  Institutional 
  Protective  Service);  Judicial  Branch  Technical  Police 
 
  Manpower  availability:  males  age  15-49  701,691;  males  fit  for  military 
  service  481,927  (1995  est.) 
 
  Defense  expenditures:  expenditures  for  the  Panamanian  security  forces 
  amounted  to  $105  million,  1.0%  of  GDP  (1993  est.) 
 
 
 




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