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
land: 74,340 sq km
water: 1,080 sq km
comparison ranking: total 118
Area – comparative
slightly smaller than South Carolina
Area comparison map:
Land boundaries
total: 687 km
border countries (2): Colombia 339 km; Costa Rica 348 km
Coastline
2,490 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
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
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 360 m
Natural resources
copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower
Land use
agricultural land: 29.4% (2022 est.)
arable land: 7.6% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 1.4% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 20.3% (2022 est.)
forest: 56.5% (2022 est.)
other: 14.1% (2022 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
Population
total: 4,470,241 (2024 est.)
male: 2,251,257
female: 2,218,984
comparison rankings: total 127; female 128; male 127
Nationality
noun: Panamanian(s)
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
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)
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.
Spanish audio sample:
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)
15-64 years: 64.8% (male 1,465,907/female 1,433,023)
65 years and over: 10.1% (2024 est.) (male 211,014/female 241,781)
2024 population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 54.2 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 38.6 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 15.6 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 6.4 (2024 est.)
Median age
total: 31.5 years (2024 est.)
male: 31 years
female: 31.9 years
comparison ranking: total 127
Population growth rate
1.48% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 66
Birth rate
17.4 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 86
Death rate
5.7 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 170
Net migration rate
3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 36
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)
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
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
50 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 96
Infant mortality rate
total: 14.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 15.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.9 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 98
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 79.2 years (2024 est.)
male: 76.4 years
female: 82.2 years
comparison ranking: total population 66
Total fertility rate
2.35 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 74
Gross reproduction rate
1.14 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
50.8% (2014/15)
Drinking water source
improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 88.1% of population
total: 96.2% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 11.9% of population
total: 3.8% of population (2020 est.)
Health expenditure
9.7% of GDP (2021)
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: 95.5% of population
rural: 69.1% of population
total: 87.2% of population
unimproved:
urban: 4.5% of population
rural: 30.9% of population
total: 12.8% of population (2020 est.)
Obesity – adult prevalence rate
22.7% (2016)
comparison ranking: 73
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 6.54 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 5.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 1.2 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 63
Tobacco use
total: 4.5% (2025 est.)
male: 7.4% (2025 est.)
female: 1.7% (2025 est.)
comparison ranking: total 166
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
2.9% (2019)
comparison ranking: 83
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
58.6% (2023 est.)
Education expenditure
3.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
11.9% national budget (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 112
Literacy
total population: 96% (2019 est.)
male: 96% (2019 est.)
female: 95% (2019 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 13 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2016)
Environment
Environment – current 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
Environment – international 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
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: 29.4% (2022 est.)
arable land: 7.6% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 1.4% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 20.3% (2022 est.)
forest: 56.5% (2022 est.)
other: 14.1% (2022 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 69.5% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 11.78 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 10.71 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 5.97 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 1,472,262 tons (2015 est.)
Major lakes (area sq km)
salt water lake(s): Laguna de Chiriqui – 900 sq km
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 760 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 10 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 450 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources
139.3 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Panama
conventional short form: Panama
local long form: República de Panama
local short form: Panama
etymology: origin is unclear; may come from a Guarani word meaning “place of many fish”
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
name: Panama City
geographic coordinates: 8 58 N, 79 32 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
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, Chiriqui, Cocle, 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
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 by descent only: yes
dual citizenship recognized: no
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)
head of government: President José Raúl MULINO Quintero (since 1 July 2024)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections/appointments: 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); election last held on 5 May 2024 (next to be held in May 2029)
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%
note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
Legislative branch
legislature name: National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional)
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 71 (all directly elected)
electoral system: mixed system
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 5/5/2024
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)
percentage of women in chamber: 21.7%
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)
judge selection and term of office: magistrates appointed by the president for staggered 10-year terms
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)
chancery: 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-1407
FAX: [1] (202) 483-8413
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://www.embassyofpanama.org/
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)
embassy: Building 783, Demetrio Basilio Lakas Avenue, Clayton
mailing address: 9100 Panama City PL, Washington, DC 20521-9100
telephone: [507] 317-5000
FAX: [507] 317-5568
email address and website:
[email protected]
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 (hoist side) with a five-pointed blue star in the center, and the other is plain red; one of the bottom quadrants is plain blue (hoist side), and the other is white with a five-pointed red star in the center; the blue and red stand for the main political parties, and the white for peace between them; the blue star stands for the civic virtues of purity and honesty, and the red star signifies authority and law
National symbol(s)
harpy eagle
National colors
blue, white, red
National anthem
name: “Himno Istmeno” (Isthmus Hymn)
lyrics/music: Jeronimo DE LA OSSA/Santos A. JORGE
note: adopted 1925
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 5 (2 cultural, 3 natural)
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)
Economy
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)
$159.908 billion (2023 est.)
$148.891 billion (2022 est.)
$134.415 billion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 80
Real GDP growth rate
7.4% (2023 est.)
10.77% (2022 est.)
15.84% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 18
Real GDP per capita
$35,900 (2023 est.)
$33,800 (2022 est.)
$30,900 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 66
GDP (official exchange rate)
$83.318 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
0.7% (2024 est.)
1.5% (2023 est.)
2.9% (2022 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 17
GDP – composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 2.5% (2023 est.)
industry: 27.8% (2023 est.)
services: 67.3% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 49; industry 75; agriculture 148
GDP – composition, by end use
household consumption: 46.7% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 12.2% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 32.3% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: 5.5% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 46.5% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -43.1% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Agricultural products
sugarcane, rice, bananas, oranges, oil palm fruit, chicken, plantains, maize, milk, pineapples (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
construction, brewing, cement and other construction materials, sugar milling
Industrial production growth rate
12.82% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 10
Labor force
2.206 million (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 125
Unemployment rate
6.5% (2024 est.)
6.5% (2023 est.)
8.1% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 128
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 16.8% (2024 est.)
male: 13.4% (2024 est.)
female: 22.1% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 73
Population below poverty line
21.8% (2021 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income
48.9 (2023 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
comparison ranking: 13
Average household expenditures
on food: 15.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 1.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 1.2% (2023 est.)
highest 10%: 36.9% (2023 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Remittances
0.62% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.69% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.84% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $7.57 billion (2021 est.)
expenditures: $11.553 billion (2021 est.)
note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Public debt
37.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
comparison ranking: 138
Taxes and other revenues
7.5% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 190
Current account balance
-$3.739 billion (2023 est.)
-$475.146 million (2022 est.)
-$778.779 million (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 170
Exports
$36.569 billion (2023 est.)
$35.731 billion (2022 est.)
$27.488 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 75
Exports – partners
China 25%, Japan 10%, USA 6%, Thailand 5%, Costa Rica 5% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports – commodities
copper ore, ships, refined petroleum, bananas, fish (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$36.135 billion (2023 est.)
$32.693 billion (2022 est.)
$24.459 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 72
Imports – partners
USA 15%, Colombia 13%, China 13%, Ecuador 13%, Japan 11% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports – commodities
crude petroleum, ships, refined petroleum, nitrogen compounds, cars (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$6.856 billion (2024 est.)
$6.757 billion (2023 est.)
$6.876 billion (2022 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
comparison ranking: 89
Exchange rates
balboas (PAB) per US dollar –
Exchange rates:
1 (2023 est.)
1 (2022 est.)
1 (2021 est.)
1 (2020 est.)
1 (2019 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification – total population: 95% (2022 est.)
electrification – urban areas: 99%
electrification – rural areas: 100%
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 4.485 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 11.777 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 404.9 million kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 234 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 924.16 million kWh (2023 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 95; imports 104; exports 80; consumption 101; installed generating capacity 95
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 38.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 6.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 6.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 47.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal
consumption: 863,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
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.)
imports: 564.786 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
23.458 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 1.969 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 20.389 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 1.101 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 79
Energy consumption per capita
78.01 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: 67
Communications
Telephones – fixed lines
total subscriptions: 811,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 75
Telephones – mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 6.98 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 156 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 114
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.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total 83
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
HP
Airports
77 (2025)
comparison ranking: 67
Heliports
1 (2025)
comparison ranking: 157
Railways
total: 77 km (2014)
standard gauge: 77 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge
Merchant marine
total: 8,174 (2023)
by type: bulk carrier 2732, container ship 671, general cargo 1,428, oil tanker 866, other 2,477
comparison ranking: total 3
Ports
total ports: 12 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 3
small: 3
very small: 5
size unknown: 1
ports with oil terminals: 5
key ports: Bahia de las Minas, Balboa, Pedregal, Puerto Armuelles, Puerto Colon, Puerto Cristobal
Military and Security
Military and security forces
no regular military forces; Ministry of Public Security: Panama National Police (La Policía Nacional de Panamá, PNP), National Aeronaval Service (Servicio Nacional Aeronaval, SENAN), National Border Service (Servicio Nacional de Fronteras, SENAFRONT) (2025)
note 1: collectively, the security forces are known as the Panamanian Public Forces
note 2: the PNP includes a special forces directorate with counterterrorism and counternarcotics units; SENAFRONT has three regionally based border security brigades, plus a specialized brigade comprised of special forces, counternarcotics, maritime, and rapid reaction units
Military expenditures
1.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
1.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 30,000 Ministry of Public Security personnel (2025)
Military – note
the Panama National Police is principally responsible for internal law enforcement and public order, while the National Border Service 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 southern border with Colombia (the area is known as the Darién Gap) where the National Border Service (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 (2024)
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 58,158 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum or have received alternative legal stay) (2023)
Illicit drugs
not a major consumer or producer of illicit drugs; a prime sea and land passage for drugs, primarily cocaine, from South America to North America and Europe; drug traffickers also use millions of shipping containers to smuggle drugs to North America and Europe through the Panama
