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The '''Republic of Panama''' is a [[country]] in [[Central America]], just north and east of [[Colombia]] and west of [[Costa Rica]].  Panama runs the [[Panama Canal]], which is an important route for ships which are traveling from the [[Atlantic]] to the [[Pacific]] ocean (and [[vice versa]]). In October 2006, voters passed a referendum to expand the Panama Canal to accommodate ships that are now too large to transverse the canal. <ref>[http://www.pancanal.com/eng/plan/documentos/propuesta/acp-expansion-proposal.pdf Panama Canal MasterPlan]</ref>

The '''Republic of Panama''' is a [[country]] in [[Central America]], just north and east of [[Colombia]] and west of [[Costa Rica]].  Panama runs the [[Panama Canal]], which is an important route for ships which are traveling from the [[Atlantic]] to the [[Pacific]] ocean (and [[vice versa]]). In October 2006, voters passed a referendum to expand the Panama Canal to accommodate ships that are now too large to transverse the canal.<ref>[http://www.pancanal.com/eng/plan/documentos/propuesta/acp-expansion-proposal.pdf Panama Canal MasterPlan]</ref>

==Geography==

==Geography==

The interior is mainly steep, rugged mountains; its highest point is Cerro Volcan (3,475 m.--11,468 ft.).  Panama has a tropical climate with an average daily rainfall 28 mm. (1 in.) in winter.  

The interior is mainly steep, rugged mountains; its highest point is Cerro Volcan (3,475 m.--11,468&nbsp;ft.).  Panama has a tropical climate with an average daily rainfall 28&nbsp;mm. (1 in.) in winter.  

==People==

==People==

Panamanians' culture, customs, and language are predominantly Caribbean Spanish. The majority of the population is ethnically mestizo or mixed Spanish, Indigenous, Chinese, and West Indian. Spanish is the official and dominant language; English is a common second language spoken by the West Indians and by many businesspeople and professionals. More than half the population lives in the Panama City-Colon metropolitan corridor.  

Panamanians' culture, customs, and language are predominantly Caribbean Spanish. The majority of the population is ethnically mestizo or mixed Spanish, Indigenous, Chinese, and West Indian. Spanish is the official and dominant language; English is a common second language spoken by the West Indians and by many businesspeople and professionals. More than half the population lives in the Panama City-Colon metropolitan corridor.  

[[File:Guaymi Painting Guaymí people Panama.jpg|thumb|240px|Guaymí, an ethnic group in western Panama.]]

[[File:Guaymi Painting Guaymí people Panama.jpg|thumb|240px|Guaymí, an ethnic group in western Panama.]]

Panama is rich in folklore and popular traditions. Lively salsa--a mixture of Latin American popular music, rhythm and blues, jazz, and rock--is a Panamanian specialty, and Ruben Blades its best-known performer. Indigenous influences dominate handicrafts such as the famous Kuna textile molas. Artist Roberto Lewis' Presidential Palace murals and his restoration work and ceiling in the National Theater are well known and admired.  

Panama is rich in folklore and popular traditions. Lively salsa—a mixture of Latin American popular music, rhythm and blues, jazz, and rock—is a Panamanian specialty, and Ruben Blades its best-known performer. Indigenous influences dominate handicrafts such as the famous Kuna textile molas. Artist Roberto Lewis' Presidential Palace murals and his restoration work and ceiling in the National Theater are well known and admired.  

More than 65,000 Panamanian students attend the University of Panama, the Technological University, and the University of Santa Maria La Antigua, a private Catholic institution. Including smaller colleges, there are 14 institutions of higher education in Panama. The first six years of primary education are compulsory, and there are about 357,000 students currently enrolled in grades one through six. The total enrollment in the six secondary grades is about 207,000. More than 90% of Panamanians are literate.  

More than 65,000 Panamanian students attend the University of Panama, the Technological University, and the University of Santa Maria La Antigua, a private Catholic institution. Including smaller colleges, there are 14 institutions of higher education in Panama. The first six years of primary education are compulsory, and there are about 357,000 students currently enrolled in grades one through six. The total enrollment in the six secondary grades is about 207,000. More than 90% of Panamanians are literate.  

*Religions: Roman Catholic 84%, Protestant 15%, other 1%.  

*Religions: Roman Catholic 84%, Protestant 15%, other 1%.  

*Languages: Spanish (official); 14% speak English as their native tongue; various indigenous languages. Many Panamanians are bilingual.  

*Languages: Spanish (official); 14% speak English as their native tongue; various indigenous languages. Many Panamanians are bilingual.  

*Education: Years compulsory--6. Attendance--95% for primary school-age children, 60% for secondary. Literacy--92.6% overall: urban 94%, rural 62%.  

*Education: Years compulsory—6. Attendance—95% for primary school-age children, 60% for secondary. Literacy—92.6% overall: urban 94%, rural 62%.  

*Health: Infant mortality rate--15.2/1,000. Life expectancy--75.0 yrs.  

*Health: Infant mortality rate—15.2/1,000. Life expectancy—75.0 yrs.  

*Work force (1.4 million): Commerce (wholesale and retail)--19.1%; agriculture, cattle, hunting, silviculture--14%; industries (manufactures)--8.8%; construction--7.7%; transportation, storage, communications--7.2%; public and defense administration--6.9%; other community and social activities--5.8%; hotels and restaurants--3.7%; financial intermediation--2.6%.

*Work force (1.4 million): Commerce (wholesale and retail)--19.1%; agriculture, cattle, hunting, silviculture—14%; industries (manufactures)--8.8%; construction—7.7%; transportation, storage, communications—7.2%; public and defense administration—6.9%; other community and social activities—5.8%; hotels and restaurants—3.7%; financial intermediation—2.6%.

==Government and Political Conditions==

==Government and Political Conditions==

===Principal Government Officials===  

===Principal Government Officials===  

*President--Juan Carlos Varela

*President—Juan Carlos Varela

*First Vice President--Juan Carlos Varela Rodríguez

*First Vice President—Juan Carlos Varela Rodríguez

*Second Vice President--Rubén Arosemena  

*Second Vice President—Rubén Arosemena  

*Ministry of Foreign Affairs--Samuel Lewis Navarro  

*Ministry of Foreign Affairs—Samuel Lewis Navarro  

*Ambassador to the United States--Federico António Humbert Arias  

*Ambassador to the United States—Federico António Humbert Arias  

*Ambassador to the United Nations--Ricardo Alberto Arias  

*Ambassador to the United Nations—Ricardo Alberto Arias  

*Ambassador to the Organization of American States--Aristides Royo  

*Ambassador to the Organization of American States—Aristides Royo  

===Foreign Relations===

===Foreign Relations===

Panama is a member of the UN General Assembly and most major UN agencies and started its fourth term as a member of the UN Security Council in January 2007. It maintains membership in several international financial institutions, including the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the International Monetary Fund.  

Panama is a member of the UN General Assembly and most major UN agencies and started its fourth term as a member of the UN Security Council in January 2007. It maintains membership in several international financial institutions, including the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the International Monetary Fund.  

Panama is a member of the Organization of American States and was a founding member of the Rio Group. Although it was suspended from the Latin American Economic System--known informally both as the Group of Eight and the Rio Group--in 1988 due to its internal political system under Noriega, Panama was readmitted in September 1994 as an acknowledgment of its democratic credentials.  

Panama is a member of the Organization of American States and was a founding member of the Rio Group. Although it was suspended from the Latin American Economic System—known informally both as the Group of Eight and the Rio Group—in 1988 due to its internal political system under Noriega, Panama was readmitted in September 1994 as an acknowledgment of its democratic credentials.  

Panama also is one of the founding members of the Union of Banana Exporting Countries and belongs to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission. Panama is a member of the Central American Parliament as well as the Central American Integration System. Panama joined its six Central American neighbors at the 1994 Summit of the Americas in signing the Alliance for Sustainable Development, known as the Conjunta Centroamerica-USA or CONCAUSA, to promote sustainable economic development in the region.

Panama also is one of the founding members of the Union of Banana Exporting Countries and belongs to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission. Panama is a member of the Central American Parliament as well as the Central American Integration System. Panama joined its six Central American neighbors at the 1994 Summit of the Americas in signing the Alliance for Sustainable Development, known as the Conjunta Centroamerica-USA or CONCAUSA, to promote sustainable economic development in the region.

*Natural resources: Timber, seafood, copper.  

*Natural resources: Timber, seafood, copper.  

*Services (80% of GDP): Finance, insurance, health and medical, transportation, telecommunications, the Canal and maritime services, tourism, Colon Free Zone, public administration, and general commerce.  

*Services (80% of GDP): Finance, insurance, health and medical, transportation, telecommunications, the Canal and maritime services, tourism, Colon Free Zone, public administration, and general commerce.  

*Agriculture and fisheries: Products--bananas and other fruit, corn, sugar, rice, coffee, shrimp, timber, vegetables, livestock.  

*Agriculture and fisheries: Products—bananas and other fruit, corn, sugar, rice, coffee, shrimp, timber, vegetables, livestock.  

*Industry/Manufacturing (14% of GDP): Types--food and drink processing, petroleum products, chemicals, paper and paper products, printing, mining, refined sugar, clothing, furniture, construction.  

*Industry/Manufacturing (14% of GDP): Types—food and drink processing, petroleum products, chemicals, paper and paper products, printing, mining, refined sugar, clothing, furniture, construction.  

*Trade: Exports--$884.4 million: bananas, petroleum products, shrimp, sugar, coffee, and clothing. Major markets--U.S. 50.4%. Imports--$3.52 billion: capital goods, crude oil, foodstuffs, chemicals, other consumer and intermediate goods. Major suppliers--U.S. 34.1%. 2005 U.S. goods exports to Panama: $2.2 billion. 2005 U.S. goods imports to Panama: $327 million.

*Trade: Exports--$884.4 million: bananas, petroleum products, shrimp, sugar, coffee, and clothing. Major markets—U.S. 50.4%. Imports--$3.52 billion: capital goods, crude oil, foodstuffs, chemicals, other consumer and intermediate goods. Major suppliers—U.S. 34.1%. 2005 U.S. goods exports to Panama: $2.2 billion. 2005 U.S. goods imports to Panama: $327 million.

==History==

==History==