Panama

República de Panamá

Political Status: Became independent of Spain as part of Colombia (New Granada) in 1819; independent republic proclaimed on November 3, 1903; present constitution, adopted on September 13, 1972, substantially revised on April 24, 1983.

Area: 29,208 sq. mi. (75,650 sq. km.).

Population: 2,839,177 (2000C); 3,229,000 (2006E).

Major Urban Centers (2005E): PANAMA (also known as Panama City, 419,000), San Miguelito (323,000), David (83,000), Colón (23,000).

Official Language: Spanish.

Monetary Unit: Balboa (official rate November 2, 2007: 1.00 balboas = $1US). The U.S. dollar is acceptable as legal tender.

President: Martín TORRIJOS Espino (Democratic Revolutionary Party); elected on May 2, 2004, and inaugurated on September 1 for a five-year term, succeeding Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO de Gruber (Arnulfist Party).

First Vice President: Samuel Lewis NAVARRO (Democratic Revolutionary Party); elected on May ...