Country
Countries A-Z
Panama
Republic of 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); 3,397,000 (2008E).
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 December 1, 2009: 1.00 balboas = $1US). The balboa is at par with the U.S. dollar, which is also acceptable as legal tender.
President: Ricardo MARTINELLI Berrocal (Democratic Change Party); elected on May 3, 2009, and inaugurated on July 1 for a five-year term, succeeding Martín TORRIJOS Espino (Democratic Revolutionary Party).
Vice President: Juan Carlos VARELA ...