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: 3,922,189 (2014E—UN); 3,608,431 (2014E—U.S. Census).
Major Urban Centers (2010E): PANAMA (also known as Panama City, 894,565), San Miguelito (373,703).
Official Language: Spanish.
Monetary Unit: Balboa (official rate October 1, 2014: 1.00 balboa = $1US). The balboa is at par with the U.S. dollar, which is also acceptable as legal tender.
President: Juan Carlos VARELA (Pro-Panamanian Party); elected on May 4, 2014, and inaugurated on July 1 for a five-year term, succeeding Ricardo MARTINELLI Berrocal (Democratic Change Party).
Vice President: Isabel SAINT MALO de Alvarado (Independent); elected ...