Country Guide

Burma Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

Location:
Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Bangladesh and Thailand


Geographic coordinates:
22 00 N, 98 00 E


Map references:
Southeast Asia


Area:
total:676,578 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 40
land:653,508 sq km
water:23,070 sq km


Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Texas


Land boundaries:
total:6,522 km
border countries:Bangladesh 271 km, China 2,129 km, India 1,468 km, Laos 238 km, Thailand 2,416 km


Coastline:
1,930 km


Maritime claims:
territorial sea:12 nm
contiguous zone:24 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 nm
continental shelf:200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin


Climate:
tropical monsoon; cloudy, rainy, hot, humid summers (southwest monsoon, June to September); less cloudy, scant rainfall, mild temperatures, lower humidity during winter (northeast monsoon, December to April)


    Terrain:
central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands


Elevation extremes:
lowest point:Andaman Sea / Bay of Bengal 0 m
highest point:Gamlang Razi 5,870 m


Natural resources:
petroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, marble, limestone, precious stones, natural gas, hydropower


Land use:
arable land:15.94%
permanent crops:2.16%
other:81.89% (2011)


Irrigated land:
21,100 sq km (2004)


Total renewable water resources:
1,168 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
1,168 cu km (2011)

Natural hazards:
destructive earthquakes and cyclones; flooding and landslides common during rainy season (June to September); periodic droughts


Environment - current issues:
deforestation; industrial pollution of air, soil, and water; inadequate sanitation and water treatment contribute to disease


Environment - international agreements:
party to:Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements


Geography - note:
strategic location near major Indian Ocean shipping lanes

People and Society

Nationality:
noun: Burmese (singular and plural)
adjective:Burmese


Ethnic groups:
Burman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%, Indian 2%, Mon 2%, other 5%


Languages:
Burmese (official)


Religions:
Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%), Muslim 4%, Animist 1%, other 2%


Population:
55,746,253country comparison to the world: 25
note:estimates for this country take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2014 est.)



Age structure:
0-14 years:26.4% (male 7,498,179/female 7,209,588)
15-24 years:18.3% (male 5,163,399/female 5,037,117)
25-54 years:43.1% (male 11,930,777/female 12,073,741)
55-64 years:7% (male 1,836,463/female 2,059,482)
65 years and over:5.3% (male 1,277,919/female 1,659,588) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:42.5 %
youth dependency ratio:35 %
elderly dependency ratio:7.6 %
potential support ratio:13.2 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:27.9 years
male:27.3 years
female:28.5 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
1.03% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 116


Birth rate:
18.65 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 97


Death rate:
8.01 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 99


Net migration rate:
-0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 124


Urbanization:
urban population:32.6% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:2.49% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
RANGOON (capital) 4.457 million; Mandalay 1.063 million; Nay Pyi Taw 1.06 million (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years:1.03 male(s)/female
25-54 years:0.99 male(s)/female
55-64 years:0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.77 male(s)/female
total population:0.99 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


    Mother's mean age at first birth:
22.8 (2007 est.)


Maternal mortality rate:
200 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


Infant mortality rate:
total:44.91 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 47
male:51.35 deaths/1,000 live births
female:38.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


Life expectancy at birth:
total population:65.94 yearscountry comparison to the world: 170
male:63.57 years
female:68.46 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
2.18 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 103


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
46% (2009/10)


Health expenditures:
2% of GDP (2011)


Physicians density:
0.5 physicians/1,000 population (2010)


Hospital bed density:
0.6 beds/1,000 population (2006)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 94.8% of population
rural: 81.1% of population
total: 85.7% of population
unimproved:
urban: 5.2% of population
rural: 18.9% of population
total: 14.3% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 84.3% of population
rural: 73.9% of population
total: 77.4% of population
unimproved:
urban: 15.7% of population
rural: 26.1% of population
total: 22.6% of population (2012 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.6% (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 61


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
195,700 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 31


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
11,600 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 26


Major infectious diseases:


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
4% (2008)country comparison to the world: 172


Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
22.6% (2010)country comparison to the world: 27


Education expenditures:
0.8% of GDP (2011)country comparison to the world: 172

Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:92.7%
male:95.1%
female:90.4% (2011 est.)


School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:9 years (2007)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Union of Burma
conventional short form:Burma
local long form:Pyidaungzu Thammada Myanma Naingngandaw (translated as the Republic of the Union of Myanmar)
local short form:Myanma Naingngandaw
former:Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma, Union of Myanmar
note:since 1989 the military authorities in Burma and the current parliamentary government have promoted the name Myanmar as a conventional name for their state; the US Government has not adopted the name


Government type:
parliamentary government took power in March 2011


Capital:
name:Rangoon (Yangon); note - Nay Pyi Taw is the administrative capital
geographic coordinates:16 48 N, 96 09 E
time difference:UTC+6.5 (11.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)


Administrative divisions:
7 regions (taing-myar, singular - taing) and 7 states (pyi ne-myar, singular - pyi ne)


Independence:
4 January 1948 (from the UK)


National holiday:
Independence Day, 4 January (1948); Union Day, 12 February (1947)


Constitution:
previous 1947, 1974 (suspended until 2008); latest approved by referendum 29 May 2008; reformed 2011 (2011)


Legal system:
mixed legal system of English common law (as introduced in codifications designed for colonial India) and customary law


International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt


Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal


Executive branch:
chief of state:President THEIN SEIN (since 4 February 2011); Vice President SAI MAUK KHAM (since 3 February 2011); Vice President NYAN TUN (since 15 August 2012)
head of government:President THEIN SEIN (since 4 February 2011)
cabinet:cabinet is appointed by the president and confirmed by the parliament
elections:THEIN SEIN elected president by the parliament from among three vice presidents; the upper house, the lower house, and military members of the parliament each nominate one vice president (president serves a five-year term)


Legislative branch:
bicameral, consists of the House of Nationalities [Amyotha Hluttaw] (224 seats, 168 directly elected and 56 appointed by the military; members serve five-year terms) and the House of Representatives [Pythu Hluttaw] (440 seats, 330 directly elected and 110 appointed by the military; members serve five-year terms)
elections:last held on 7 November 2010 (next to be held in December 2015)
election results:House of Nationalities - percent of vote by party - USDP 74.8%, other (NUP, SNDP, RNDP, NDF, AMRDP) 25.2%; seats by party - USDP 129, other 39; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - USDP 79.6%, other (NUP, SNDP, RNDP, NDF, AMRDP) 20.4%; seats by party - USDP 259, other 71


Judicial branch:
highest court(s):Supreme Court of the Union (consists of the chief justice and 7-11 judges)
judge selection and term of office:chief justice and judges nominated by the president, with approval of the Pythu Hlattaw, and appointed by the president; judges normally serve until mandatory retirement at age 70
subordinate courts:High Courts of the Region; High Courts of the State; Court of the Self-Administered Division; Court of the Self-Administered Zone; district and township courts; special courts (for juvenile, municipal, and traffic offenses); courts martial


    Political parties and leaders:
All Mon Region Democracy Party or AMRDP [NAING NGWE THEIN]
National Democratic Force or NDF [KHIN MAUNG SWE, Dr.THAN NYEIN]
National League for Democracy or NLD [AUNG SAN SUU KYI]
National Unity Party or NUP [TUN YE]
Rakhine Nationalities Development Party or RNDP [Dr. AYE MG]
Shan Nationalities Democratic Party or SNDP [SAI AIKE PAUNG]
Shan Nationalities League for Democracy or SNLD [HKUN HTUN OO]
Union Solidarity and Development Party or USDP [SHWE MANN, HTAY OO]
numerous smaller parties


Political pressure groups and leaders:
All Mon Region Democracy Party or AMRDP [NAING NGWE THEIN]
National Democratic Force or NDF [KHIN MAUNG SWE, Dr.THAN NYEIN]
National League for Democracy or NLD [AUNG SAN SUU KYI]
National Unity Party or NUP [TUN YE]
Rakhine Nationalities Development Party or RNDP [Dr. AYE MG]
Shan Nationalities Democratic Party or SNDP [SAI AIKE PAUNG]
Shan Nationalities League for Democracy or SNLD [HKUN HTUN OO]
Union Solidarity and Development Party or USDP [SHWE MANN, HTAY OO]
numerous smaller parties



International organization participation:
ADB, ARF, ASEAN, BIMSTEC, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), NAM, OPCW (signatory), SAARC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO


Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador KYAW MYO HTUT (since 3 December 2013)
chancery:2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 332-3344
FAX:[1] (202) 332-4351
consulate(s) general:none; Burma has a Mission to the UN in New York


Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Derek J. MITCHELL (since 11 July 2012)
embassy:110 University Avenue, Kamayut Township, Rangoon
mailing address:Box B, APO AP 96546
telephone:[95] (1) 536-509, 535-756, 538-038
FAX:[95] (1) 511-069


Flag description:
design consists of three equal horizontal stripes of yellow (top), green, and red; centered on the green band is a large white five-pointed star that partially overlaps onto the adjacent colored stripes; the design revives the triband colors used by Burma from 1943-45, during the Japanese occupation


National symbol(s):
chinthe (mythical lion)


National anthem:
name:'Kaba Ma Kyei' (Till the End of the World, Myanmar)

lyrics/music:SAYA TIN
note:adopted 1948; Burma is among a handful of non-European nations that have anthems rooted in indigenous traditions; the beginning portion of the anthem is a traditional Burmese anthem before transitioning into a Western-style orchestrated work

Economy

Economy - overview:
Since the transition to a civilian government in 2011, Burma has begun an economic overhaul aimed at attracting foreign investment and reintegrating into the global economy. Economic reforms have included establishing a managed float of the Burmese kyat in 2012, granting the Central Bank operational independence in July 2013, and enacting a new Anti-corruption Law in September 2013. The government’s commitment to reform, and the subsequent easing of most Western sanctions, has begun to pay dividends. The economy accelerated in 2012 and 2013. And Burma’s abundant natural resources, young labor force, and proximity to Asia’s dynamic economies have attracted foreign investment in the energy sector, garment industry, information technology, and food and beverages. Foreign direct investment grew from US$1.9 billion in FY 2011 to US$2.7 billion in FY 2012. Despite these improvements, living standards have not improved for the majority of the people residing in rural areas. Burma remains one of the poorest countries in Asia - more than one-fourth of the country’s 60 million people live in poverty. The previous government’s isolationist policies and economic mismanagement have left Burma with poor infrastructure, endemic corruption, underdeveloped human resources, and inadequate access to capital, which will require a major commitment to reverse. The Burmese government has been slow to address impediments to economic development such as an opaque revenue collection system and antiquated banking system. Key benchmarks of sustained economic progress would include modernizing and opening the financial sector, increasing budget allocations for social services, and accelerating agricultural and land reforms.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$111.1 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
$104 billion (2012 est.)
$97.81 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$59.43 billion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
6.8% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
6.4% (2012 est.)
5.9% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,700 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
$1,600 (2012 est.)
$1,600 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


Gross national saving:
11.9% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
12.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
13.7% of GDP (2011 est.)


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:80.6%
government consumption:3.8%
investment in fixed capital:17.5%
investment in inventories:0.3%
exports of goods and services:20.1%
imports of goods and services:-22.3%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:38%
industry:20.3%
services:41.7% (2013 est.)


Agriculture - products:
rice, pulses, beans, sesame, groundnuts, sugarcane; fish and fish products; hardwood


Industries:
agricultural processing; wood and wood products; copper, tin, tungsten, iron; cement, construction materials; pharmaceuticals; fertilizer; oil and natural gas; garments, jade, gems


Industrial production growth rate:
11.4% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9

Labor force:
34.31 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19


Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:70%
industry:7%
services:23% (2001)


Unemployment rate:
5.2% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
5.4% (2012 est.)


    Population below poverty line:
32.7% (2007 est.)


Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:2.8%
highest 10%:32.4% (1998)


Budget:
revenues:$2.413 billion
expenditures:$4.443 billion (2013 est.)


Taxes and other revenues:
4.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-3.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135


Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.7% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
1.5% (2012 est.)


Central bank discount rate:
9.95% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
12% (31 December 2009 est.)


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
13% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
13% (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$12.23 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
$11.54 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$14.43 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
$13.51 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA


Current account balance:
-$2.596 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
-$1.791 billion (2012 est.)


Exports:
$9.043 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
$7.82 billion (2012 est.)
note:official export figures are grossly underestimated due to the value of timber, gems, narcotics, rice, and other products smuggled to Thailand, China, and Bangladesh


Exports - commodities:
natural gas, wood products, pulses, beans, fish, rice, clothing, jade and gems


Exports - partners:
Thailand 40.7%, India 14.8%, China 14.3%, Japan 7.4% (2012)


Imports:
$10.11 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
$7.998 billion (2012 est.)
note:import figures are grossly underestimated due to the value of consumer goods, diesel fuel, and other products smuggled in from Thailand, China, Malaysia, and India


Imports - commodities:
fabric, petroleum products, fertilizer, plastics, machinery, transport equipment; cement, construction materials, crude oil; food products, edible oil


Imports - partners:
China 36.9%, Thailand 20.2%, Singapore 8.7%, South Korea 8.7%, Japan 8.2%, Malaysia 4.6% (2012)


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$8.278 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
$6.977 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Debt - external:
$5.379 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
$5.591 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Exchange rates:
kyats (MMK) per US dollar -
947.9 (2013 est.)
853.48 (2012 est.)
5.58 (2010 est.)
1,055 (2009)
1,205 (2008)

Energy

Electricity - production:
7.346 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104


Electricity - consumption:
6.093 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107


Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108


Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
1.713 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
53.3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
46.7% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158


Crude oil - production:
20,830 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77


Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87


Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
50 million bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78


Refined petroleum products - production:
18,920 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
40,620 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106


Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155


Refined petroleum products - imports:
4,855 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152


Natural gas - production:
11.91 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39


Natural gas - consumption:
3.24 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70


Natural gas - exports:
8.57 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30


Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163


Natural gas - proved reserves:
283.2 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
13.67 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
556,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 95


Telephones - mobile cellular:
5.44 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 106


Telephone system:
general assessment:meets minimum requirements for local and intercity service for business and government
domestic:system barely capable of providing basic service; mobile-cellular phone system is grossly underdeveloped
international:country code - 95; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2, Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and ShinSat (2011)



    Broadcast media:
government controls all domestic broadcast media; 2 state-controlled TV stations with 1 of the stations controlled by the armed forces; 2 pay-TV stations are joint state-private ventures; access to satellite TV is limited; 1 state-controlled domestic radio station and 9 FM stations that are joint state-private ventures; transmissions of several international broadcasters are available in parts of Burma; the Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Asia (RFA), BBC Burmese service, the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), and Radio Australia use shortwave to broadcast in Burma; VOA, RFA, and DVB produce daily TV news programs that are transmitted by satellite to audiences in Burma


Internet country code:
.mm


Internet hosts:
1,055 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 172


Internet users:
110,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 158

Transportation

Airports
64 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 77


Airports - with paved runways
total:36
over 3,047 m:12
2,438 to 3,047 m:11
1,524 to 2,437 m:12
under 914 m:1 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:28
over 3,047 m:1
1,524 to 2,437 m:4
914 to 1,523 m:10
under 914 m:
13 (2013)


Heliports
11 (2013)


Pipelines
gas 3,739 km; oil 551 km (2013)


Railways
total:5,031 kmcountry comparison to the world: 36
narrow gauge:5,031 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)


    Roadways
total:34,377 km (includes 358 km of expressways) (2010)country comparison to the world: 93

Waterways
12,800 km (2011)
country comparison to the world: 10


Merchant marine
total:29country comparison to the world: 86
by type:cargo 22, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 3, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned:2 (Germany 1, Japan 1)
registered in other countries:3 (Panama 3) (2010)



Ports and terminals
major seaport(s):Moulmein, Sittwe
river port(s):Rangoon (Rangoon River)

Military

Military branches
Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw): Army (Tatmadaw Kyi), Navy (Tatmadaw Yay), Air Force (Tatmadaw Lay) (2013)


Military service age and obligation
18-35 years of age (men) and 18-27 years of age (women) for voluntary military service; no conscription (a 2010 law reintroducing conscription has not yet entered into force); service obligation 2 years; male (ages 18-45) and female (ages 18-35) professionals (including doctors, engineers, mechanics) serve up to 3 years; service terms may be stretched to 5 years in an officially declared emergency; Burma signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on 15 August 1991; on 27 June 2012, the regime signed a Joint Action Plan on prevention of child recruitment; in February 2013, the military formed a new task force to address forced child conscription, which reportedly continues (2013)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:14,747,845
females age 16-49:14,710,871 (2010 est.)


    Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:10,451,515
females age 16-49:11,181,537 (2010 est.)


Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:522,478
female:506,388 (2010 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international
over half of Burma's population consists of diverse ethnic groups who have substantial numbers of kin in neighboring countries; the Naf River on the border with Bangladesh serves as a smuggling and illegal transit route; Bangladesh struggles to accommodate 29,000 Rohingya, Burmese Muslim minority from Arakan State, living as refugees in Cox's Bazar; Burmese border authorities are constructing a 200 km (124 mi) wire fence designed to deter illegal cross-border transit and tensions from the military build-up along border with Bangladesh in 2010; Bangladesh referred its maritime boundary claims with Burma and India to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea; Burmese forces attempting to dig in to the largely autonomous Shan State to rout local militias tied to the drug trade, prompts local residents to periodically flee into neighboring Yunnan Province in China; fencing along the India-Burma international border at Manipur's Moreh town is in progress to check illegal drug trafficking and movement of militants; over 90,000 mostly Karen refugees and asylum seekers fleeing civil strife, political upheaval, and economic stagnation in Burma were living in remote camps in Thailand near the border as of year-end 2013


    Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs:640,900 (government offensives against armed ethnic minority groups near its borders with China and Thailand) (2013)
stateless persons:808,075 (2014); note - Burma's main group of stateless people is the Rohingya, Muslims living in northern Rakhine State; the Burmese Government does not recognize the Rohingya as a 'national race' and stripped them of their citizenship under the 1982 Citizenship law, categorizing them as 'non-national' or 'foreign residents'; native-born but non-indigenous people, such as Indians, and children born in Thailand to Burmese parents are also stateless; the Burmese Government does not grant citizenship to children born outside of the country to Burmese parents who left the country illegally or fled persecution



Trafficking in persons



Illicit drugs
world's third largest producer of illicit opium with an estimated production in 2012 of 690 metric tons, an increase of 13% over 2011, and poppy cultivation in 2012 totaled 51,000 hectares, a 17% increase over 2011; production in the United Wa State Army's areas of greatest control remains low; Shan state is the source of 94.5% of Burma's poppy cultivation; lack of government will to take on major narcotrafficking groups and lack of serious commitment against money laundering continues to hinder the overall antidrug effort; major source of methamphetamine and heroin for regional consumption (2013)
 Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook

LookForAttorney.com | Country Guide of Panama

Country Guide

Panama Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

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 kmcountry comparison to the world: 118
land:74,340 sq km
water:1,080 sq km


Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than South Carolina


Land boundaries:
total:555 km
border countries:Colombia 225 km, Costa Rica 330 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 and dissected, upland plains; coastal areas largely plains and rolling hills


Elevation extremes:
lowest point:Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point:Volcan Baru 3,475 m


    Natural resources:
copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower


Land use:
arable land:7.16%
permanent crops:2.51%
other:90.33% (2011)


Irrigated land:
346.2 sq km (2003)


Total renewable water resources:
148 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
148 cu km (2011)

Natural hazards:
occasional severe storms and forest fires in the Darien area


Environment - current issues:
water pollution from agricultural runoff threatens fishery resources; deforestation of tropical rain forest; land degradation and soil erosion threatens siltation of Panama Canal; air pollution in urban areas; mining threatens natural resources


Environment - international agreements:
party to:Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:Marine Life Conservation


Geography - note:
strategic location on eastern end of isthmus forming land bridge connecting North and South America; controls Panama Canal that links North Atlantic Ocean via Caribbean Sea with North Pacific Ocean

People and Society

Nationality:
noun: Panamanian(s)
adjective:Panamanian


Ethnic groups:
mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 70%, Amerindian and mixed (West Indian) 14%, white 10%, Amerindian 6%


Languages:
Spanish (official), English 14%


Religions:
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%


Demographic profile:
Panama is a country of demographic and economic contrasts. It is in the midst of a demographic transition, characterized by steadily declining rates of fertility, mortality, and population growth, but disparities persist based on wealth, geography, and ethnicity. Panama has one of the fastest growing economies in Latin America and dedicates substantial funding to social programs, yet poverty and inequality remain prevalent. The indigenous population accounts for a growing share of Panama's poor and extreme poor, while the non-indigenous rural poor have been more successful at rising out of poverty through rural-to-urban labor migration. The government's large expenditures on untargeted, indirect subsidies for water, electricity, and fuel have been ineffective, but its conditional cash transfer program has shown some promise in helping to decrease extreme poverty among the indigenous population.


Population:
3,608,431 (July 2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 131


Age structure:
0-14 years:27.4% (male 504,710/female 484,166)
15-24 years:17.3% (male 317,875/female 306,378)
25-54 years:40.1% (male 733,588/female 714,859)
55-64 years:7.4% (male 131,899/female 135,015)
65 years and over:7.6% (male 129,091/female 150,850) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:54.7 %
youth dependency ratio:43.2 %
elderly dependency ratio:11.4 %
potential support ratio:8.7 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:28.3 years
male:27.9 years
female:28.7 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
1.35% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 91


Birth rate:
18.61 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 98


Death rate:
4.77 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 197


Net migration rate:
-0.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 126


Urbanization:
urban population:75.3% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:2.23% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
PANAMA CITY (capital) 1.426 million (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years:1.04 male(s)/female
25-54 years:1.03 male(s)/female
55-64 years:1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.86 male(s)/female
total population:1.02 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


Maternal mortality rate:
92 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


Infant mortality rate:
total:10.7 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 135
male:11.46 deaths/1,000 live births
female:9.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


    Life expectancy at birth:
total population:78.3 yearscountry comparison to the world: 56
male:75.51 years
female:81.22 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
2.38 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 85


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
52.2% (2009)


Health expenditures:
8.2% of GDP (2011)


Physicians density:
1.5 physicians/1,000 population (2000)


Hospital bed density:
2.4 beds/1,000 population (2010)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 96.8% of population
rural: 86.6% of population
total: 94.3% of population
unimproved:
urban: 3.2% of population
rural: 13.4% of population
total: 5.7% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 79.7% of population
rural: 52.5% of population
total: 73.2% of population
unimproved:
urban: 20.3% of population
rural: 47.5% of population
total: 26.8% of population (2012 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.7% (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 57


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
16,700 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 87


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
600 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 86


Major infectious diseases:


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
25.4% (2008)country comparison to the world: 55


Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
3.9% (2008)country comparison to the world: 99


Education expenditures:
3.5% of GDP (2011)country comparison to the world: 122

Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:94.1%
male:94.7%
female:93.5% (2010 est.)


School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:12 years
male:12 years
female:13 years (2011)


Child labor - children ages 5-14:



Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:14.6%country comparison to the world: 87
male:8.7%
female:10.3% (2012)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Panama
conventional short form:Panama
local long form:Republica de Panama
local short form:Panama


Government type:
constitutional democracy


Capital:
name:Panama City
geographic coordinates:8 58 N, 79 32 W
time difference:UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)


Administrative divisions:
10 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 3 indigenous territories* (comarcas); Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Embera-Wounaan*, Herrera, Kuna Yala*, Los Santos, Ngobe-Bugle*, Panama, Panama Oeste, Veraguas


Independence:
3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain on 28 November 1821)


National holiday:
Independence Day, 3 November (1903)


Constitution:
several previous; latest effective 11 October 1972; amended several times, last in 2004 (2010)


Legal system:
civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Justice


International law organization participation:
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction


Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory


Executive branch:
chief of state:President Ricardo MARTINELLI Berrocal (since 1 July 2009); Vice President Juan Carlos VARELA Rodriguez (since 1 July 2009); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government:President Ricardo MARTINELLI Berrocal (since 1 July 2009); Vice President Juan Carlos VARELA Rodriguez (since 1 July 2009)
cabinet:Cabinet appointed by the president
elections:president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms (president not eligible for immediate reelection and must sit out two additional terms (10 years) before becoming eligible for reelection); election last held on 3 May 2009 (next to be held in May 2014)
election results:Juan Carlos VARELA elected president; percent of vote - Juan Carlos VARELA 39.1%, Jose Domingo ARIAS 31.4%, Juan Carlos NAVARRO 28.2%, other 1.3%; note - Juan Carlos VARELA is expected to take office 1 July 2014
note:the ruling government coalition - formerly comprised of CD (Democratic Change), Panamenista Party, MOLIRENA (Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement), and UP (Patriotic Union Party) - split in August 2011 when President MARTINELLI relieved Vice President VARELA from his position as Foreign Minister, prompting the Panamenistas to pull out of the coalition; UP has now merged with CD, and CD and the Panamenista Party will run separate candidates for the presidency in 2014


Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (71 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections:last held on 3 May 2009 (next to be held in May 2014)
election results:percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRD 26, Panamenista 22, CD 14, UP 4, MOLIRENA 2, PP 1, independents 2; note - changes in political affiliation now reflect the following seat distribution: as of 13 February 2013 - seats by party - CD 36, PRD 17, Panamenista 13, MOLIRENA 4, PP 1
note:legislators from outlying rural districts are chosen on a plurality basis while districts located in more populous towns and cities elect multiple legislators by means of a proportion-based formula


    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 provinces); municipal courts; electoral, family, maritime, and adolescent courts


Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Change or CD [Ricardo MARTINELLI Berrocal]
Democratic Revolutionary Party or PRD [Juan Carlos NAVARRO Quelquejeu]
Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement or MOLIRENA [Sergio GONZALEZ-Ruiz]
Panamenista Party [Juan Carlos VARELA Rodriguez] (formerly the Arnulfista Party)
Popular Party or PP [Milton HENRIQUEZ] (formerly Christian Democratic Party or PDC)


Political pressure groups and leaders:
Chamber of Commerce


International organization participation:
BCIE, CAN (observer), CD, CELAC, CSN (observer), FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), 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, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO


Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Mario Ernesto JARAMILLO Castillo (since 17 February 2011)
chancery:2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 483-1407
FAX:[1] (202) 483-8413
consulate(s) general:Honolulu, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Diego, Tampa, Washington DC


Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Jonathan D. FARRAR (since 15 May 2012)
embassy:Edificio 783, Avenida Demetrio Basilio Lakas Panama, Apartado Postal 0816-02561, Zona 5, Panama City
mailing address:American Embassy Panama, Unit 0945, APO AA 34002; American Embassy Panama, 9100 Panama City PL, Washington, DC 20521-9100
telephone:[507] 317-5000
FAX:[507] 317-5568


Flag description:
divided into four, equal rectangles; the top quadrants are white (hoist side) with a blue five-pointed star in the center and plain red; the bottom quadrants are plain blue (hoist side) and white with a red five-pointed star in the center; the blue and red colors are those of the main political parties (Conservatives and Liberals respectively) and the white denotes peace between them; the blue star stands for the civic virtues of purity and honesty, the red star signifies authority and law


National symbol(s):
harpy eagle


National anthem:
name:'Himno Istmeno' (Isthmus Hymn)

lyrics/music:Jeronimo DE LA OSSA/Santos A. JORGE
note:adopted 1925

Economy

Economy - overview:
Panama's dollar-based economy rests primarily on a well-developed services sector that accounts for more than three-quarters of GDP. Services include operating the Panama Canal, logistics, banking, the Colon Free Zone, insurance, container ports, flagship registry, and tourism. Economic growth will be bolstered by the Panama Canal expansion project that began in 2007 and is estimated to be completed by 2015 at a cost of $5.3 billion - about 10-15% of current GDP. The expansion project will more than double the Canal's capacity, enabling it to accommodate ships that are too large to traverse the existing canal. The United States and China are the top users of the Canal. Panama is also constructing a metro system in Panama City, valued at $1.2 billion and scheduled to be completed by 2014. Panama's booming transportation and logistics services sectors, along with aggressive infrastructure development projects, have lead the economy to continued high growth in 2012. Foreign investment, at around 10% of GDP in both 2011 and 2012, has continued to be a source of growth. Strong economic performance has not translated into broadly shared prosperity, as Panama has the second worst income distribution in Latin America. About one-fourth of the population lives in poverty; however, from 2006 to 2012 poverty was reduced by 10 percentage points, while unemployment dropped from 12% to 4.5% of the labor force in 2013. The US-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement was approved by Congress and signed into law in October 2011, and entered into force in October 2012. Panama also achieved removal from the Organization of Economic Development's gray-list of tax havens by signing various double taxation treaties with other nations.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$61.54 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
$57.24 billion (2012 est.)
$51.72 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$40.62 billion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
7.5% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
10.7% (2012 est.)
10.8% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$16,500 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
$15,700 (2012 est.)
$14,400 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:57.6%
government consumption:13.1%
investment in fixed capital:30.3%
investment in inventories:0.9%
exports of goods and services:81%
imports of goods and services:-82.9%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:3.7%
industry:17.9%
services:78.4% (2013 est.)


Agriculture - products:
bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane, vegetables; livestock; shrimp


Industries:
construction, brewing, cement and other construction materials, sugar milling


Industrial production growth rate:
9.2% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18

Labor force:
1.54 million
country comparison to the world: 128
note:shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor (2013 est.)



Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:17%
industry:18.6%
services:64.4% (2009 est.)


Unemployment rate:
4.5% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
4.4% (2012 est.)


Population below poverty line:
26% (2012 est.)


Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:1.1%
highest 10%:40.1% (2010 est.)


    Distribution of family income - Gini index:
51.9 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
56.1 (2003)


Budget:
revenues:$10.33 billion
expenditures:$11.38 billion (2013 est.)


Taxes and other revenues:
25.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-2.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110


Public debt:
39.8% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
39.6% of GDP (2012 est.)


Fiscal year:
calendar year


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.1% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
5.7% (2012 est.)


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
6.91% (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$8.976 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
$7.659 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of broad money:
$29.72 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
$25.73 billion (31 December 2011 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$35.57 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
$32.27 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$12.54 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Current account balance:
-$5.064 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
-$3.267 billion (2012 est.)


Exports:
$18.87 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
$18.88 billion (2012 est.)
note:includes the Colon Free Zone


Exports - commodities:
gold, bananas, shrimp, sugar, iron and steel waste, pineapples, watermelons


Exports - partners:
US 20.2%, Canada 14.6%, Costa Rica 6.6%, Netherlands 5.9%, Sweden 4.8%, China 4.1%, Italy 4% (2012)


Imports:
$26.61 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
$24.61 billion (2012 est.)
note:includes the Colon Free Zone


Imports - commodities:
fuel products, medicines, vehicles, iron and steel rods, cellular phones


Imports - partners:
US 23.6%, China 6.4%, Costa Rica 4.6%, Mexico 4.4% (2012)


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.666 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
$2.466 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Debt - external:
$15.22 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
$13.56 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$32.89 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
$29.27 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$3.233 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
$3.11 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Exchange rates:
balboas (PAB) per US dollar -
1 (2013 est.)
1 (2012 est.)
1 (2010 est.)
1 (2009)
1 (2008)

Energy

Electricity - production:
7.257 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107


Electricity - consumption:
6.209 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104


Electricity - exports:
39 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84


Electricity - imports:
72 million kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
1.976 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
52.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
47.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113


Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206


Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168


Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176


Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
98,890 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78


Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208


Refined petroleum products - imports:
111,100 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49


Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181


Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186


Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165


Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116


Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
15.9 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
640,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 90


Telephones - mobile cellular:
6.77 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 96


Telephone system:
general assessment:domestic and international facilities well-developed
domestic:mobile-cellular telephone subscribership has increased rapidly
international:country code - 507; landing point for the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1), the MAYA-1, and PAN-AM submarine cable systems that together provide links to the US and parts of the Caribbean, Central America, and South America; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to the Central American Microwave System (2011)



    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 (2007)


Internet country code:
.pa


Internet hosts:
11,022 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 132


Internet users:
959,800 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 104

Transportation

Airports
117 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 49


Airports - with paved runways
total:57
over 3,047 m:1
2,438 to 3,047 m:3
1,524 to 2,437 m:3
914 to 1,523 m:20
under 914 m:30 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:60
1,524 to 2,437 m:1
914 to 1,523 m:8
under 914 m:
51 (2013)


Heliports
3 (2013)


Pipelines
oil 128 km (2013)


Railways
total:76 kmcountry comparison to the world: 127
standard gauge:76 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)


Roadways
total:15,137 kmcountry comparison to the world: 122
paved:6,351 km
unpaved:8,786 km (2010)


    Waterways
800 km (includes the 82-km Panama Canal that is being widened) (2011)
country comparison to the world: 73


Merchant marine
total:6,413country comparison to the world: 1
by type:barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 2,525, cargo 1,115, carrier 27, chemical tanker 588, combination ore/oil 1, container 742, liquefied gas 205, passenger 42, passenger/cargo 51, petroleum tanker 545, refrigerated cargo 191, roll on/roll off 87, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 290
foreign-owned:5,162 (Albania 4, Argentina 5, Australia 4, Bahamas 6, Bangladesh 5, Belgium 1, Bermuda 27, Brazil 3, Bulgaria 6, Burma 3, Canada 6, Chile 14, China 534, Colombia 2, Croatia 2, Cuba 2, Cyprus 5, Denmark 41, Ecuador 3, Egypt 11, Finland 2, France 7, Gabon 1, Germany 24, Gibraltar 1, Greece 379, Hong Kong 144, India 24, Indonesia 10, Iran 5, Ireland 1, Israel 1, Italy 25, Japan 2372, Jordan 11, Kuwait 12, Lebanon 2, Lithuania 3, Luxembourg 1, Malaysia 12, Maldives 2, Malta 2, Mexico 5, Monaco 11, Netherlands 6, Nigeria 6, Norway 81, Oman 10, Pakistan 3, Peru 9, Philippines 5, Portugal 10, Qatar 1, Romania 3, Russia 49, Saudi Arabia 11, Singapore 92, South Korea 373, Spain 30, Sweden 2, Switzerland 15, Syria 34, Taiwan 328, Tanzania 2, Thailand 6, Turkey 62, UAE 83, UK 37, Ukraine 8, US 90, Venezuela 13, Vietnam 43, Yemen 4)
registered in other countries:1 (Honduras 1) (2010)



Ports and terminals
major seaport(s):Balboa, Colon, Cristobal
container port(s) (TEUs):Balboa (3,232,265), Colon (2,390,976), Manzanillo (2,391,066)

Military

Military branches
no regular military forces; Panamanian Public Security Forces (subordinate to the Ministry of Public Security), comprising the National Police (PNP), National Air-Naval Service (SENAN), National Border Service (SENAFRONT) (2013)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:890,006 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:731,254
females age 16-49:728,329 (2010 est.)


    Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:32,142
female:30,879 (2010 est.)


Military - note
on 10 February 1990, the government of then President ENDARA abolished Panama's military and reformed the security apparatus by creating the Panamanian Public Forces; in October 1994, Panama's Legislative Assembly approved a constitutional amendment prohibiting the creation of a standing military force but allowing the temporary establishment of special police units to counter acts of 'external aggression'

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international
organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia operate within the remote border region with Panama


Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin):15,723 (Colombia) (2012)


    Illicit drugs
major cocaine transshipment point and primary money-laundering center for narcotics revenue; money-laundering activity is especially heavy in the Colon Free Zone; offshore financial center; negligible signs of coca cultivation; monitoring of financial transactions is improving; official corruption remains a major problem
 Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook