Panama

Official name: Republic of Panama
Also known as: República de Panamá (Spanish)

Flag of Panama
Capital of Panama: Panama City
Area of Panama: 75,417 km² (29,119 mi²) (118th)
Population of Panama: 4,515,577 (129th) - (2024 est.)
Location: located on the Isthmus of Panama in Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica.
Languages of Panama: Spanish (official), Indigenous languages (including Ngabere (Guaymí), Buglere, Kuna, Emberá, Wounaan, Naso (Teribe), and Bribri), Panamanian English Creole (a mixture of English and Spanish with elements of Ngabere, also known as Guari Guari and Colon Creole), English, Chinese (Yue and Hakka), Arabic, French Creole.
Religions of Panama: Evangelical 55%, Roman Catholic 33.4%, none 10.1%, unspecified 1.5% (2023 est.)
Ethnic groups of Panama: Mestizo (mixed White and Indigenous) 65.0%, Indigenous 12.3% Black 9.2%, Mulatto (mixed White and Black) 6.8%, White 6.7% (2020 est.)
Currency: Balboa (PAB) United States dollar (USD)
Time zone: UTC−5 (EST)
Calling code: (+507)
Organizations: United Nations

Border countries (2): Colombia 225 km, Costa Rica 330 km.
Coastline: 2,490 km
Maritime boundaries: Caribbean Sea, Pacific Ocean

Administrative divisions of Panama
Panama Map

9 provinces (provincias, sing. – provincia):
Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los Santos, Panama and Veraguas. 5 comarcas: Nobe Bugle, Kuna Yala, Wagandí, Madugandí y Enbera Wonan.

Natural resources: Copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower.

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.