Panama
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - 05/2015

Panama, officially called the Republic of Panama (Spanish: República de Panamá), is a country in Central America situated between North and South America. 

It is bordered by Costa Rica to the west, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. 

The capital and largest city is Panama City, whose metro area is home to nearly half of the country's 3.6 million people.

Panama was inhabited by several indigenous tribes prior to settlement by the Spanish in the 16th century. 

Panama broke away from Spain in 1821 and joined a union of Nueva Granada, Ecuador, and Venezuela named the Republic of Gran Colombia. 

When Gran Colombia dissolved in 1831, Panama and Nueva Granada remained joined, eventually becoming the Republic of Colombia. 

With the backing of the United States, Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903, allowing the Panama Canal to be built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers between 1904 and 1914. 

In 1977, an agreement was signed for the total transfer of the Canal from the United States to Panama by the end of the 20th century, which culminated on 31 December 1999.

Revenue from canal tolls continues to represent a significant portion of Panama's GDP, although commerce, banking, and tourism are major and growing sectors. 

Panama has the second largest economy in Central America and is also the fastest growing economy and largest per capita consumer in Central America. 

In 2013, Panama ranked 5th among Latin American countries in terms of the Human Development Index, and 59th in the world.

Since 2010, Panama remains the second most competitive economy in Latin America, according to the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Index. 

Covering around 40 percent of its land area, Panama's jungles are home to an abundance of tropical plants, animals and birds – some of them to be found nowhere else on the planet.

Republic of Panama
República de Panamá

Motto: "Pro Mundi Beneficio"
"For the Benefit of the World"

Anthem: Himno Istmeño  (Spanish)

Capital and largest city
Panama City
8°58′N 79°32′W

Official languages
Spanish

Ethnic groups
• 70% Mestizo
• 14% Zambo
• 10% White
•  6% Amerindian

Demonym
• Panamanian

Government
Unitary presidential constitutional republic
 
President
• Juan Carlos Varela
 Vice President
• Isabel Saint Malo

Legislature
• National Assembly

Independence

from Spain
• November 28, 1821 

from Colombia
• November 3, 1903 

Area:
• Total: 75,517 km2 (118th) - 29,157 sq mi
• Water (%): 2.9

Population: 3,608,431 -  
Density: 54,2/km2 (156th) - 140.6/sq mi

GDP (PPP)
2015 estimate
• Total: $83.421 billion
• Per capita: $21,634

Currency
• Balboa
• United States dollar
(PAB, USD)

Time zone
EST (UTC−5)

Drives on the 
right

Calling code
+507
ISO 3166 code
PA
Internet TLD
.pa