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@Panama, Geography

Location:
Middle America, between Colombia and Costa Rica
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean, South America, Standard Time Zones
of the World
Area:
total area:
78,200 sq km
land area:
75,990 sq km
comparative area:
slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:
total 555 km, Colombia 225 km, Costa Rica 330 km
Coastline:
2,490 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea:
200 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical; 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
Natural resources:
copper, mahogany forests, shrimp
Land use:
arable land:
6%
permanent crops:
2%
meadows and pastures:
15%
forest and woodland:
54%
other:
23%
Irrigated land:
320 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
water pollution from agricultural runoff threatens fishery resources;
deforestation of tropical rain forest; land degradation
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
party to - Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation
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

@Panama, People

Population:
2.63 million (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.94% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
24.61 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
4.87 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
16.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
74.88 years
male:
72.28 years
female:
77.62 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.85 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Panamanian(s)
adjective:
Panamanian
Ethnic divisions:
mestizo (mixed Indian and European ancestry) 70%, West Indian 14%,
white 10%, Indian 6%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%
Languages:
Spanish (official), English 14%
note:
man