y Panamanians bilingual
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
88%
male:
88%
female:
88%
Labor force:
921,000 (1992 est.)
by occupation:
government and community services 31.8%, agriculture, hunting, and
fishing 26.8%, commerce, restaurants, and hotels 16.4%, manufacturing
and mining 9.4%, construction 3.2%, transportation and communications
6.2%, finance, insurance, and real estate 4.3%
note:
shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor

@Panama, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Panama
conventional short form:
Panama
local long form:
Republica de Panama
local short form:
Panama
Digraph:
PM
Type:
constitutional republic
Capital:
Panama
Administrative divisions:
9 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 territory*
(comarca); Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera,
Los Santos, Panama, San Blas*, Veraguas
Independence:
3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain 28
November 1821)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 3 November (1903)
Constitution:
11 October 1972; major reforms adopted April 1983
Legal system:
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the
Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government:
President Guillermo ENDARA (since 20 December 1989, elected 7 May
1989); First Vice President Guillermo FORD Boyd (since 24 December
1992); Second Vice President (vacant); election last held on 7 May
1989, annulled but later upheld; results - anti-NORIEGA coalition
believed to have won about 75% of the total votes cast
note:
a presidential election was held 8 May 1994 (next election to held on
9 May 1999) with inauguration of the successful candidates to take
place on 1 September 1994; results - President Ernesto PEREZ
BALLADARES Gonzales, First Vice President Tomas Altamirano DUQUE, and
Second Vice President Felipe VIRZI were elected; percent of vote for
president - BALLADARES 33%, DE GRUBER 29%, BLADES 17%
cabinet:
Cabinet; appointed by the president
Legislative branch:
unicameral
National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional):
elections held on 27 January 1991; results - percent of vote by party
NA; seats - (67 total)
progover