est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 23.35 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.66 years
male: 71.91 years
female: 77.51 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.54 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Panamanian(s)
adjective: Panamanian

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

Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%

Languages: Spanish (official), English 14%
note: many Panamanians bilingual

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.8%
male: 91.4%
female: 90.2% (1995 est.)

Government

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

Data code: PM

Government type: constitutional republic

Capital: Panama

Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (provincias,
singular--provincia) and 2 territories* (comarca); Bocas del Toro,
Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los Santos, Panama, San
Blas*, Veraguas, and a new, as yet unnamed territory* or comarca
created 7 March 1997 when President PEREZ BALLADARES signed a bill
designating a reserve stretched across three provinces

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: President Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES (since 1
September 1994); First Vice President Tomas ALTAMIRANO Duque (since
1 September 1994); Second Vice President Felipe VIRZI (since 1
September 1994); note--the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES (since 1
September 1994); First Vice President Tomas ALTAMIRANO Duque (since
1 Sept