5, railcar carrier 2, refrigerated cargo 312, roll-on/roll-off cargo
102, short-sea passenger 40, specialized tanker 23, vehicle carrier
177
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 71
countries among which are Japan 1,262, Greece 378, Hong Kong 244,
South Korea 259, Taiwan 229, China 193, Singapore 103, US 116,
Switzerland 78, and Indonesia 53 (1998 est.)

Airports: 110 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 43
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 22 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 67
914 to 1,523 m: 17
under 914 m: 50 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: an amendment to the Constitution abolished the
armed forces, but there are security forces (Panamanian Public
Forces or PPF includes the National Police, National Maritime
Service, and National Air Service)

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 746,910 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 511,866 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $132 million (1997)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.6% (1997)

Military--note: in October 1994, a month after President PEREZ
BALLADARES assumed office, Panama's Legislative Assembly approved a
constitutional amendment prohibiting the creation of a standing
military force, but allowing the temporary establishment of a
"special police force" to counter acts of "external aggression"

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

Illicit drugs: major cocaine transshipment point and major
drug-money-laundering center; no recent signs of coca cultivation;
monitoring of financial transactions is improving

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@Papua New Guinea
----------------

Geography

Location: Southeastern Asia, group of islands including the
eastern half of the island of New Guinea between the Coral Sea and
the South Pacific Ocean, east of Indonesia

Geographic coordinates: 6 00 S, 147 00 E

Map references: Oceania

Area:
total: 462,840 sq km
land: 452,860 sq km
water: 9,980 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly larger than California

Land boundaries:
total: 820 km
border countries: Indonesia 820 km

Coastline: 5,152 km

Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baseli