Panama: Quick Facts

Written and fact-checked by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

Nov. 2, 2026

News •

As jungle training ramps up, Schriever captain among Panama graduates • Oct. 25, 2026, 8:01 AM ET (The Colorado Springs Gazette)

Panama pitches its maritime network to Tamil Nadu businesses • Oct. 23, 2026, 6:46 AM ET (The Hindu)

‘For Panama, it is life or death’: how drought is choking the canal that feeds a nation • Oct. 20, 2026, 7:48 AM ET (The Guardian)

Map: Large Earthquake Shakes Panama • Oct. 16, 2026, 3:00 AM ET (New York Times)

Facts

Also Known As	República de Panamá • Republic of Panama
Head Of State And Government	President: José Raúl Mulino
Capital	Panama City
Population	(2026 est.) 4,453,000
Form Of Government	multiparty republic with one legislative house (National Assembly [71])
Official Language	Spanish
Official Religion	none
Official Name	República de Panamá (Republic of Panama)
Total Area (Sq Km)	75,205
Total Area (Sq Mi)	29,037
Monetary Unit	balboa (B)
Population Rank	(2026) 128
Population Projection 2030	4,842,000
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi	(2026) 153.4
Density: Persons Per Sq Km	(2026) 59.1
Urban-Rural Population	Urban: (2024) 69.9% • Rural: (2024) 30.1%
Life Expectancy At Birth	Male: (2022) 76.2 years • Female: (2022) 82.1 years
Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000)	(2024) 81,303
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$)	(2024) 18,010

Photos and Videos

Map highlighting Panama in Central America, with surrounding countries labeled including Costa Rica to the west and Colombia to the east. Major bodies of water such as the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean are shown, along with nearby countries in the region. Panama City is marked as the capital.

Map of Panama showing national boundaries with Costa Rica to the west and Colombia to the east, major cities including Panama City, Colon, and David, and surrounding bodies of water such as the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. An inset locator map highlights Panama's position in Central America.

Map of Panama highlighting its physical features, including major mountain ranges, volcanoes, national parks, and bodies of water such as the Caribbean Sea, Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Panama, and the Panama Canal. Neighboring countries Costa Rica and Colombia are labeled, and an inset locator map shows Panama's position in Central America.

Pedro Miguel Locks

Historical map of the Isthmus of Panama around 1900, showing the proposed route of the Panama Canal as a dashed line stretching from Colon on the Atlantic Ocean to Panama City on the Pacific Ocean. The map details rivers, mountains, and towns along the isthmus, which was then part of Colombia.

U.S. invasion of Panama

Navigating the Panama Canal: A captain's perspective

Black-and-white photo of Teddy Roosevelt over Panama Canal backdrop, flanked by Panama and U.S. flags with “or” and a question mark between them.

National anthem of Panama

See All Videos, Images, Audio and Interactives →

Topics

League of Nations Panama Canal Treaty nation-state Allied powers Operation Just Cause Hay–Bunau-Varilla Treaty Montevideo Convention list of countries in Latin America Panama Canal Gaillard Cut United States India United Kingdom China Canada Russia Germany Australia Japan France

George H.W. Bush

George H.W. Bush

president of United States

Martinelli, Ricardo

Ricardo Martinelli

president of Panama

Ruben Blades, wearing a dark suit and gold tie, sings into a microphone on stage with musicians from the Spanish Harlem Orchestra playing instruments in the background.

Rubén Blades

Panamanian musician, actor, and political activist

Manuel Noriega

Manuel Noriega

Panamanian military leader

Phillippe-Jean Bunau-Varilla

Philippe-Jean Bunau-Varilla

French engineer

Panama's first woman president

Mireya Moscoso

president of Panama

default image

Omar Torrijos

dictator of Panama

default image

Pedro Arias Dávila

Spanish colonial administrator

default image

Arnulfo Arias

president of Panama

Portobelo

Portobelo

Panama

David: main square

David

Panama

Map of Latin America showing countries, major cities, and key physical features such as mountain ranges, highlands, and rivers. The map includes Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America, with labeled regions like the Andes, Brazilian Highlands, and Gran Chaco, as well as an inset highlighting the West Indies. Surrounding bodies of water, including the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea, are also labeled.

history of Latin America

Map of North America showing international boundaries, country names, and capital cities. The map includes Canada, the United States, Mexico, Greenland, Central American countries, and Caribbean nations, with a locator inset at the bottom left for global context. Major bodies of water such as the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Arctic Ocean, and Caribbean Sea are labeled.

North America

continent

Map of Central America showing country borders, capital cities, major lakes, and the Panama Canal, with shaded relief indicating elevation changes across the region.

Central America

Panama City

Panama City

national capital, Panama

Colón: Christ Church by the Sea

Colón

Panama

Gamboa

Gamboa

Panama

Ancón: Gorgas Hospital

Ancón

Panama

default image

Cristóbal

Panama

default image

Puerto Armuelles

Panama

default image

Santiago

Panama

San Blas Archipelago

San Blas

region, Panama

default image

Balboa

Panama

default image

La Palma

Panama

Opened passport with visas, stamps, seals, world map. (travel, tourism)

Guess the Country by Its Neighbors Quiz

Actual continental drift of plates. Thematic map.

Geography Fun Facts

10:087 Ocean: The World of Water, two globes showing eastern and western hemispheres

You Name It!

Flags of all nations of the world. Grouping of various country flags on a world map.

Which Country Is Larger? Quiz

7:023 Geography: Think of Something Big, globe showing Africa, Europe, and Eurasia

Which Country Is Larger By Area? Quiz

Flags of the world. National flags. Country flags. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, geography and travel, explore discovery

Countries of the World

Brown globe on antique map. Brown world on vintage map. North America. Green globe. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, geography and travel, explore discovery

Countries & Their Features

Flags of the world against blue sky. Countries, International. Globalization, global relations, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, Poland, Palestine, Japan. Homepage 2010, arts and entertainment, history and society

Which Country Is Larger By Population? Quiz

Brown globe on antique map. Brown world on vintage map. North America. Green globe. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, geography and travel, explore discovery

Match the Country with Its Hemisphere Quiz

Flags of all countries of the world. Flags of the world. National flags. Country flags. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, geography and travel, explore discovery

The Country Quiz