Land

Climatic conditions are markedly different on the Atlantic and Pacific sides of western Panama, especially in the amount and seasonal distribution of rainfall. On the Caribbean slopes of the Tabasará Mountains, which face the rain-bearing trade winds, average rainfall is approximately twice as heavy as on the leeward Pacific slopes. The Caribbean coast receives 60–140 inches (1,500–3,550 mm) per year, while the more populated Pacific region receives 45–90 inches (1,140–2,290 mm). Furthermore, on the Caribbean side rain falls almost throughout the year, while on the Pacific side there is more seasonal variation—in Chiriquí province, for example, there is a pronounced dry season lasting from January to April, and March is usually the driest month. In accordance with this rainfall pattern, tropical rainforests are typical on Caribbean slopes, whereas savannas (tropical grasslands) are more common southward in the seasonally dry areas between the Tabasará Mountains and the Pacific shoreline. Toward the Colombian border both sides of the isthmus have year-round rainfall.

Because of Panama’s tropical location, the mean temperature of the coldest month seldom drops below 78 °F (26 °C) on either coast. The Panamanian mountain slopes create three climatic zones: a low, hot zone, lying at elevations below 2,300 feet (700 meters), which makes up nearly nine-tenths of the country’s territory; a temperate zone, at elevations ranging from 2,300 to 4,900 feet (700 to 1,500 meters), which accounts for most of the rest of the land; and a tiny cold zone, lying above 4,900 feet. Each zone has its characteristic plant growth and crops; cacao and bananas are produced mainly in the hot lowlands, whereas coffee is grown in the temperate zone.

Plant and animal life

In spite of its relatively small area, Panama has a great variety of landscapes and habitats: tropical rainforests, savannas, cool montane forests, tidal lands covered by stilted mangrove trees, coral reefs, and beaches. Because of its ancient role as a land bridge over which species have migrated between the continents, the isthmus is home to a rich intermixture of plant and animal life. As a result of this interchange, Panama’s wildlife includes such mammals as sloths, anteaters, and armadillos—which derive from South America—as well as jaguars, tapirs, and deer—which came originally from North America. Also among Panama’s rich fauna are several species of giant sea turtle, which lay their eggs on the beaches. Few comparable areas have a larger number of bird species, both resident and migratory.

National parks and reserves occupy about one-sixth of the nation’s land area. Panama’s parks are known for their lush tropical rainforests and abundance of wildlife. The Darién region of eastern Panama is the site of a national park created in 1980 and added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List the following year. La Amistad National Park was established in 1988 alongside Costa Rica’s protected Talamanca Range–La Amistad region; the two zones were designated a transboundary World Heritage site in 1990. Among other national parks are Chagres (1984), Portobelo (1976), and Coiba (1991).

Ethnic groups

At the time of Spanish arrival in the 16th century, the isthmus was inhabited by Indigenous peoples, including the Guna (Kuna), Ngäbe (Guaymí), Emberá, and other groups. Spanish colonization led to the emergence of a population of mixed Indigenous and European ancestry. During the colonial period, enslaved Africans were brought to Panama, and their descendants became an important part of the country’s population and cultural heritage..

Indigenous peoples constitute a significant component of Panama’s population. According to the 2023 census, approximately 698,000 Indigenous people (approximately 17 percent of the national population) belong to eight recognized Indigenous peoples: the Ngäbe, Buglé, Gunadule (Guna), Emberá, Wounaan, Naso Tjër Di, Bribri, and Bokota. Many live within legally recognized Indigenous territories known as comarcas, although substantial numbers reside in other parts of the country as well.Indigenous communities participate in a wide range of economic activities. While agriculture, fishing, and forestry remain important in many areas, Indigenous Panamanians are also active in commerce, public service, tourism, education, and other professions.

People of mixed Indigenous and European ancestry constitute the largest segment of Panama’s population and are distributed throughout the country. Afro-Panamanians, whose ancestry reflects both the colonial-era African diaspora and later migration from the Caribbean, form another large component of the population and are concentrated in urban areas, the Caribbean coast, Darién, and the Canal corridor.

The United States has influenced both the economy and the culture of Panama. U.S. citizens live primarily in the Canal Zone area and in Panama City. Panama is also home to communities of Chinese, South Asian, and Middle Eastern descent, whose members have contributed to the country’s economic, political, professional, and cultural life. The country also has a longstanding Jewish community, whose origins date to the colonial period, when some Spanish and Portuguese Jews fleeing the Inquisition settled in Panama and often practiced their religion in secret. The community grew with the arrival of Jewish immigrants from the Caribbean, particularly Curaçao, during the mid-19th century. Panama elected the Western Hemisphere’s first Jewish president, Eric Arturo Delvalle (del Valle), who served in the 1980s.

Language

Spanish is the official language of Panama and is spoken by the vast majority of the population. Indigenous languages are spoken by a minority of Panamanians, particularly within Indigenous communities, many of whose members are also bilingual in Spanish. English is widely taught in schools and is commonly spoken among Panamanians as well.

Religion

Roman Catholicism is the religion of about three-fourths of Panamanians. The number of Protestants grew rapidly in the late 20th century, especially among Pentecostal churches. There is also a long-standing Protestant tradition within the African population of Bocas del Toro province and among Indigenous groups and West Indian immigrants. Three synagogues serve the Jewish population. Some Panamanians practice the syncretic religion Santería, a combination of Roman Catholic and traditional West African beliefs and customs. Panama’s constitution guarantees freedom of worship.