Panama

Introduction & Quick Facts
Land
- Relief
- Drainage and soils
- Climate
- Plant and animal life
People
- Ethnic groups
- Language
- Religion
- Settlement patterns
- Demographic trends
Economy
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
- Resources and power
- Manufacturing
- Finance, trade, and services
  - Finance
  - Trade
  - Services
- Labor and taxation
- Transportation and telecommunications
  - Panama Canal and coastal ports
  - Land and air transportation
  - Telecommunications
Government and society
- Constitutional framework
- Local government
- Justice
- Political process
- Security
- Health and welfare
- Housing
- Education
Cultural life
- Cultural milieu
- Daily life and social customs
- The arts
- Cultural institutions
- Sports and recreation
- Media and publishing
History
- Exploration, conquest, and settlement
- Secession from Spain and union with Gran Colombia
- Transcontinental railroad and canal projects
- The Republic of Panama
  - Early years
  - World War II and mid-century intrigues
  - Rule by Torrijos and Noriega
  - Invasion of Panama
  - Transitions to democracy and sovereignty
- Treaty relations with the United States

References & Edit History Facts & Stats

Images, Videos & Interactives

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.

Navigating the Panama Canal: A captain's perspective

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.

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.

Panama: Religious affiliation

Panama: Age breakdown

Panama: Urban-rural

At a Glance

default image

Panama: Media

country, Central America

Videos

Navigating the Panama Canal: A captain's perspective

Navigating the Panama Canal: A captain's perspective

Overview of the Panama Canal.

Video: Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz

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.

How was the Panama Canal built—and who owns it?

The Panama Canal wasn't always operated by Panama.

Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Images

Panama

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

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.

Panama

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

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.

Panama

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

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.

Panama

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Pedro Miguel Locks

Pedro Miguel Locks

The Pedro Miguel Locks raise or lower ships on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal.

© Robert Frerck from TSW—CLICK/Chicago

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.

Map of the isthmus of Panama from the 10th edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica

A map of central Panama (c. 1900), from the 10th edition of the Encyclopædia...

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

U.S. invasion of Panama

U.S. invasion of Panama

Buildings engulfed in flames following the U.S. invasion of Panama, December 1989.

National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Manuel Noriega

Manuel Noriega

U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency agents escorting Manuel Noriega (center) to an aircraft...

National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Panama

Panama

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Audio

National anthem of Panama

The instrumental version of the national anthem of Panama.

Interactives

Panama: Religious affiliation

Panama: Religious affiliation

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Panama: Age breakdown

Panama: Age breakdown

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Panama: Urban-rural

Panama: Urban-rural

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Panama: Major import sources

Panama: Major import sources

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Panama: Major export destinations

Panama: Major export destinations

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

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