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 Panama| Facts & Figures |
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Republic of Panama
President: Ricardo Martinelli (2009) Land area: 29,340 sq mi (75,991 sq km);
total area: 30,193 sq mi (78,200 sq km) Population (2009 est.): 3,360,474
(growth rate: 1.5%); birth rate: 20.1/1000; infant mortality rate:
12.7/1000; life expectancy: 77.2; density per sq mi: 111
Capital and largest city (2003 est.):
Panama City, 1,053,500 (metro. area), 437,200
(city proper) Other large cities: San Miguelito,
309,500; Colón, 44,400 Monetary units: balboa; U.S. dollar More Facts & Figures |
Republic of Panama
GeographyThe southernmost of the Central American nations, Panama is south of
Costa Rica and north of Colombia. The Panama Canal bisects the isthmus at
its narrowest and lowest point, allowing passage from the Caribbean Sea to
the Pacific Ocean. Panama is slightly smaller than South Carolina. It is
marked by a chain of mountains in the west, moderate hills in the
interior, and a low range on the east coast. There are extensive forests
in the fertile Caribbean area.
GovernmentConstitutional democracy.
HistoryExplored by Columbus in 1502 and by Balboa in 1513, Panama was the
principal shipping point to and from South and Central America in colonial
days. In 1821, when Central America revolted against Spain, Panama joined
Colombia, which had already declared its independence. For the next 82
years, Panama attempted unsuccessfully to break away from Colombia.
Between 1850 and 1900 Panama had 40 administrations, 50 riots, 5 attempted
secessions, and 13 U.S. interventions. After a U.S. proposal for canal
rights over the narrow isthmus was rejected by Colombia, Panama proclaimed
its independence with U.S. backing in 1903.
For canal rights in perpetuity, the U.S. paid Panama $10 million and
agreed to pay $250,000 each year, which was increased to $430,000 in 1933
and to $1,930,000 in 1955. In exchange, the U.S. got the Canal Zone—a
10-mile-wide strip across the isthmus—and considerable influence in
Panama's affairs. On Sept. 7, 1977, Gen. Omar Torrijos Herrera and
President Jimmy Carter signed treaties giving Panama gradual control of
the canal, phasing out U.S. military bases, and guaranteeing the canal's
neutrality.
Nicolas Ardito Barletta, Panama's first directly elected president in
16 years, was inaugurated on Oct. 11, 1984, for a five-year term. He was a
puppet of strongman Gen. Manuel Noriega, a former CIA operative and head
of the secret police. Noriega replaced Barletta with vice president Eric
Arturo Delvalle a year later. In 1988, Noriega was indicted in the U.S.
for drug trafficking, but when Delvalle attempted to fire him, Noriega
forced the national assembly to replace Delvalle with Manuel Solis Palma.
In Dec. 1989, the assembly named Noriega “maximum leader” and declared the
U.S. and Panama to be in a state of war. In Dec. 1989, 24,000 U.S. troops
seized control of Panama City in an attempt to capture Noriega after a
U.S. soldier was killed in Panama. On Jan. 3, 1990, Noriega surrendered
himself to U.S. custody and was transported to Miami, where he was later
convicted of drug trafficking. Guillermo Endara, who probably would have
won an election suppressed earlier by Noriega, was installed as
president.
On Dec. 31, 1999, the U.S. formally handed over control of the Panama
Canal to Panama. Meanwhile, Colombian rebels and paramilitary forces have
made periodic incursions into Panamanian territory, raising security
concerns. Panama has also faced increased drug and arms smuggling.
In May 2004 presidential elections, Martín Torrijos Herrera, the son of
former dictator Omar Torrijos, won 47.5% of the vote. He took office in
September.
Panamanians approved a plan to expand the Panama Canal in 2006. It will likely double the canal's capacity and is expected to be completed in 2014-2015.
Defying the current Latin American trend for left-leaning governments, Panama elected millionaire businessman Ricardo Martinelli as its president on May 3, 2009. After a period of rapid economic growth, Panama had succumbed to the global recession. Trading on his personal record of success—and utilizing his fortune to get his message out—Martinelli promised to encourage foreign investment and help the poor.
See also
Encyclopedia:
Panama
.
U.S. State Dept. Country Notes:
Panama
Republica de Panama Estadistica y Censo (In Spanish only):
www.contraloria.gob.pa/index.htm
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