Panama
Learn Spanish in Panama
Panama is an interesting place to learn Spanish. It is modern, cheaply priced and has a pleasant climate.
Total immersion is an important part of the language learning process, and it is vital to get some total immersion in to your language learning plans. It is most useful if you also have a:
• a good, effective grammar learning system,
• speedy vocabulary learning system learning Spanish vocab at 200 words a day or more.
• . . . and an onsite course with a good, effective teacher. There are Spanish language schools listed where you can learn Spanish.
For more information on how to learn Spanish in Panama click on the link.
Learn Spanish in Panama!
Check out the Spanish Language Schools to learn Spanish in Panama.
Learn Spanish in Panama!
Before you go, just swallow a few of these hundreds of fun facts, which will help you find your way around if you go to Central America to learn Spanish.
Information on Panama
Panama broke away from Colombia in 1903, backed by the US. They then agreed a Treaty allowing for the construction of the Panama Canal and giving the United States sovereignty over the on both sides of the canal (the Panama Canal Zone).
In 1904 the United States Army Corps of Engineers began building the Canal, completing it in 1914.
The country regained control of the Canal in 1999.
Geography information
Geographical Position: Central America, on the Caribbean and the North Pacific Ocean, lying strategically between Colombia to the south and Costa Rica to the north.Latitude & Longitude: 9 degrees 00'North, 80 degrees 00’ West
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area : Total: 78,200 square kilometres Water: 2,210 square kilometres Land: 75,990 square kilometres
Land border lengths: Total: 555 kilometres
Neighbouring Countries: Colombia 225 kilometres, Costa Rica 330 kilometres
Length of Coast: 2,490 kilometres
Climatic Characteristics: tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; rain season is from the months of May to January, and there is a short dry season from January to May.
Terrain Features: Mountainous inland, highland plains; coastal areas predominantly of plains and rolling hills.
Elevation highs & lows: lowest elevation: Pacific Ocean at sea level
highest elevation: Volcan de Chiriqui 3,480 metres
Country’s Natural resources: copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydroelectric power
Land use:
cultivated land: 6%
cropping land: 2%
other: 91% (1998 estimate)
Irrigated land: 320 square kilometres
(1998 estimate)
Geographical information note: Strategic location on the strip of land connecting South America and North America; controlling the strategically important Canal that links North Pacific Ocean to the North Atlantic Ocean via the Caribbean Sea.
People information on Panama
Population : 2,961,000 (July 2003 estimate)
Age Distribution: under age 14 yrs: 30%
between 15 & 64 yrs: 63%
age 65+: 6% (2003 estimate)
Median age:
Total: 25 years male: 25 years
female: 25 years (2002)
Population rate growth: 1% (2003 estimate)
Birth Rate: 20 births per thousand population (2003 estimate)
Mortality Rate: 6 deaths per thousand (2003 estimate)
Rate of Net Migration: -0 migrant(s)per thousand population (2003 estimate)
Infant mortality rate: Total: 21 deaths per thousand live births female: 19 deaths per thousand live births (2003 estimate) male: 23 deaths per thousand live births
Life Expectancy: Total population: 72 years male: 69 years
female: 74 years (2003 estimate)
Total fertility rate: 2 children born/woman (2003 estimate)
Name of people: Panamanian
Racial groupings: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 70%, Amerindian and mixed (West Indian) 14%, white 10%, Amerindian 6%
Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%
Languages: Spanish (official), English 14%
Literacy: : definition: age 15 and over can read and write Total population: 92% male: 93% female: 91% (2003 estimate)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Panama
System of Government : constitutional democracy
Capital City: Panama City
Independence: 3 November 1903 from Colombia.
National holiday: Date of Independence 3 November 1903
Constitution: 1972 with later reforms.
Legal & Law System: Civil Law System.
Voting systemuniversal at 18 years of age
Head of State : President who is Head of State and the Head of government.
Cabinet of country: Cabinet appointed by the president.
Economy
The economy is based on a strong, and vigourous services sector accounting for 75% of Gross Domestic Product. Services include operating the Canal, offshore banking, the Colon Free Trade Zone, insurance industry, shipping container ports, shipping flagship registry, and a strong tourism sector.
Gross Domestic Product: - $USD17 billion (2002 estimate)
Gross Domestic Product - real growth rate: 0% (2002 estimate)
Gross Domestic Product - per capita: - $USD6,000 (2002 estimate)
Gross Domestic Product make-up by sector:
agriculture sector : 7%
industrial sector: 17%
service sector: 76% (2001)
Population below level of poverty: 37% (1999 estimate)
Household % income:
lowest 10%: 1%
highest 10%: 35% (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1% (2001 estimate)
Labour force : 1 million
Labour force - by occupation: agriculture sector 20%, industry 18%, services 61% (1995 estimate)
Unemployment rate: 16% (2002 estimate)
Budget Figures:
revenues: $USD1 billion expenditures: $USD2 billion
Exports : $USD5 billion (2002 estimate)
Exports partners: United States 49%, Nicaragua 5%, Sweden 4%, Benelux, Costa Rica
Imports : $USD6 billion (2002 estimate)
Import partners: United States 33%, Ecuador 7%, Venezuela 6%, Japan 5% (2000)
Debt - external: $USD7 billion (2002 estimate)
Economic aid - recipient: $USD198 million (1995)
Currency: balboa (PAB); United States dollar ($USD)
Currency code: PAB; USD
Communications information on Panama
Telephones: 397,000 (1997)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 101, FM 134,(1998)
Television broadcast stations: 38
Internet Code : .pa
Transportation & Travel to Panama
RailwaysTotal: 355 kilometres
Roading:
Total: 11,600 kilometres
paved roading: 4,100 kilometres (including 30 kilometres of highways/expressways/freeways) unpaved roading: 7,500 kilometres
Navigable Waterways : 882 kilometres
Pipeline Distances : crude oil 130 kilometres
Commercial Harbours/Ports : Puerto Balboa, Puerto Cristobal, Puerto Coco Solo, Manzanillo, Vacamonte.
Airports-Aerodromes : 103 (2002)
Military
Military groupings & departments : Security forces (armed forces were abolished by government decree). Public Forces - Police, National Maritime Service, and the National Air Service)
Military Spending: $USD128 million (Fiscal Year99)
The country's Flag
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Panamanian flag - information, notes, history and facts.
Country Map
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Map of Panama and its history and facts.
Panamanian History
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Panamanian History and historical facts.
Info sourced and adapted from the CIA Factbook .
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