Go Panama

PANAMA FACTS

Location
Panama is located in Central America between 7° and 10° north of the Equator, with Costa Rica to the northwest and Colombia to the southeast. Panama actually runs west to east, with the Caribbean on the north and the Pacific Ocean on the south.

Land
75,990 sq. km—slightly smaller than South Carolina. The terrain in the interior is mostly steep, rugged mountains and dissected upland plains. Coastal areas are largely plains and rolling hills.

Population
3,000,000 (2004 estimate)
Panama City (capital) 470,000
(metro area 1,000,000+)

Ethnic Groups
Mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 70%, Amerindian and mixed (West Indian) 14%, white 10%, Amerindian 6%.

Religions
Most Panamanians (85%) are Roman Catholic, the majority of the rest are Protestant. There are numerous churches, temples and synagogues throughout the country.

Languages
The official language is Spanish. English is widely spoken in Panama City and tourist areas.