Countries of the World/COUNTRYS.BIN/dp/0276/02763.txt

Text File | 1991-06-25 | 16KB | 314 lines

$Unique_ID{COW02763}
$Pretitle{246}
$Title{Panama
Front Matter}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{Dennis M. Hanratty, Sandra W. Meditz}
$Affiliation{HQ, Department of the Army}
$Subject{panama
percent
forces
states
united
de
gdp
government
international
population}
$Date{1987}
$Log{Global Map*0276301.scf
}
Country:     Panama
Book:        Panama, A Country Study
Author:      Dennis M. Hanratty, Sandra W. Meditz
Affiliation: HQ, Department of the Army
Date:        1987

Front Matter

Acknowledgments

     The authors wish to acknowledge the contributions of the following
individuals who, under the chairmanship of Richard F. Nyrop, wrote the 1980
edition of Panama: A Country Study. The authors of the 1980 edition were as
follows: Jan Knippers Black, "Historical Setting"; Richard F. Nyrop, "The
Society and Its Environment"; Darrel R. Eglin, "The Economy"; James D.
Rudolph, "Government and Politics"; and Eugene K. Keefe, "National Security."
Their work provided the organization and structure of much of the present
volume, as well as substantial portions of the text.

     The authors are grateful to individuals in various agencies of the United
States government and in international and private institutions who gave of
their time, research materials, and special knowledge to provide information
and perspective. Officials at the World Bank were especially helpful in
providing economic data. Similarly, officials of the United States Department
of Defense, both in Washington and Panama, supplied up-to-date information on
Panama's defense forces.

     The authors also wish to thank those who contributed directly to the
preparation of the manuscript. These include Richard F. Nyrop, who reviewed
all drafts and served as liaison with the sponsoring agency; Barbara Auerbach,
Ruth Nieland, Michael Pleasants, and Gage Ricard, who edited the chapters;
Martha E. Hopkins, who managed editing and book production; and Barbara
Edgerton, Janie L. Gilchrist, Monica Shimmin, and Izella Watson, who did the
word processing. Catherine Schwartzstein performed the final prepublication
editorial review, and Margaret Varghese, of Communicators Connections,
compiled the index. Diann Johnson of the Library of Congress Printing and
Processing Section performed phototypesetting, under the supervision of Peggy
Pixley.

     David P. Cabitto, who was assisted by Sandra K. Cotugno and Kimberly A.
Lord, provided invaluable graphics support. Susan M. Lender reviewed the map
drafts, which were prepared by Harriett R. Blood, Kimberly A. Lord, and
Greenhorne and O'Mara, Inc. Paulette Marshall of the Library of Congress
deserves special thanks for designing the illustrations for the book's cover
and the title page of each chapter.

     The authors also would like to thank several individuals who provided
research support. Sisto Flores supplied information on ranks and insignia,
Joan C. Barch wrote the section on geography in chapter 2, and Richard A.
Haggerty supplied a variety of information for inclusion in both the text and
the bibliography.

     Finally, the authors acknowledge the generosity of the individuals and
public and private agencies who allowed their photographs to be used in this
study. We are indebted especially to those who contributed original work not
previously published.

Preface

     Like its predecessor, this study is an attempt to treat in a compact and
objective manner the dominant social, political, economic, and military
aspects of contemporary Panama. Sources of information included scholarly
books, journals, and monographs, official reports of governments and
international organizations, numerous periodicals, and interviews with
individuals having special competence in Panamanian and Latin American
affairs. Chapter bibliographies appear at the end of the book; brief comments
on sources recommended for further reading appear at the end of each chapter.
Measurements are given in the metric system; a conversion table is provided to
assist readers unfamiliar with metric measurements (see table 1, Appendix A).
A glossary is also included.

     Although there are numerous variations, Spanish surnames generally
consist of two parts: the patrilineal name followed by the matrilineal. In the
instance of Omar Torrijos Herrera, for example, Torrijos is his father's name,
Herrera, his mother's maiden name. In non-formal use, the matrilineal name is
often dropped. Thus, after the first mention, we have usually referred simply
to Torrijos. A minority of individuals use only the patrilineal name.

Country Profile

[See Global Map: Map of Panama on the Globe.]

Country

Formal Name: Republic of Panama (Republica de Panama).

Short Form: Panama.

Term for Citizens: Panamanian(s).

Capital: Panama City (Panama).

Geography

Size: Approximately 77,082 square kilometers.

Topography: Dominant feature of landform is central spine of highlands forming
continental divide. Highest elevations near borders with Costa Rica and
Colombia. Lowest elevations at waist of country where it is crossed by Panama
Canal. Most of population concentrated on Pacific side of divide southwestward
from Panama City.

Climate: Tropical climate with high temperatures and humidity year round;
pleasanter conditions prevailing in highlands and on Pacific side of
continental divide. Seasons determined by rainfall rather than by changes in
temperature. Prolonged rainy season between May and December; short dry season
between December and April in parts of Pacific slope and for shorter periods
on Atlantic slope of divide.

Society

Population: In mid-1987 population estimated at 2.3 million; rate of annual
growth calculated at about 2.2 percent in the 1980s.

Education and Literacy: Compulsory attendance to age fifteen or completion of
six-year primary level. Education free at public primary, secondary, and high
schools; nominal tuition at University of Panama. About 87 percent of
population over age 10 literate.

Health: Although high proportion of medical facilities and personnel located
in major urban areas, most people had ready access to medical care of some
kind, and extension of modern medical facilities to rural areas continued in
late 1980s. Life expectancy at birth in 1985 seventy- one years.

Language: Spanish the official language and mother tongue of over 87 percent
of the people. Antilleans--about 8 percent of the population-- primarily spoke
English, and Indians--about 5 percent--spoke their own tongues, but with a
growing number adopting Spanish as second language.

Ethnic Groups: Society composed of three principal groups: Spanish- speaking
mestizos, representing the vast majority of inhabitants; English- speaking
Antillean blacks, constituting approximately 8 percent of the population; and
tribal Indians, making up about 5 percent of the population. Mestizos
originally identified as people of mixed Indian- Spanish heritage, but term
now refers to any racial mixture where the individual conforms to the norms of
Hispanic culture. Also some unmixed Caucasians.

Religion: Overwhelmingly Roman Catholic. Ratio of priests to population quite
low, and relatively few Panamanians enter priesthood. Antilleans predominantly
Protestant.

Economy

Gross Domestic Product (GDP): US$4.9 billion in 1985, more than US$2,000 per
capita. Growth of GDP estimated at 2.8 percent for 1986, demonstrating some
economic recovery following very low or negative growth as a result of
recession after 1982.

Agriculture: About 9 percent of GDP in 1985. Crops represented just over 63
percent of value added in agriculture. Main crops--bananas, sugarcane, rice,
corn, coffee, beans, tobacco, melons, and flowers. Livestock (producing
primarily red meat) accounted for nearly 30 percent of value added in
agriculture; fishing (primarily shrimp), just over 4 percent; and forestry,
nearly 3 percent. Largely self-sufficient in foods except wheat.

Industry: Nearly 18 percent of GDP in 1985, including primarily manufacturing
and mining (over 9 percent of GDP), const