years male, 77 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
3.0 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - Panamanian(s); adjective - Panamanian
Ethnic divisions:
mestizo (mixed Indian and European ancestry) 70%, West Indian 14%, white
10%, Indian 6%
Religions:
Roman Catholic over 93%, Protestant 6%
Languages:
Spanish (official); English as native tongue 14%; many Panamanians bilingual
Literacy:
88% (male 88%, female 88%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
Labor force:
770,472 (1987); government and community services 27.9%; agriculture,
hunting, and fishing 26.2%; commerce, restaurants, and hotels 16%;
manufacturing and mining 10.5%; construction 5.3%; transportation and
communications 5.3%; finance, insurance, and real estate 4.2%; Canal Zone
2.4%; shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor
Organized labor:
17% of labor force (1986)

:Panama Government

Long-form name:
Republic of Panama
Type:
centralized republic
Capital:
Panama
Administrative divisions:
9 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 territory* (comarca);
Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los Santos, Panama,
San Blas*, Veraguas
Independence:
3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain 28 November
1821)
Constitution:
11 October 1972; major reforms adopted April 1983
Legal system:
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the
Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations
National holiday:
Independence Day, 3 November (1903)
Executive branch:
president, two vice presidents, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia) currently being
reorganized
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government:
President Guillermo ENDARA (since 20 December 1989, elected 7 May 1989);
First Vice President Ricardo ARIAS Calderon (since 20 December 1989, elected
7 May 1989); Second Vice President Guillermo FORD Boyd (since 20 December
1989, elected 7 May 1989)
Political parties and leaders:
government alliance:
Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement (MOLIRENA), Alfredo RAMIREZ;
Authentic Liberal Party (PLA), Arnulfo ESCALONA; Arnulfista Party (PA),
Mireya