icial), English 14%
note: many Panamanians bilingual

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 90.8%
male: 91.4%
female: 90.2%

Government
----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Panama
conventional short form: Panama
local long form: Republica de Panama
local short form: Panama

Data code: PM

Type of government: constitutional 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)

National holiday: Independence Day, 3 November (1903)

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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President Ernesto PEREZ
BALLADARES Gonzalez Revilla (since 1 September 1994), First Vice
President Tomas Gabriel ALTAMIRANO DUQUE (since 1 September 1994),
Second Vice President Felipe Alejandro VIRZI Lopez (since 1
September 1994) were elected for five-year terms by popular vote;
election last held 8 May 1994 (next to be held 9 May 1999); results
- Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES (PRD) 33%, Mireya MOSCOSO DE GRUBER (PA)
29%, Ruben BLADES (MPE) 17%, Ruben Dario CARLES (MOLIRENA) 16%
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral
Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa): legislators from
outlying rural districts are chosen on a plurality basis while
districts located in more populous towns and cities elect multiple
legislators by means of a proportion-based formula; elections last
held 8 May 1994 (next to be held 9 May 1999); results - percent of
vote by party NA; seats - (72 total) PRD 32, PS 4, PALA 1, PA 14,
MPE 6, MOLIRENA 4, PLA 3, PRC 3, PL 2, PDC 1, UDI 1, MORENA 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de
Justicia), nine judges appointed for 10-year terms; five superior
courts; three courts of appeal

Political parties and leaders:
governing coalition: Democratic Revolutionar