children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 1.54% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 24,000 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: 1,200 (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Panamanian(s) adjective: Panamanian

Ethnic groups: 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% note: many Panamanians
bilingual

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

Government Panama

Country name: Republic of Panama conventional short form: Government
type: constitutional democracy

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*, and 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 1978, 1983 and 1994

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: President Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO
Rodriguez (since 1 September 1999); First Vice President Arturo Ulises
VALLARINO (since 1 September 1999); Second Vice President Dominador
"Kaiser" Baldonero BAZAN Jimenez (since 1 September 1999); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government head of
government: President Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO Rodriguez (since 1 September
1999); First Vice President Arturo Ulises VALLARINO (since 1 September
1999); Second Vice President Dominador "Kaiser" Baldonero BAZAN Jimenez
(since 1 September 1999); note - the president is both the chief of
state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket by
popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 2 May 1999 (next to
be held NA May 2004) note: PS election results: Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO
Rodriguez elected president; percent of vote - Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO
Rodriguez (PA) 44%, Martin TORRIJOS (PRD) 37%

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