Informational content based on the Discover Panama, Government and Politics, Economy, Culture, and Tourism sections of the reference portal.
Discover Panama
Panama has served for thousands of years as a crossroads for living beings, people, and cultures from around the world.
That crossroads role is reflected in the country's cultural, racial, culinary, musical, and artistic diversity.
The reference portal invites visitors to discover the richness of color and culture that Panamanians offer to the world.
Government and politics
The Republic of Panama has three branches of government established by the Constitution.
Legislative Branch: exercised by the National Assembly, whose members are elected every five years by electoral circuits.
Executive Branch: embodied by the President of the Republic, ministries, and decentralized organizations; the president and vice president are elected by direct universal suffrage for five years.
Judicial Branch: represented by the Supreme Court of Justice, tribunals, and judicial offices; the Supreme Court has nine magistrates.
Independent organizations: Comptroller General, Electoral Tribunal, Public Ministry, and Panama Canal Authority.
Economy
The reference presents Panama as a country of opportunities and one of the most stable economies in the Americas.
Estimated 2022 population: 4.4 million.
2022 GDP growth: 10.8%.
2021 GDP per capita: USD 17,409.
April 2022 workforce: 2,049,616.
2022 inflation: 2.9%.
April 2022 total unemployment: 9.9%.
2021 exports: USD 3.7 billion.
Foreign direct investment January-September 2022: USD 2 billion.
Main economic activities are finance, tourism, and logistics, representing close to 75% of GDP.
The reference notes Panama's investment-grade classification by Standard & Poor's, Moody's, and Fitch Ratings.
Culture
Panama has a cultural multiplicity that is unique in the region, enriched by visitors from around the world and by native Panamanian groups.
La Pollera is highlighted as the national dress.
The Panamanian Caribbean, especially Colon and Bocas del Toro, contributes a distinctive Atlantic culture.
The Azuero region is presented as the birthplace and guardian of Panamanian folkloric music and traditional representations.