World Factbook
Panama
República de Panama
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: divided into four equal rectangles; one of the top quadrants is white (left side) with a five-pointed blue star in the center, and the other is plain red; one of the bottom quadrants is plain blue (left side), and the other is white with a five-pointed red star in the center meaning: blue and red stand for the main political parties, and white for peace between them; the blue star stands for the civic virtues of purity and honesty, and the red star for authority and law
Capital
name
Panama City
etymology
origin is unclear; may come from a Guaraní word meaning "place of many fish"
time difference
UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
8 58 N, 79 32 W
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
yes
citizenship by descent only
yes
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Constitution
history
several previous; latest effective 11 October 1972
amendment process
proposed by the National Assembly, by the Cabinet, or by the Supreme Court of Justice; passage requires approval by one of two procedures: 1) absolute majority vote of the Assembly membership in each of three readings and by absolute majority vote of the next elected Assembly in a single reading without textual modifications; 2) absolute majority vote of the Assembly membership in each of three readings, followed by absolute majority vote of the next elected Assembly in each of three readings with textual modifications, and approval in a referendum
Country name
etymology
origin is unclear; may come from a Guarani word meaning "place of many fish"
local long form
República de Panama
local short form
Panama
conventional long form
Republic of Panama
conventional short form
Panama
Independence
3 November 1903 (from Colombia); 28 November 1821 (from Spain)
Legal system
civil law system; Supreme Court of Justice reviews legislative acts
Government type
presidential republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of 9 magistrates and 9 alternates and divided into civil, criminal, administrative, and general business chambers)
subordinate courts
appellate courts or Tribunal Superior; Labor Supreme Courts; Court of Audit; circuit courts or Tribunal Circuital (2 each in 9 of the 10 provinces); municipal courts; electoral, family, maritime, and adolescent courts
judge selection and term of office
magistrates appointed by the president for staggered 10-year terms
Executive branch
note
note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the president
chief of state
President José Raúl MULINO Quintero (since 1 July 2024)
election results
2024: José Raúl MULINO Quintero elected president; percent of vote - José Raúl MULINO Quintero (RM) 34.2%, Ricardo Alberto LOMBANA González (MOCA) 24.6%, Martín Erasto TORRIJOS Espino (PP) 16%, Alberto ROUX Moses (CD) 11.4%, Zulay RODRÍGUEZ Lu (independent) 6.6%, José Gabriel CARRIZO Jaén (PRD) 5.9%, other 1.3% 2019: Laurentino "Nito" CORTIZO Cohen elected president; percent of vote - Laurentino CORTIZO Cohen (PRD) 33.3%, Romulo ROUX (CD) 31%, Ricardo LOMBANA (independent) 18.8%, Jose BLANDON (Panameñista Party) 10.8%, Ana Matilde GOMEZ Ruiloba (independent) 4.8%, other 1.3%
head of government
President José Raúl MULINO Quintero (since 1 July 2024)
most recent election date
5 May 2024
election/appointment process
president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by simple-majority popular vote for a 5-year term; president eligible for a single non-consecutive term)
expected date of next election
May 2029
National holiday
Independence Day (Separation Day), 3 November (1903)
National color(s)
blue, white, red
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
6 (3 cultural, 3 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Caribbean Fortifications (c); Darien National Park (n); Talamanca Range-La Amistad National Park (n); Panamá Viejo and Historic District of Panamá (c); Coiba National Park (n); The Colonial Transisthmian Route of Panamá (c)
Political parties
Alliance Party or PA Alternative Independent Socialist Party or PAIS Another Way Movement or MOCA Democratic Change or CD Democratic Revolutionary Party or PRD Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement or MOLIRENA Panameñista Party (formerly the Arnulfista Party) Popular Party or PP (formerly Christian Democratic Party or PDC) Realizing Goals Party or RM
Legislative branch
term in office
5 years
number of seats
71 (all directly elected)
electoral system
mixed system
legislature name
National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
5/5/2024
expected date of next election
May 2029
percentage of women in chamber
21.7%
parties elected and seats per party
Realizing Goals (RM) (14); Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) (13); Democratic Change (CD) (8); Panamenista Party (8); Independents (20); Other (8)
National anthem(s)
title
"Himno Istmeno" (Isthmus Hymn)
history
adopted 1925
lyrics/music
Jeronimo DE LA OSSA/Santos A. JORGE
National symbol(s)
harpy eagle
Administrative divisions
10 provinces ( provincias , singular - provincia ) and 4 indigenous regions* ( comarcas ); Bocas del Toro, Chiriquí, Coclé, Colon, Darien, Embera-Wounaan*, Guna Yala*, Herrera, Los Santos, Naso Tjer Di*, Ngabe-Bugle*, Panama, Panama Oeste, Veraguas
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 483-8413
chancery
2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 483-1407
chief of mission
Ambassador José Miguel ALEMÁN HEALY (since 18 September 2024)
consulate(s) general
Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Tampa
email address and website
info@embassyofpanama.org https://www.embassyofpanama.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[507] 317-5568
embassy
Building 783, Demetrio Basilio Lakas Avenue, Clayton
telephone
[507] 317-5000
mailing address
9100 Panama City PL, Washington, DC 20521-9100
chief of mission
Ambassador Kevin Marino CABRERA (since 5 May 2025)
email address and website
Panama-ACS@state.gov https://pa.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACS, BCIE, CAN (observer), CD, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, SICA, UN, UNASUR (observer), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction