Country Profile
Key Facts
Comptroller
Name: There are several theories about the origin of the name “Panama”. Panamanians believe in general that the word Panama means “abundance of fish, trees and butterflies”. This is the official definition given in social studies textbooks approved by the Ministry of Education in Panama.
Date of Membership in CCLEC: 1991 – Martinique
Motto: “Pro Mundi Beneficio”
Status: Independent — from Spain (28 November 1821); from Colombia (3 November 1903)
Area:74,177.3 km2 (28,640.0 m2)
GDP: $82.179 billion (2015 estimate)
Population: 3,929,141 (2015 estimate)
Capital City: Panama City
Official Language: Spanish
Currency: Balboa (PAB), United States dollar (USD
