Facts about Panama
Explore Panama from the Chiriquí highlands and Bocas del Toro to the canal, Azuero and Darién. Learn its provinces and comarcas, cities and waters, discover ten illustrated topics, then practise everyday Spanish.
- Capital
- Panama City
- Currency
- Balboa (PAB) and US dollar (USD)
- Official language
- Spanish
- Territories
- 10 provinces and 6 Indigenous comarcas
- Highest point
- Volcán Barú, about 3,475 m
- Canal handover
- 31 December 1999
Panama · 0 of 20 rounds passed
Two timed rounds per topic, 20 seconds a question
Panama curves between Costa Rica and Colombia, with the Caribbean generally to the north and the Pacific to the south. Panama City faces the Gulf of Panama, while Colón anchors the Caribbean end of the canal. David and Boquete open onto the western highlands; Santiago, Chitré and Las Tablas introduce the interior and Azuero. Bocas del Toro connects island and mainland communities, and La Palma faces the Gulf of San Miguel in Darién.
Three map games cover ten provinces and four separately mapped Indigenous comarcas, selected cities and towns, and eight waterways and coastal waters. Naso Tjër Di is included; Madugandí and Wargandí are discussed in the reading and remain within their surrounding province targets. Follow the canal through Gatún Lake, distinguish Pacific gulfs, and discover the people whose histories extend far beyond the waterway. The linked language lessons teach general Spanish.
An isthmus between two oceans
A curved land bridge, western mountains and a canal that crosses the continental divide.
- Which countries border Panama?
- Costa Rica to the west and Colombia to the east. Panama has Caribbean and Pacific coasts and forms the southern end of the Central American isthmus.
- How many provinces and comarcas does Panama have?
- Ten provinces and six Indigenous comarcas. Their administrative arrangements differ; the map separates four comarcas and includes Madugandí and Wargandí within their surrounding province targets.
- What is the highest point in Panama?
- Volcán Barú, about 3,475 metres high, in Chiriquí near Boquete and Volcán. It belongs to the mountainous western part of Panama.
More about Panama: geography
Panama joins Costa Rica in the west to Colombia in the east. The Caribbean Sea lies generally to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south, although the isthmus bends enough to make local directions surprising. Panama City faces the Pacific; Colón stands near the Caribbean entrance to the canal. Volcán Barú, in western Chiriquí, rises to about 3,475 metres, the country’s highest point. The Azuero Peninsula projects south between the Gulf of Chiriquí and the Gulf of Panama.
David and Boquete introduce the western lowlands and highlands, while Bocas del Toro includes Caribbean islands and a mainland province. Santiago, Chitré and Las Tablas anchor different parts of the interior. Farther east, La Palma faces the Gulf of San Miguel in Darién. Panama has ten provinces and six Indigenous comarcas with different administrative arrangements. The province map has fourteen targets: ten provinces and four separately mapped comarcas, including Naso Tjër Di. Madugandí and Wargandí lie within the Panamá and Darién province targets respectively.
Crossing the isthmus through history
Indigenous societies, colonial trade routes, independence and the struggle for canal sovereignty.
- When did Panama become independent?
- Panama separated from Spain in 1821 and from Colombia in 1903. These are different events, both remembered in the country’s history.
- When did Panama take full control of the canal?
- On 31 December 1999, following the timetable established by the 1977 Torrijos–Carter Treaties. The canal itself opened in 1914.
- Are Panamá Viejo and Casco Antiguo the same place?
- No. Panamá Viejo preserves the earlier colonial city founded in 1519; Casco Antiguo developed at the replacement site after the destruction of 1671.
More about Panama: history
Indigenous societies traded and travelled across the isthmus long before European conquest. The goldwork and burials at sites such as El Caño belong to this earlier history. Spanish settlers founded Panamá in 1519 at the site now called Panamá Viejo. After Henry Morgan’s attack in 1671, the colonial city was rebuilt at today’s Casco Antiguo. Trails across the isthmus connected Pacific shipping with Caribbean ports, carrying people and goods within an empire built in part on forced labour and slavery.
Panama broke from Spain in 1821 and joined the republic of Colombia, initially Gran Colombia; separation from Colombia followed in 1903 with United States support. The canal opened in 1914, built by a multinational workforce, including many Caribbean workers. United States control of the Canal Zone became a central sovereignty issue. The Torrijos–Carter Treaties were signed in 1977, and Panama assumed full canal control on 31 December 1999. Military rule and the United States invasion of 1989, which removed Manuel Noriega, also shaped the modern republic.
Spanish and Panama’s community languages
Official Spanish alongside Guna, Ngäbere, Emberá, Wounaan and Caribbean Creole traditions.
- What is Panama’s official language?
- Spanish. Indigenous languages, English-based Creoles and languages of migrant communities are also part of Panama’s everyday linguistic life.
- Are Ngäbere and Buglere the same language?
- No. They are distinct languages associated with Ngäbe and Buglé communities. A shared comarca name does not make their languages interchangeable.
- What is Guari-Guari?
- An English-based Creole associated with Bocas del Toro’s Afro-Caribbean communities. Its presence does not make English the province’s official language.
More about Panama: language
Spanish is Panama’s official language and is widely used in schools, government, media and everyday conversation. Panamanian speech has regional vocabulary and different patterns of pronunciation. English is useful in some international businesses and tourism settings, but it is not a second nationwide official language. The linked lessons teach general everyday Spanish rather than a complete course in Panamanian regional usage.
Guna, Ngäbere, Buglere, Naso, Bribri, Emberá and Wounaan represent distinct Indigenous linguistic traditions. Ngäbere and Buglere are different languages, even though the comarca name Ngäbe Buglé brings two peoples together. English-based Creole varieties, including Guari-Guari in Bocas del Toro, reflect Caribbean connections. Chinese and other migrant communities add further languages. A comarca boundary cannot show everyone who speaks a language: families also live in cities and elsewhere across Panama.
Molas, Congo heritage and the Azuero
Textile artistry, Afro-Panamanian celebrations, polleras and music from different communities.
- Who makes mola textiles?
- Molas are associated with Guna women’s textile artistry. Layered cloth and detailed stitching create panels used in clothing and other works.
- When did UNESCO recognise Panama’s Congo cultural expressions?
- In 2018. The inscription concerns ritual and festive expressions of the Congo culture, especially associated with Afro-Panamanian communities on the Caribbean side.
- Is the sombrero pintao the same as a Panama hat?
- No. The sombrero pintao is a Panamanian weaving tradition. The toquilla-straw hat commonly sold internationally as a Panama hat is an Ecuadorian craft.
More about Panama: culture
Guna mola panels use layers of cloth and fine stitching to create intricate designs, often as part of women’s clothing. The work belongs to living makers and communities, with meanings beyond its sale as a souvenir. On the Caribbean side, Congo ritual and festive expressions recall resistance to enslavement through performance, music and collective celebration. UNESCO inscribed this Congo heritage in 2018; it is especially associated with communities in Colón province.
The Azuero Peninsula is known for tamborito, elaborate polleras and local festivals, including Carnival in Las Tablas and the Mejorana festival in Guararé. These are regional traditions within a wider national culture. The handmade sombrero pintao has its own Panamanian craft history, recognised by UNESCO in 2017. It differs from the internationally marketed Panama hat woven from toquilla straw in Ecuador. Salsa, reggae en español and contemporary urban music add other strands to cultural life.
The canal and the livelihoods around it
Shipping, ports, trade and finance alongside farming, tourism and local businesses.
- What currency does Panama use?
- The balboa is the national currency and is at parity with the United States dollar. US dollar banknotes are used in everyday transactions, alongside Panamanian coins.
- Why does rainfall matter to the Panama Canal?
- Freshwater from the watershed supplies the lakes and lock operations, as well as drinking-water needs. Dry conditions can affect how the waterway operates.
- What changed with the canal expansion in 2016?
- Larger locks allowed Neopanamax ships to use the canal. The original locks remain part of the waterway, serving vessels within their own size limits.
More about Panama: economy
The Panama Canal links Atlantic and Pacific shipping through locks, channels and Gatún Lake. The expansion opened in 2016 added larger locks for Neopanamax vessels. Ports on both coasts, logistics businesses, the Colón Free Zone, banking and other services connect Panama with international commerce. The canal uses freshwater to move ships between sea level and the lake: rainfall and water management therefore matter to both shipping and the communities supplied by the watershed.
The balboa is the national currency, at parity with the United States dollar; US banknotes circulate alongside Panamanian coins. Agriculture includes bananas, rice, livestock and highland coffee, while tourism and small enterprises support livelihoods in many regions. National economic output does not describe every household’s situation: inequality and differences in access to services remain significant. Canal traffic, trade shares and export rankings fluctuate, so the guide explains these connections without presenting an undated annual count as permanent.
A republic with provinces and comarcas
Elected institutions, Indigenous territorial administration and a Panamanian-run canal.
- What kind of government does Panama have?
- A presidential republic with an elected president, a unicameral National Assembly and a judicial branch. A presidential term lasts five years.
- What is a comarca in Panama?
- An Indigenous territory with a particular legal and administrative framework. Panama’s six comarcas do not all have the same administrative status.
- Who administers the Panama Canal?
- The Panama Canal Authority, a Panamanian autonomous public entity. Full canal control passed to Panama at the end of 1999.
More about Panama: politics
Panama is a presidential republic with a president, a single-chamber National Assembly and a judicial branch. Presidential terms last five years, and the Assembly has 71 members. The constitution dates from 1972 and has been amended since. The armed forces were abolished through constitutional reform in 1994; Panama maintains public security services. Debates about institutions include transparency, social provision, land, water and the relationship between economic growth and unequal opportunity.
Provinces, districts and corregimientos organise territorial administration, while Indigenous comarcas have distinct legal and governance arrangements. Naso Tjër Di was created by Law 188 of 2020 from territory formerly in Bocas del Toro. Madugandí and Wargandí have different administrative status from the larger comarcas. The Panama Canal Authority administers the canal under Panama’s constitutional framework. The former Canal Zone is part of Panama, rather than a present-day United States territory.
Forests, cloud mountains and Pacific islands
Darién, the La Amistad highlands, Coiba and the habitats of a continental meeting place.
- What is Panama’s national bird?
- The harpy eagle, a large forest raptor. The resplendent quetzal also occurs in Panama, but it is not the national bird.
- What makes Coiba important?
- Coiba National Park and its marine protection zone preserve Pacific island and ocean ecosystems. Coiba Island also has a history as a penal colony.
- Does the Pan-American Highway run continuously through Darién?
- No. The Darién Gap interrupts the highway between Panama and Colombia. Forest and river geography there should not be mistaken for a through road.
More about Panama: nature & wildlife
Panama’s position connects the wildlife histories of North and South America. Darién National Park protects forests, rivers and coastal habitats in the east; the western Talamanca highlands form part of the transboundary La Amistad World Heritage property shared with Costa Rica. Harpy eagles live in tropical forest, while higher cloud forests support different birds, including quetzals. The harpy eagle is Panama’s national bird; the quetzal pictured here is another species found in the country.
Coiba National Park and its Special Zone of Marine Protection include Pacific islands and marine habitats; the main island was once a penal colony. Mangroves, reefs and seagrass occur in coastal regions, including around Bocas del Toro. Humpback whales visit parts of the Pacific seasonally. Forest protection, healthy watersheds and marine conservation are connected with community livelihoods. The Darién Gap interrupts the Pan-American Highway between Panama and Colombia: a map of its forests is not a crossing itinerary.
Sancocho, patacones and coastal kitchens
Chicken soup, rice dishes, plantains and the different flavours of highland and coastal meals.
- What is Panamanian sancocho?
- A chicken soup often flavoured with culantro and made with root vegetables such as ñame. It is commonly served with rice, and recipes differ.
- What are patacones made from?
- Green plantains, cut into pieces, fried, flattened and fried again. They accompany many meals, including fish and other coastal dishes.
- What is chicheme?
- A sweet maize-based drink often made with milk and spices. Preparation varies, and it is distinct from shaved-ice raspados.
More about Panama: food & cuisine
Sancocho de gallina is a well-known Panamanian chicken soup, often made with ñame and culantro and served with rice. Recipes vary by household and region. Patacones are green plantain slices that are fried, flattened and fried again. Carimañolas enclose a savoury filling in yuca dough, while hojaldres are fried dough eaten with different accompaniments. Guacho is a moist rice-based dish that can include seafood, meat or other ingredients.
Caribbean cooking around Bocas del Toro and Colón often brings together coconut, fish, seafood and local seasonings; rondón is one expression of wider Afro-Caribbean food connections. Chicheme is a sweet maize drink commonly prepared with milk and spices. Raspados combine shaved ice with flavoured syrup and other toppings. Coffee farming in the Chiriquí highlands connects agricultural work with internationally known coffees. Indigenous food knowledge and the kitchens of migrant communities add traditions beyond this small selection of dishes.
Canal locks and routes across the isthmus
Miraflores, Panamá Viejo, Casco Antiguo and the Caribbean fortifications.
- Where are the Miraflores Locks?
- On the Pacific side of the Panama Canal, near Panama City. They are distinct from the Gatún Locks near the Caribbean end.
- When was Casco Antiguo added to the World Heritage property?
- In 2003, following Panamá Viejo’s inscription in 1997. The sites now belong to the Colonial Transisthmian Route of Panamá, inscribed as a wider serial property in 2025.
- How was Gatún Lake formed?
- By damming the Chagres River during canal construction. It is a freshwater reservoir used by the canal, not an arm of the sea.
More about Panama: landmarks
Miraflores overlooks locks on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal, near Panama City. The Bridge of the Americas spans the Pacific entrance, while Gatún Lake occupies part of the route inland. The lake formed by damming the Chagres River, rather than by flooding the isthmus with seawater. The Amador Causeway reaches islands beside Panama Bay; Taboga and the Pearl Islands are separate destinations farther out in the gulf.
Panamá Viejo and Casco Antiguo show different stages of the colonial city. Panamá Viejo was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1997, and Casco Antiguo was added in 2003. In 2025 UNESCO inscribed the Colonial Transisthmian Route of Panamá, bringing the city sites together with sections of the Camino de Cruces and the Castle of San Lorenzo in a wider serial property. Portobelo and San Lorenzo’s Caribbean fortifications have their own World Heritage listing. El Caño in Coclé offers a different perspective through pre-Columbian archaeology, rather than the remains of a Spanish city.
The people of a meeting place
Indigenous communities, Afro-Panamanian histories, migration and achievements in sport and the arts.
- How many people were counted in Panama’s 2023 census?
- About 4.1 million: INEC reports 4,064,780 people enumerated. Census counts and population estimates measure different things and need a date.
- Did all Afro-Panamanian families arrive during canal construction?
- No. Afro-Panamanian histories include colonial-era African ancestry as well as later Caribbean migration linked with the railway, canal and other opportunities.
- What is Mariano Rivera’s connection with Puerto Caimito?
- The baseball pitcher grew up in Puerto Caimito, a coastal community in what is now Panamá Oeste. His birthplace is Panama City.
More about Panama: people & society
The 2023 census enumerated about 4.1 million people in Panama; this is a dated census count, not a current population estimate. The metropolitan corridor around Panama City and Colón contrasts with rural, highland, island and river communities. Guna, Ngäbe, Buglé, Emberá, Wounaan, Naso and Bribri peoples have distinct histories and contemporary lives. Many Indigenous people also live outside comarcas. Afro-Panamanian histories include both colonial-era African ancestry and later Caribbean migration associated with railway and canal work.
Chinese migration became part of isthmian life during the nineteenth-century railway era and continued through later periods. Other arrivals from the Americas and beyond have also shaped families, businesses and culture. Boxer Roberto Durán and baseball pitcher Mariano Rivera are internationally known Panamanians; Rivera grew up in Puerto Caimito. Rubén Blades is known for music and acting. Mireya Moscoso became the country’s first female president in 1999. Public figures offer starting points for learning, while ordinary lives reveal much more than a list of famous names.
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