Full country name: Republic of Panama
Area: 29,157 sq miles
Population: 2.8 million (growth rate 1.3% per year)
Capital city: Panama City (population 720,000)
Ethnic Make-up: 65% mestizo, 14% African descent, 10% Spanish descent, 10% Indian
Language: Spanish, English and Indian Tribal languages
Religion: 85% Roman Catholic, 10% Protestant, 5% Islamic
Government: Constitutional republic, Democracy
President: Martin Torrijos

GDP: US$8.8 billion
GDP per head: US$3200
Annual growth: 4.1%
Inflation: 1.1%
Major industries: Banking, construction, petroleum refining, brewing, cement and other construction materials, sugar milling, shipping and agriculture
Major trading partners: USA, EU, Central America & Caribbean, Japan

Visas: Every visitor needs a valid passport for 6 months and an onward ticket to enter Panama, but further requirements vary from country to country and occasionally change. UK, Germany and Switzerland citizens and many other nationalities need only a passport, while people from Japan, New Zealand, USA, Venezuela and more need a tourist visa or tourist card (US$5) as well. Contact the Panama Consulate in London for more details.
Health Risks: Dengue fever, hantavirus (Los Santos province), malaria (Low), rabies and yellow fever
Time: GMT minus 5 hours
Electricity: Variable - either 110V or 220V
Weights & measures: Metric