Topic: Photos of Micronesia, Federated States of

Topic: Introduction
Background: Each of the four states that compose the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) - Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap - has its own unique history and cultural traditions. The first humans arrived in what is now the FSM in the second millennium B.C. In the 800s A.D., construction of the artificial islets at the Nan Madol complex in Pohnpei began, with the main architecture being built around 1200. At its height, Nan Madol united the approximately 25,000 people of Pohnpei under the Saudeleur Dynasty. Around the same time, Kosrae was united in a kingdom centered in Leluh by 1250. Yap’s society became strictly hierarchical, with chiefs receiving tributes from islands up to 1,100 km (700 mi) away. Widespread human settlement in Chuuk began in the 1300s, and the different islands in the Chuuk Lagoon were frequently at war with one another. Portuguese and Spanish explorers visited a few of the islands in the 1500s and Spain began exerting nominal, but not day-to-day, control over some of the islands - which they named the Caroline Islands - in the 1600s. Christian missionaries arrived in the 1800s, in particular to Chuuk and Kosrae. By the 1870s, nearly every Kosraean had converted to Christianity and religion continues to play an important role in daily life on the island. In 1899, Spain sold all of the FSM to Germany. Japan seized the islands in 1914 and was granted a League of Nations mandate to administer them in 1920. The Japanese navy built bases across most of the islands and headquartered their Pacific naval operations in Chuuk. The US bombed Chuuk in 1944 during Operation Hailstone in World War II, destroying 250 Japanese planes and 40 ships. The US military largely bypassed the other islands in its leapfrog campaign across the Pacific. The FSM came under US administration as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands in 1947, which comprised six districts: Chuuk, the Marshall Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Pohnpei, and Yap; Kosrae was separated from Pohnpei into a separate district in 1977. In 1979, Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap ratified the FSM Constitution and declared independence while the other three districts opted to pursue separate political statuses. In 1982, the FSM signed a Compact of Free Association (COFA) with the US, which granted the FSM financial assistance and access to many US domestic programs in exchange for exclusive US military access and defense responsibilities; the COFA entered into force in 1986 and its funding was renewed in 2003. There are significant inter-island rivalries stemming from their different histories and cultures. Chuuk, the most populous but poorest state, has pushed for secession, but an independence referendum has been repeatedly postponed and may not be held.

Eligible Micronesians can live, work, and study in any part of the US and its territories without a visa - this privilege reduces stresses on the island economy and the environment. Micronesians serve in the US armed forces and military recruiting from the FSM, per capita, is higher than many US states.Each of the four states that compose the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) - Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap - has its own unique history and cultural traditions. The first humans arrived in what is now the FSM in the second millennium B.C. In the 800s A.D., construction of the artificial islets at the Nan Madol complex in Pohnpei began, with the main architecture being built around 1200. At its height, Nan Madol united the approximately 25,000 people of Pohnpei under the Saudeleur Dynasty. Around the same time, Kosrae was united in a kingdom centered in Leluh by 1250. Yap’s society became strictly hierarchical, with chiefs receiving tributes from islands up to 1,100 km (700 mi) away. Widespread human settlement in Chuuk began in the 1300s, and the different islands in the Chuuk Lagoon were frequently at war with one another.Portuguese and Spanish explorers visited a few of the islands in the 1500s and Spain began exerting nominal, but not day-to-day, control over some of the islands - which they named the Caroline Islands - in the 1600s. Christian missionaries arrived in the 1800s, in particular to Chuuk and Kosrae. By the 1870s, nearly every Kosraean had converted to Christianity and religion continues to play an important role in daily life on the island. In 1899, Spain sold all of the FSM to Germany. Japan seized the islands in 1914 and was granted a League of Nations mandate to administer them in 1920. The Japanese navy built bases across most of the islands and headquartered their Pacific naval operations in Chuuk. The US bombed Chuuk in 1944 during Operation Hailstone in World War II, destroying 250 Japanese planes and 40 ships. The US military largely bypassed the other islands in its leapfrog campaign across the Pacific.The FSM came under US administration as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands in 1947, which comprised six districts: Chuuk, the Marshall Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Pohnpei, and Yap; Kosrae was separated from Pohnpei into a separate district in 1977. In 1979, Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap ratified the FSM Constitution and declared independence while the other three districts opted to pursue separate political statuses. In 1982, the FSM signed a Compact of Free Association (COFA) with the US, which granted the FSM financial assistance and access to many US domestic programs in exchange for exclusive US military access and defense responsibilities; the COFA entered into force in 1986 and its funding was renewed in 2003. There are significant inter-island rivalries stemming from their different histories and cultures. Chuuk, the most populous but poorest state, has pushed for secession, but an independence referendum has been repeatedly postponed and may not be held.

Eligible Micronesians can live, work, and study in any part of the US and its territories without a visa - this privilege reduces stresses on the island economy and the environment. Micronesians serve in the US armed forces and military recruiting from the FSM, per capita, is higher than many US states.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

Topic: Geography
Location: Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia
Geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 158 15 E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 702 sq km

land: 702 sq km

water: 0 sq km (fresh water only)

note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Chuuk (Truk) Islands, Yap Islands, and Kosrae (Kosaie)
Area - comparative: four times the size of Washington, DC (land area only)
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 6,112 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with occasionally severe damage
Terrain: islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low, coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Chuuk
Elevation: highest point: Nanlaud on Pohnpei 782 m

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: timber, marine products, deep-seabed minerals, phosphate
Land use: agricultural land: 25.5% (2018 est.)

arable land: 2.3% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 19.7% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 3.5% (2018 est.)

forest: 74.5% (2018 est.)

other: 0% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012) NA
Population distribution: the majority of the populaton lives in the coastal areas of the high islands; the mountainous interior is largely uninhabited; less than half of the population lives in urban areas
Natural hazards: typhoons (June to December)
Geography - note: composed of four major island groups totaling 607 islands
Map description: Federated States of Micronesia map showing the major islands of this archipelagic country in the North Pacific Ocean.Federated States of Micronesia map showing the major islands of this archipelagic country in the North Pacific Ocean.

Topic: People and Society
Population: 101,009 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: Micronesian(s)

adjective: Micronesian; Chuukese, Kosraen(s), Pohnpeian(s), Yapese
Ethnic groups: Chuukese/Mortlockese 49.3%, Pohnpeian 29.8%, Kosraean 6.3%, Yapese 5.7%, Yap outer islanders 5.1%, Polynesian 1.6%, Asian 1.4%, other 0.8% (2010 est.)
Languages: English (official and common language), Chuukese, Kosrean, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi
Religions: Roman Catholic 54.7%, Protestant 41.1% (includes Congregational 38.5%, Baptist 1.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 0.8%, Assembly of God 0.7%), Church of Jesus Christ 1.5%, other 1.9%, none 0.7%, unspecified 0.1% (2010 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 28.24% (male 14,585/female 14,129)

15-24 years: 18.62% (male 9,473/female 9,461)

25-54 years: 40.81% (male 19,998/female 21,493)

55-64 years: 7.38% (male 3,602/female 3,898)

65 years and over: 4.95% (2021 est.) (male 2,260/female 2,776)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 55.2

youth dependency ratio: 48.4

elderly dependency ratio: 6.8

potential support ratio: 14.7 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 26.3 years

male: 25.5 years

female: 27.1 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.67% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 18.39 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 4.19 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: -20.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: the majority of the populaton lives in the coastal areas of the high islands; the mountainous interior is largely uninhabited; less than half of the population lives in urban areas
Urbanization: urban population: 23.2% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 1.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 7,000 PALIKIR (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 0.92 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.57 male(s)/female

total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 88 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 21.9 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 25.02 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 18.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.44 years

male: 72.34 years

female: 76.66 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.24 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: total: 78.6% of population

unimproved: total: 21.4% of population (2017 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 11.4% (2019)
Hospital bed density: 3.2 beds/1,000 population
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 88.3% of population

unimproved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 11.7% of population (2017 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea

vectorborne diseases: malaria
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 45.8% (2016)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: 9.7% of GDP (2018 est.)
Literacy: total population: NA

male: NA

female: NA
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 18.9%

male: 10.4%

female: 29.9% (2014)

Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: overfishing; climate change; water pollution, toxic pollution from mining; solid waste disposal
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 10.23 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 0.14 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 0.02 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with occasionally severe damage
Land use: agricultural land: 25.5% (2018 est.)

arable land: 2.3% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 19.7% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 3.5% (2018 est.)

forest: 74.5% (2018 est.)

other: 0% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 23.2% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 1.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.02% of GDP (2018 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea

vectorborne diseases: malaria
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 26,040 tons (2016 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.)

Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Federated States of Micronesia

conventional short form: none

local long form: Federated States of Micronesia

local short form: none

former: New Philippines; Caroline Islands; Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts

abbreviation: FSM

etymology: the term "Micronesia" is a 19th-century construct of two Greek words, "micro" (small) and "nesoi" (islands), and refers to thousands of small islands in the western Pacific Ocean
Government type: federal republic in free association with the US
Capital: name: Palikir

geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 158 09 E

time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

time zone note: Micronesia has two time zones

note: Palikir became the new capital of the country in 1989, three years after independence; Kolonia, the former capital, remains the site for many foreign embassies; it also serves as the Pohnpei state capital
Administrative divisions: 4 states; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae (Kosaie), Pohnpei (Ponape), Yap
Independence: 3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 10 May (1979)
Constitution: history: drafted June 1975, ratified 1 October 1978, entered into force 10 May 1979

amendments: proposed by Congress, by a constitutional convention, or by public petition; passage requires approval by at least three-fourths majority vote in at least three fourths of the states; amended 1990; note – at least every 10 years as part of a general or special election, voters are asked whether to hold a constitution convention; a majority of affirmative votes is required to proceed; amended many times, last in 2019 (approval by referendum to hold a constitutional convention)
Legal system: mixed legal system of common and customary law
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of FSM

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President David W. PANUELO (since 11 May 2019); Vice President Yosiwo P. GEORGE (since 11 May 2015); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

head of government: President David W. PANUELO (since 11 May 2019); Vice President Yosiwo P. GEORGE (since 11 May 2015)

cabinet: Cabinet includes the vice president and the heads of the 8 executive departments

elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected by Congress from among the 4 'at large' senators for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 11 May 2019 (next to be held in 2023)

election results: David W. PANUELO elected president by Congress; Yosiwo P. GEORGE reelected vice president
Legislative branch: description: unicameral Congress (14 seats; 10 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 2-year terms and 4 at- large members directly elected from each of the 4 states by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)

elections: last held on 2 March 2021 (next to be held on March 2023)

election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independent 14; composition as of July 2022 - men 13, women 1, percent of women 7.1%
Judicial branch: highest courts: Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and not more than 5 associate justices and organized into appellate and criminal divisions)

judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the FSM president with the approval of two-thirds of Congress; justices appointed for life

subordinate courts: the highest state-level courts are: Chuuk Supreme Court; Korsae State Court; Pohnpei State Court; Yap State Court
Political parties and leaders: no formal parties
International organization participation: ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Akillino Harris SUSAIA (since 24 April 2017)

chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036

telephone: [1] (202) 223-4383

FAX: [1] (202) 223-4391

email address and website:
dcmission@fsmembassy.fm

https://fsmembassy.fm/

consulate(s) general: Honolulu, Portland (OR), Tamuning (Guam)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Carmen G. CANTOR (since 31 January 2020)

embassy: 1286 US Embassy Place, Kolonia, Pohnpei, FM 96941

mailing address: 4120 Kolonia Place, Washington, D.C. 20521-4120

telephone: [691] 320-2187

FAX: [691] 320-2186

email address and website:
koloniaacs@state.gov

https://fm.usembassy.gov/
Flag description: light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern; blue symbolizes the Pacific Ocean, the stars represent the four island groups of Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap
National symbol(s): four, five-pointed, white stars on a light blue field, hibiscus flower; national colors: light blue, white
National anthem: name: "Patriots of Micronesia"

lyrics/music: unknown/August Daniel BINZER

note: adopted 1991; also known as "Across All Micronesia"; the music is based on the 1820 German patriotic song "Ich hab mich ergeben", which was the West German national anthem from 1949-1950; variants of this tune are used in Johannes BRAHMS' "Festival Overture" and Gustav MAHLER's "Third Symphony"
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Nan Madol: Ceremonial Center of Eastern Micronesia

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Economic activity consists largely of subsistence farming and fishing, and government, which employs two-thirds of the adult working population and receives funding largely - 58% in 2013 – from Compact of Free Association assistance provided by the US. The islands have few commercially valuable mineral deposits. The potential for tourism is limited by isolation, lack of adequate facilities, and limited internal air and water transportation.   Under the terms of the original Compact, the US provided $1.3 billion in grants and aid from 1986 to 2001. The US and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) negotiated a second (amended) Compact agreement in 2002-03 that took effect in 2004. The amended Compact runs for a 20-year period to 2023; during which the US will provide roughly $2.1 billion to the FSM. The amended Compact also develops a trust fund for the FSM that will provide a comparable income stream beyond 2024 when Compact grants end.   The country's medium-term economic outlook appears fragile because of dependence on US assistance and lackluster performance of its small and stagnant private sector.Economic activity consists largely of subsistence farming and fishing, and government, which employs two-thirds of the adult working population and receives funding largely - 58% in 2013 – from Compact of Free Association assistance provided by the US. The islands have few commercially valuable mineral deposits. The potential for tourism is limited by isolation, lack of adequate facilities, and limited internal air and water transportation. Under the terms of the original Compact, the US provided $1.3 billion in grants and aid from 1986 to 2001. The US and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) negotiated a second (amended) Compact agreement in 2002-03 that took effect in 2004. The amended Compact runs for a 20-year period to 2023; during which the US will provide roughly $2.1 billion to the FSM. The amended Compact also develops a trust fund for the FSM that will provide a comparable income stream beyond 2024 when Compact grants end. The country's medium-term economic outlook appears fragile because of dependence on US assistance and lackluster performance of its small and stagnant private sector.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $390 million (2019 est.)

$390 million (2018 est.)

$389 million (2017 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 2% (2017 est.)

2.9% (2016 est.)

3.9% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $3,500 (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars

$3,500 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars

$3,200 (2015 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $328 million (2017 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.5% (2017 est.)

0.5% (2016 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 26.3% (2013 est.)

industry: 18.9% (2013 est.)

services: 54.8% (2013 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 83.5% (2013 est.)

government consumption: 48.4% (2016 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 29.5% (2016 est.)

investment in inventories: 1.9% (2016 est.)

exports of goods and services: 27.5% (2016 est.)

imports of goods and services: -77% (2016 est.)
Agricultural products: coconuts, cassava, vegetables, sweet potatoes, bananas, pork, plantains, fruit, eggs, beef
Industries: tourism, construction; specialized aquaculture, craft items (shell and wood)
Industrial production growth rate: NA
Labor force: 37,920 (2010 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 0.9%

industry: 5.2%

services: 93.9% (2013 est.)

note: two-thirds of the labor force are government employees
Unemployment rate: 16.2% (2010 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 18.9%

male: 10.4%

female: 29.9% (2014)
Population below poverty line: 41.2% (2013 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 40.1 (2013 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA

highest 10%: NA
Budget: revenues: 213.8 million (FY12/13 est.)

expenditures: 192.1 million (FY12/13 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 6.6% (of GDP) (FY12/13 est.)
Public debt: 24.5% of GDP (2017 est.)

25.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 65.2% (of GDP) (FY12/13 est.)
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
Current account balance: $12 million (2017 est.)

$11 million (2016 est.)
Exports: $88.3 million (2013 est.)
Exports - partners: Thailand 73%, Japan 10%, China 9% (2019)
Exports - commodities: fish and fish products, coral/shells, scrap metals, mollusks, office machinery/parts (2019)
Imports: $167.8 million (2015 est.)

$258.5 million (2013 est.)
Imports - partners: United States 32%, China 16%, Japan 14%, Taiwan 9%, Philippines 6%, South Korea 6% (2019)
Imports - commodities: poultry meats, netting, broadcasting equipment, various meats, fish products (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $203.7 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$135.1 million (31 December 2015 est.)
Debt - external: $93.6 million (2013 est.)

$93.5 million (2012 est.)
Exchange rates: the US dollar is usedthe US dollar is used

Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 82% (2018)

electrification - urban areas: 93.5% (2018)

electrification - rural areas: 78.7% (2018)
Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)

consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)

exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)

imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption: 1,200 bbl/day (2019 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2014)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day
Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 177,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 177,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: 0 Btu/person (2019 est.)

Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 7,000 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 22,000 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 19 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: adequate system, the demand for mobile broadband is increasing due to mobile services being the primary and most wide-spread source for Internet access across the region (2020)

domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone, satellite (Intelsat) ground stations, and some coaxial and fiber-optic cable; mobile-cellular service available on the major islands; fixed line teledensity roughly 6 per 100 and mobile-cellular nearly 21 per 100 (2019)

international: country code - 691; landing points for the Chuukk-Pohnpei Cable and HANTRU-1 submarine cable system linking the Federated States of Micronesia and the US; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019)

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Broadcast media: no TV broadcast stations; each state has a multi-channel cable service with TV transmissions carrying roughly 95% imported programming and 5% local programming; about a half-dozen radio stations (2009)
Internet country code: .fm
Internet users: total: 39,834 (2019 est.)

percent of population: 35% (2019 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 6,000 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2020 est.)

Topic: Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: V6
Airports: total: 6 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 6

1,524 to 2,437 m: 4

914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2021)
Roadways: note - paved and unpaved circumferential roads, most interior roads are unpaved
Merchant marine: total: 38

by type: general cargo 19, oil tanker 4, other 15 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Colonia (Tamil Harbor), Molsron Lele Harbor, Pohnepi Harbor

Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: no military forces; Federated States of Micronesia National Police (includes a maritime wing)
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US

Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none identifiednone identified
Illicit drugs: major consumer of cannabis


This entry gives the total number of airports with unpaved runways (grass, dirt, sand, or gravel surfaces) by length. For airports with more than one runway, only the longest runway is included according to the following five groups - (1) over 3,047 m (over 10,000 ft), (2) 2,438 to 3,047 m (8,000 to 10,000 ft), (3) 1,524 to 2,437 m (5,000 to 8,000 ft), (4) 914 to 1,523 m (3,000 to 5,000 ft), and (5) under 914 m (under 3,000 ft). Only airports with usable runways are included in this listing. Not all airports have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control. The type of aircraft capable of operating from a runway of a given length is dependent upon a number of factors including elevation of the runway, runway gradient, average maximum daily temperature at the airport, engine types, flap settings, and take-off weight of the aircraft.

Topic: Afghanistantotal: 17

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 7

914 to 1,523 m: 4

under 914 m: 5 (2021)

Topic: Algeriatotal: 82

2,438 to 3,047 m: 2

1,524 to 2,437 m: 16

914 to 1,523 m: 36

under 914 m: 28 (2021)

Topic: Angolatotal: 70

over 3,047 m: 2

2,438 to 3,047 m: 2

1,524 to 2,437 m: 17

914 to 1,523 m: 27

under 914 m: 22 (2021)

Topic: Antarcticatotal: 17

over 3,047 m: 4

2,438 to 3,047 m: 2

1,524 to 2,437 m: 2

914 to 1,523 m: 5

under 914 m: 4 (2021)

Topic: Antigua and Barbudatotal: 1

under 914 m: 1 (2021)

Topic: Argentinatotal: 977

over 3,047 m: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 43

914 to 1,523 m: 484

under 914 m: 448 (2021)

Topic: Armeniatotal: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2021)

Topic: Australiatotal: 131

1,524 to 2,437 m: 16

914 to 1,523 m: 101

under 914 m: 14 (2021)

Topic: Austriatotal: 28

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 3

under 914 m: 24 (2021)

Topic: Azerbaijantotal: 7

under 914 m: 7 (2021)

Topic: Bahamas, Thetotal: 37

1,524 to 2,437 m: 4

914 to 1,523 m: 16

under 914 m: 17 (2021)

Topic: Bangladeshtotal: 2

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

under 914 m: 1 (2021)

Topic: Belarustotal: 32

over 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 2

under 914 m: 28 (2021)

Topic: Belgiumtotal: 15

under 914 m: 15 (2021)

Topic: Belizetotal: 41

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 11

under 914 m: 29 (2021)

Topic: Benintotal: 5

2,438 to 3,047 m: 2

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2021)

Topic: Bhutantotal: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2012)

Topic: Boliviatotal: 834

over 3,047 m: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 4

1,524 to 2,437 m: 47

914 to 1,523 m: 151

under 914 m: 631 (2021)

Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinatotal: 17

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 5

under 914 m: 11 (2021)

Topic: Botswanatotal: 64

1,524 to 2,437 m: 5

914 to 1,523 m: 46

under 914 m: 13 (2021)

Topic: Braziltotal: 3,395

1,524 to 2,437 m: 92

914 to 1,523 m: 1,619

under 914 m: 1,684 (2021)

Topic: British Virgin Islandstotal: 2

914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2021)

Topic: Bulgariatotal: 11

914 to 1,523 m: 2

under 914 m: 9 (2021)

Topic: Burkina Fasototal: 21

1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 13

under 914 m: 5 (2021)

Topic: Burmatotal: 28

over 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 4

914 to 1,523 m: 10

under 914 m: 13 (2021)

Topic: Burunditotal: 6

914 to 1,523 m: 4

under 914 m: 2 (2021)

Topic: Cambodiatotal: 10

1,524 to 2,437 m: 2

914 to 1,523 m: 7

under 914 m: 1 (2021)

Topic: Cameroontotal: 22

1,524 to 2,437 m: 4

914 to 1,523 m: 10

under 914 m: 8 (2021)

Topic: Canadatotal: 944

1,524 to 2,437 m: 75

914 to 1,523 m: 385

under 914 m: 484 (2021)

Topic: Cayman Islandstotal: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2012)

Topic: Central African Republictotal: 37

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 11

914 to 1,523 m: 19

under 914 m: 6 (2021)

Topic: Chadtotal: 50

over 3,047 m: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 2

1,524 to 2,437 m: 14

914 to 1,523 m: 22

under 914 m: 11 (2021)

Topic: Chiletotal: 391

2,438 to 3,047 m: 5

1,524 to 2,437 m: 11

914 to 1,523 m: 56

under 914 m: 319 (2021)

Topic: Chinatotal: 23

over 3,047 m: 2

2,438 to 3,047 m: 0

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 7

under 914 m: 13 (2021)

Topic: Colombiatotal: 715

over 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 25

914 to 1,523 m: 201

under 914 m: 488 (2021)

Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of thetotal: 172

1,524 to 2,437 m: 20

914 to 1,523 m: 87

under 914 m: 65 (2021)

Topic: Congo, Republic of thetotal: 19

1,524 to 2,437 m: 8

914 to 1,523 m: 9

under 914 m: 2 (2021)

Topic: Cook Islandstotal: 10

1,524 to 2,437 m: 2

914 to 1,523 m: 7

under 914 m: 1 (2021)

Topic: Costa Ricatotal: 114

914 to 1,523 m: 18

under 914 m: 96 (2021)

Topic: Cote d'Ivoiretotal: 20

1,524 to 2,437 m: 6

914 to 1,523 m: 11

under 914 m: 3 (2021)

Topic: Croatiatotal: 45

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 6

under 914 m: 38 (2021)

Topic: Cubatotal: 69

914 to 1,523 m: 11

under 914 m: 58 (2021)

Topic: Cyprustotal: 2

under 914 m: 2 (2021)

Topic: Czechiatotal: 87

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 25

under 914 m: 61 (2021)

Topic: Denmarktotal: 52

914 to 1,523 m: 5

under 914 m: 47 (2021)

Topic: Djiboutitotal: 10

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 7

under 914 m: 2 (2021)

Topic: Dominican Republictotal: 20

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m: 18 (2021)

Topic: Ecuadortotal: 328

914 to 1,523 m: 37

under 914 m: 291 (2021)

Topic: Egypttotal: 11

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 4

under 914 m: 3 (2021)

Topic: El Salvadortotal: 63

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 11

under 914 m: 51 (2021)

Topic: Equatorial Guineatotal: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2021)

Topic: Eritreatotal: 9

over 3,047 m: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 5

914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2021)

Topic: Estoniatotal: 5

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m: 3 (2021)

Topic: Eswatinitotal: 12

914 to 1,523 m: 5

under 914 m: 7 (2021)

Topic: Ethiopiatotal: 40

2,438 to 3,047 m: 3

1,524 to 2,437 m: 9

914 to 1,523 m: 20

under 914 m: 8 (2021)

Topic: European Uniontotal: 1,244

over 3,047 m: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 15

914 to 1,523 m: 245

under 914 m: 982 (2013)

Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)total: 5

under 914 m: 5 (2021)

Topic: Fijitotal: 24

914 to 1,523 m: 5

under 914 m: 19 (2021)

Topic: Finlandtotal: 74

914 to 1,523 m: 3

under 914 m: 71 (2021)

Topic: Francetotal: 170

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 64

under 914 m: 105 (2021)

Topic: French Polynesiatotal: 9

914 to 1,523 m: 4

under 914 m: 5 (2021)

Topic: Gabontotal: 30

1,524 to 2,437 m: 7

914 to 1,523 m: 9 (2013)

under 914 m: 14 (2021)

Topic: Georgiatotal: 4

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 2

under 914 m: 1 (2021)

Topic: Germanytotal: 221

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 35

under 914 m: 185 (2021)

Topic: Ghanatotal: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2021)

Topic: Greecetotal: 9

914 to 1,523 m: 2

under 914 m: 7 (2021)

Topic: Greenlandtotal: 5

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 2

under 914 m: 2 (2021)

Topic: Guamtotal: 1

under 914 m: 1 (2021)

Topic: Guatemalatotal: 275

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 2

914 to 1,523 m: 77

under 914 m: 195 (2021)

Topic: Guineatotal: 12

1,524 to 2,437 m: 7

914 to 1,523 m: 3

under 914 m: 2 (2021)

Topic: Guinea-Bissautotal: 6

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 2

under 914 m: 3 (2021)

Topic: Guyanatotal: 106

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 16

under 914 m: 89 (2021)

Topic: Haititotal: 10

914 to 1,523 m: 2

under 914 m: 8 (2021)

Topic: Hondurastotal: 90

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 16

under 914 m: 73 (2021)

Topic: Hungarytotal: 21

1,524 to 2,437 m: 2

914 to 1,523 m: 8

under 914 m: 11 (2021)

Topic: Icelandtotal: 89

1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 26

under 914 m: 60 (2021)

Topic: Indiatotal: 93

over 3,047 m: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 3

1,524 to 2,437 m: 6

914 to 1,523 m: 38

under 914 m: 45 (2021)

Topic: Indonesiatotal: 487

1,524 to 2,437 m: 4

914 to 1,523 m: 23

under 914 m: 460 (2021)

Topic: Irantotal: 179

over 3,047 m: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 2

1,524 to 2,437 m: 9

914 to 1,523 m: 135

under 914 m: 32 (2021)

Topic: Iraqtotal: 30

over 3,047 m: 3

2,438 to 3,047 m: 5

1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 13

under 914 m: 6 (2021)

Topic: Irelandtotal: 24

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 2

under 914 m: 21 (2021)

Topic: Israeltotal: 9

914 to 1,523 m: 3

under 914 m: 6 (2021)

Topic: Italytotal: 31

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 10

under 914 m: 20 (2021)

Topic: Jamaicatotal: 17

914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m: 16 (2021)

Topic: Jan Mayentotal: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2021)

Topic: Japantotal: 33

914 to 1,523 m: 5

under 914 m: 28 (2021)

Topic: Jordantotal: 2

under 914 m: 2 (2021)

Topic: Kazakhstantotal: 33

over 3,047 m: 5

2,438 to 3,047 m: 7

1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 5

under 914 m: 13 (2021)

Topic: Kenyatotal: 181

1,524 to 2,437 m: 14

914 to 1,523 m: 107

under 914 m: 60 (2021)

Topic: Kiribatitotal: 15

914 to 1,523 m: 10

under 914 m: 5 (2021)

Topic: Korea, Northtotal: 43

2,438 to 3,047 m: 3

1,524 to 2,437 m: 17

914 to 1,523 m: 15

under 914 m: 8 (2021)

Topic: Korea, Southtotal: 40

914 to 1,523 m: 2

under 914 m: 38 (2021)

Topic: Kosovototal: 3

under 914 m: 3 (2021)

Topic: Kuwaittotal: 3

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

under 914 m: 2 (2021)

Topic: Kyrgyzstantotal: 10

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m: 8 (2021)

Topic: Laostotal: 33

1,524 to 2,437 m: 2

914 to 1,523 m: 9

under 914 m: 22 (2021)

Topic: Latviatotal: 24

under 914 m: 24 (2021)

Topic: Lebanontotal: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 2

under 914 m: 1 (2021)

Topic: Lesothototal: 21

914 to 1,523 m: 5

under 914 m: 16 (2021)

Topic: Liberiatotal: 27

1,524 to 2,437 m: 5

914 to 1,523 m: 8

under 914 m: 14 (2021)

Topic: Libyatotal: 78

over 3,047 m: 2

2,438 to 3,047 m: 5

1,524 to 2,437 m: 14

914 to 1,523 m: 37

under 914 m: 20 (2021)

Topic: Lithuaniatotal: 39

over 3,047 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 2

under 914 m: 36 (2021)

Topic: Luxembourgtotal: 1

under 914 m: 1 (2021)

Topic: Madagascartotal: 57

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 38

under 914 m: 18 (2021)

Topic: Malawitotal: 25 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 11

under 914 m: 13 (2021)

Topic: Malaysiatotal: 75

914 to 1,523 m: 6

under 914 m: 69 (2021)

Topic: Maldivestotal: 2

914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2021)

Topic: Malitotal: 17

1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 9

under 914 m: 5 (2021)

Topic: Marshall Islandstotal: 11

914 to 1,523 m: 10

under 914 m: 1 (2021)

Topic: Mauritaniatotal: 21

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 10

914 to 1,523 m: 8

under 914 m: 2 (2021)

Topic: Mauritiustotal: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 2

under 914 m: 1 (2021)

Topic: Mexicototal: 1,471

over 3,047 m: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 42

914 to 1,523 m: 281

under 914 m: 1,146 (2021)

Topic: Moldovatotal: 2

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

under 914 m: 1 (2021)

Topic: Mongoliatotal: 29

over 3,047 m: 2

2,438 to 3,047 m: 2

1,524 to 2,437 m: 24

under 914 m: 1 (2021)

Topic: Moroccototal: 26

2,438 to 3,047 m: 2

1,524 to 2,437 m: 6

914 to 1,523 m: 12

under 914 m: 6 (2021)

Topic: Mozambiquetotal: 77

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 9

914 to 1,523 m: 29

under 914 m: 38 (2021)

Topic: Namibiatotal: 93

1,524 to 2,437 m: 25

914 to 1,523 m: 52

under 914 m: 16 (2021)

Topic: Nepaltotal: 36

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 6

under 914 m: 29 (2021)

Topic: Netherlandstotal: 6

914 to 1,523 m: 4

under 914 m: 2 (2021)

Topic: New Caledoniatotal: 13

914 to 1,523 m: 5

under 914 m: 8 (2021)

Topic: New Zealandtotal: 84

1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 33

under 914 m: 48 (2021)

Topic: Nicaraguatotal: 135

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 15

under 914 m: 119 (2021)

Topic: Nigertotal: 20

1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 15

under 914 m: 2 (2021)

Topic: Nigeriatotal: 14

1,524 to 2,437 m: 2

914 to 1,523 m: 9

under 914 m: 3 (2021)

Topic: North Macedoniatotal: 2

914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m: 1 (2021)

Topic: Northern Mariana Islandstotal: 2

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

under 914 m: 1 (2021)

Topic: Norwaytotal: 28

914 to 1,523 m: 6

under 914 m: 22 (2021)

Topic: Omantotal: 119

over 3,047 m: 2

2,438 to 3,047 m: 7

1,524 to 2,437 m: 51

914 to 1,523 m: 33

under 914 m: 26 (2021)

Topic: Pakistantotal: 43

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 9

914 to 1,523 m: 9

under 914 m: 24 (2021)

Topic: Palautotal: 2

1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2021)

Topic: Panamatotal: 60

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 8

under 914 m: 51 (2021)

Topic: Papua New Guineatotal: 540

1,524 to 2,437 m: 11

914 to 1,523 m: 53

under 914 m: 476 (2021)

Topic: Paraguaytotal: 784

1,524 to 2,437 m: 23

914 to 1,523 m: 290

under 914 m: 471 (2021)

Topic: Perutotal: 132

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 19

914 to 1,523 m: 30

under 914 m: 82 (2021)

Topic: Philippinestotal: 158

1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 56

under 914 m: 99 (2021)

Topic: Polandtotal: 39

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 17

under 914 m: 21 (2021)

Topic: Portugaltotal: 21

914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m: 20 (2021)

Topic: Puerto Ricototal: 12

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m: 10 (2021)

Topic: Qatartotal: 2

914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m: 1 (2021)

Topic: Romaniatotal: 19

914 to 1,523 m: 5

under 914 m: 14 (2021)

Topic: Russiatotal: 624

over 3,047 m: 4

2,438 to 3,047 m: 13

1,524 to 2,437 m: 69

914 to 1,523 m: 81

under 914 m: 457 (2021)

Topic: Rwandatotal: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 2

under 914 m: 1 (2021)

Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinestotal: 1

under 914 m: 1 (2021)

Topic: Samoatotal: 3

under 914 m: 3 (2021)

Topic: Saudi Arabiatotal: 132

2,438 to 3,047 m: 7

1,524 to 2,437 m: 72

914 to 1,523 m: 37

under 914 m: 16 (2021)

Topic: Senegaltotal: 11

1,524 to 2,437 m: 7

914 to 1,523 m: 3

under 914 m: 1 (2021)

Topic: Serbiatotal: 16

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 10

under 914 m: 5 (2021)

Topic: Seychellestotal: 7

914 to 1,523 m: 2

under 914 m: 5 (2021)

Topic: Sierra Leonetotal: 7

914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2021)

Topic: Slovakiatotal: 15

914 to 1,523 m: 10

under 914 m: 5 (2021)

Topic: Sloveniatotal: 7

914 to 1,523 m: 4

under 914 m: 3 (2021)

Topic: Solomon Islandstotal: 35

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 10

under 914 m: 24 (2021)

Topic: Somaliatotal: 44

2,438 to 3,047 m: 5

1,524 to 2,437 m: 16

914 to 1,523 m: 22

under 914 m: 1 (2021)

Topic: South Africatotal: 277

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 19

914 to 1,523 m: 178

under 914 m: 79 (2021)

Topic: South Sudantotal: 84

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 12

914 to 1,523 m: 38

under 914 m: 33 (2021)

Topic: Spaintotal: 33

914 to 1,523 m: 14

under 914 m: 19 (2021)

Topic: Spratly Islandstotal: 2

914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2021)

Topic: Sri Lankatotal: 7

1,524 to 2,437 m: 2

914 to 1,523 m: 3

under 914 m: 2 (2021)

Topic: Sudantotal: 50

1,524 to 2,437 m: 17

914 to 1,523 m: 24

under 914 m: 9 (2021)

Topic: Surinametotal: 49

914 to 1,523 m: 4

under 914 m: 45 (2021)

Topic: Svalbardtotal: 3

under 914 m: 3 (2021)

Topic: Swedentotal: 82

914 to 1,523 m: 5

under 914 m: 77 (2021)

Topic: Switzerlandtotal: 23

under 914 m: 23 (2021)

Topic: Syriatotal: 61

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 12

under 914 m: 48 (2021)

Topic: Taiwantotal: 2

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

under 914 m: 1 (2021)

Topic: Tajikistantotal: 7

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m: 5 (2021)

Topic: Tanzaniatotal: 156

over 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 24

914 to 1,523 m: 98

under 914 m: 33 (2021)

Topic: Thailandtotal: 38

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 10

under 914 m: 26 (2021)

Topic: Timor-Lestetotal: 4

914 to 1,523 m: 2

under 914 m: 2 (2021)

Topic: Togototal: 6

914 to 1,523 m: 4

under 914 m: 2 (2021)

Topic: Tongatotal: 5

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 3

under 914 m: 1 (2021)

Topic: Trinidad and Tobagototal: 2

914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m: 1 (2021)

Topic: Tunisiatotal: 14

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 5

under 914 m: 8 (2021)

Topic: Turkeytotal: 7

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 4

under 914 m: 2 (2021)

Topic: Turkmenistantotal: 5

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

under 914 m: 4 (2021)

Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandstotal: 2

under 914 m: 2 (2021)

Topic: Tuvalutotal: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2021)

Topic: Ugandatotal: 42

over 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 8

914 to 1,523 m: 26

under 914 m: 7 (2021)

Topic: Ukrainetotal: 79

1,524 to 2,437 m: 5

914 to 1,523 m: 5

under 914 m: 69 (2021)

Topic: United Arab Emiratestotal: 18

over 3,047 m: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 4

914 to 1,523 m: 6

under 914 m: 6 (2021)

Topic: United Kingdomtotal: 189

1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 26

under 914 m: 160 (2021)

Topic: United Statestotal: 8,459

over 3,047 m: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 6

1,524 to 2,437 m: 140

914 to 1,523 m: 1,552

under 914 m: 6,760 (2021)

Topic: United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2016) - Palmyra Atoll

Topic: Uruguaytotal: 122

1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 40

under 914 m: 79 (2021)

Topic: Uzbekistantotal: 20

2,438 to 3,047 m: 2

under 914 m: 18 (2021)

Topic: Vanuatutotal: 28

914 to 1,523 m: 7

under 914 m: 21 (2021)

Topic: Venezuelatotal: 317

2,438 to 3,047 m: 3

1,524 to 2,437 m: 57

914 to 1,523 m: 127

under 914 m: 130 (2021)

Topic: Vietnamtotal: 7

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 3

under 914 m: 3 (2021)

Topic: Yementotal: 40

over 3,047 m: 3

2,438 to 3,047 m: 5

1,524 to 2,437 m: 7

914 to 1,523 m: 16

under 914 m: 9 (2021)

Topic: Zambiatotal: 80

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 5

914 to 1,523 m: 53

under 914 m: 21 (2021)

Topic: Zimbabwetotal: 179

1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 104

under 914 m: 72 (2021)


The World Factbook is prepared by the Central Intelligence Agency for the use of US Government officials, and the style, format, coverage, and content are designed to meet their specific requirements. Information is provided by Antarctic Information Program (National Science Foundation), Armed Forces Medical Intelligence Center (Department of Defense), Bureau of the Census (Department of Commerce), Bureau of Labor Statistics (Department of Labor), Central Intelligence Agency, Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs, Defense Intelligence Agency (Department of Defense), Department of Energy, Department of State, Fish and Wildlife Service (Department of the Interior), Maritime Administration (Department of Transportation), National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (Department of Defense), Naval Facilities Engineering Command (Department of Defense), Office of Insular Affairs (Department of the Interior), Office of Naval Intelligence (Department of Defense), US Board on Geographic Names (Department of the Interior), US Transportation Command (Department of Defense), United Nations Population Division (World Urbanization Prospects: The 2018 Revision and World Population Prospects: The 2019 Revision urbanization and population data used with permission), International Telecommunication Union, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Oil Gas Journal, and other public and private sources.The Factbook is in the public domain. Accordingly, it may be copied freely without permission of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The official seal of the CIA, however, may NOT be copied without permission as required by the CIA Act of 1949 (50 U.S.C. section 403m). Misuse of the official seal of the CIA could result in civil and criminal penalties.

Topic: Citation ModelThe World Factbook 2021. Washington, DC: Central Intelligence Agency, 2021.

https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/
Comments and queries are welcome and may be addressed to:: Central Intelligence Agency

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Washington, DC 20505


Topic: Photos of Panama

Topic: Introduction
Background: Explored and settled by the Spanish in the 16th century, Panama broke with Spain in 1821 and joined a union of Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela - named the Republic of Gran Colombia. When the latter dissolved in 1830, Panama remained part of Colombia. With US backing, Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903 and promptly signed a treaty with the US allowing for the construction of a canal and US sovereignty over a strip of land on either side of the structure (the Panama Canal Zone). The Panama Canal was built by the US Army Corps of Engineers between 1904 and 1914. In 1977, an agreement was signed for the complete transfer of the Canal from the US to Panama by the end of the century. Certain portions of the Zone and increasing responsibility over the Canal were turned over in the subsequent decades. With US help, dictator Manuel NORIEGA was deposed in 1989. The entire Panama Canal, the area supporting the Canal, and remaining US military bases were transferred to Panama by the end of 1999. An ambitious expansion project to more than double the Canal's capacity - by allowing for more Canal transits and larger ships - was carried out between 2007 and 2016.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

Topic: Geography
Location: Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica
Geographic coordinates: 9 00 N, 80 00 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 75,420 sq km

land: 74,340 sq km

water: 1,080 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries: total: 687 km

border countries (2): Colombia 339 km; Costa Rica 348 km
Coastline: 2,490 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or edge of continental margin
Climate: tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry season (January to May)
Terrain: interior mostly steep, rugged mountains with dissected, upland plains; coastal plains with rolling hills
Elevation: highest point: Volcan Baru 3,475 m

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

mean elevation: 360 m
Natural resources: copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower
Land use: agricultural land: 30.5% (2018 est.)

arable land: 7.3% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 2.5% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 20.7% (2018 est.)

forest: 43.6% (2018 est.)

other: 25.9% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 321 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km): Salt water lake(s): Laguna de Chiriqui - 900 sq km
Population distribution: population is concentrated towards the center of the country, particularly around the Canal, but a sizeable segment of the populace also lives in the far west around David; the eastern third of the country is sparsely inhabited
Natural hazards: occasional severe storms and forest fires in the Darien area
Geography - note: strategic location on eastern end of isthmus forming land bridge connecting North and South America; controls Panama Canal that links North Atlantic Ocean via Caribbean Sea with North Pacific Ocean
Map description: Panama map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea.Panama map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea.

Topic: People and Society
Population: 4,337,768 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: Panamanian(s)

adjective: Panamanian
Ethnic groups: Mestizo (mixed Amerindian and White) 65%, Native American 12.3% (Ngabe 7.6%, Kuna 2.4%, Embera 0.9%, Bugle 0.8%, other 0.4%, unspecified 0.2%), Black or African descent 9.2%, Mulatto 6.8%, White 6.7% (2010 est.)
Languages: Spanish (official), indigenous languages (including Ngabere (or Guaymi), Buglere, Kuna, Embera, Wounaan, Naso (or Teribe), and Bri Bri), Panamanian English Creole (similar to Jamaican English Creole; a mixture of English and Spanish with elements of Ngabere; also known as Guari Guari and Colon Creole), English, Chinese (Yue and Hakka), Arabic, French Creole, other (Yiddish, Hebrew, Korean, Japanese); note - many Panamanians are bilingual

major-language sample(s):
La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Roman Catholic 48.6%, Evangelical 30.2%, other 4.7%, agnostic 0.2%, atheist 0.2%, none 12.3%, unspecified 3.7% (2018 est.)
Demographic profile: Panama is a country of demographic and economic contrasts. It is in the midst of a demographic transition, characterized by steadily declining rates of fertility, mortality, and population growth, but disparities persist based on wealth, geography, and ethnicity. Panama has one of the fastest growing economies in Latin America and dedicates substantial funding to social programs, yet poverty and inequality remain prevalent. The indigenous population accounts for a growing share of Panama's poor and extreme poor, while the non-indigenous rural poor have been more successful at rising out of poverty through rural-to-urban labor migration. The government's large expenditures on untargeted, indirect subsidies for water, electricity, and fuel have been ineffective, but its conditional cash transfer program has shown some promise in helping to decrease extreme poverty among the indigenous population.Panama has expanded access to education and clean water, but the availability of sanitation and, to a lesser extent, electricity remains poor. The increase in secondary schooling - led by female enrollment - is spreading to rural and indigenous areas, which probably will help to alleviate poverty if educational quality and the availability of skilled jobs improve. Inadequate access to sanitation contributes to a high incidence of diarrhea in Panama's children, which is one of the main causes of Panama's elevated chronic malnutrition rate, especially among indigenous communities.Panama is a country of demographic and economic contrasts. It is in the midst of a demographic transition, characterized by steadily declining rates of fertility, mortality, and population growth, but disparities persist based on wealth, geography, and ethnicity. Panama has one of the fastest growing economies in Latin America and dedicates substantial funding to social programs, yet poverty and inequality remain prevalent. The indigenous population accounts for a growing share of Panama's poor and extreme poor, while the non-indigenous rural poor have been more successful at rising out of poverty through rural-to-urban labor migration. The government's large expenditures on untargeted, indirect subsidies for water, electricity, and fuel have been ineffective, but its conditional cash transfer program has shown some promise in helping to decrease extreme poverty among the indigenous population.Panama has expanded access to education and clean water, but the availability of sanitation and, to a lesser extent, electricity remains poor. The increase in secondary schooling - led by female enrollment - is spreading to rural and indigenous areas, which probably will help to alleviate poverty if educational quality and the availability of skilled jobs improve. Inadequate access to sanitation contributes to a high incidence of diarrhea in Panama's children, which is one of the main causes of Panama's elevated chronic malnutrition rate, especially among indigenous communities.
Age structure: 0-14 years: 25.56% (male 508,131/female 487,205)

15-24 years: 16.59% (male 329,250/female 316,796)

25-54 years: 40.31% (male 794,662/female 774,905)

55-64 years: 8.54% (male 165,129/female 167,317)

65 years and over: 9.01% (2020 est.) (male 160,516/female 190,171)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 53.9

youth dependency ratio: 40.8

elderly dependency ratio: 13.1

potential support ratio: 7.6 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 30.1 years

male: 29.6 years

female: 30.5 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.53% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 17.99 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 6.11 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: population is concentrated towards the center of the country, particularly around the Canal, but a sizeable segment of the populace also lives in the far west around David; the eastern third of the country is sparsely inhabited
Urbanization: urban population: 69.1% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 1.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.938 million PANAMA CITY (capital) (2022)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female

total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 52 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 16.44 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 17.69 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 15.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.62 years

male: 74.76 years

female: 80.66 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.39 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 50.8% (2014/15)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population

rural: 88.1% of population

total: 96.2% of population

unimproved: urban: 0% of population

rural: 11.9% of population

total: 3.8% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 7.6% (2019)
Physicians density: 1.63 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
Hospital bed density: 2.3 beds/1,000 population (2016)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 95.5% of population

rural: 69.1% of population

total: 87.2% of population

unimproved: urban: 4.5% of population

rural: 30.9% of population

total: 12.8% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 1% (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 31,000 (2020 est.)

note: estimate does not include children
HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <500

note: estimate does not include children
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea

vectorborne diseases: dengue fever
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 22.7% (2016)
Tobacco use: total: 5% (2020 est.)

male: 7.7% (2020 est.)

female: 2.2% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 3% (2019)
Education expenditures: 3.1% of GDP (2019 est.)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 95.7%

male: 98.8%

female: 95.4% (2019)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 13 years

male: 12 years

female: 13 years (2016)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 40.1%

male: 30.8%

female: 51.9% (2020 est.)

Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: water pollution from agricultural runoff threatens fishery resources; deforestation of tropical rain forest; land degradation and soil erosion threatens siltation of Panama Canal; air pollution in urban areas; mining threatens natural resources
Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 11.18 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 10.71 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 5.97 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry season (January to May)
Land use: agricultural land: 30.5% (2018 est.)

arable land: 7.3% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 2.5% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 20.7% (2018 est.)

forest: 43.6% (2018 est.)

other: 25.9% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 69.1% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 1.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.08% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea

vectorborne diseases: dengue fever
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 1,472,262 tons (2015 est.)
Major lakes (area sq km): Salt water lake(s): Laguna de Chiriqui - 900 sq km
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 759.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial: 6.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

agricultural: 446.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 139.304 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Panama

conventional short form: Panama

local long form: Republica de Panama

local short form: Panama

etymology: named after the capital city which was itself named after a former indigenous fishing village
Government type: presidential republic
Capital: name: Panama City

geographic coordinates: 8 58 N, 79 32 W

time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: according to tradition, the name derives from a former fishing area near the present capital - an indigenous village and its adjacent beach - that were called "Panama" meaning "an abundance of fish"
Administrative divisions: 10 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 4 indigenous regions* (comarcas); Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Embera-Wounaan*, Guna Yala*, Herrera, Los Santos, Naso Tjer Di*, Ngabe-Bugle*, Panama, Panama Oeste, Veraguas
Independence: 3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain on 28 November 1821)
National holiday: Independence Day (Separation Day), 3 November (1903)
Constitution: history: several previous; latest effective 11 October 1972

amendments: 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; amended several times, last in 2004
Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Justice
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: yes

citizenship by descent only: yes

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Laurentino "Nito" CORTIZO Cohen (since 1 July 2019); Vice President Jose Gabriel CARRIZO Jaen (since 1 July 2019); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

head of government: President Laurentino "Nito" CORTIZO Cohen (since 1 July 2019); Vice President Jose Gabriel CARRIZO Jaen (since 1 July 2019)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president

elections/appointments: 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); election last held on 5 May 2019 (next to be held in 2024)

election results:
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 (Panamenista Party) 10.8%, Ana Matilde GOMEZ Ruiloba (independent) 4.8%, other 1.3%

2014: Juan Carlos VARELA elected president; percent of vote - Juan Carlos VARELA (PP) 39.1%, Jose Domingo ARIAS (CD) 31.4%, Juan Carlos NAVARRO (PRD) 28.2%, other 1.3%
Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (71 seats; 45 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies - populous towns and cities - by open list proportional representation vote and 26 directly elected in single-seat constituencies - outlying rural districts - by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms)

elections: last held on 5 May 2019 (next to be held in May 2024)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRD 35, CD 18, Panamenista 8, MOLIRENA 5, independent 5; composition - men 55, women 16, percent of women 22.5%
Judicial branch: highest courts: 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)

judge selection and term of office: magistrates appointed by the president for staggered 10-year terms

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
Political parties and leaders: Alliance Party or PA [Jose MUNOZ Molina]
Alternative Independent Socialist Party or PAIS [Jose ALVAREZ]
Democratic Change or CD [Romulo ROUX]
Democratic Revolutionary Party or PRD [Benicio ROBINSON]
Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement or MOLIRENA [Francisco "Pancho" ALEMAN]
Panamenista Party [Isabel BLANDON Figueroa] (formerly the Arnulfista Party)
Popular Party or PP [Daniel Javier BREA Clavel] (formerly Christian Democratic Party or PDC)
Realizing Goals Party [Ricardo Alberto MARTINELLI Berrocal]
International organization participation: 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, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Laura CASTRO Grimaldo (since 28 November 2021)

chancery: 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20007

telephone: [1] (202) 483-1407

FAX: [1] (202) 483-8413

email address and website:
info@embassyofpanama.org

https://www.embassyofpanama.org/

consulate(s) general: Houston, Miami, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Tampa, Washington DC
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant), Charge d'Affaires Stewart TUTTLE (since August 2020)

embassy: Building 783, Demetrio Basilio Lakas Avenue, Clayton

mailing address: 9100 Panama City PL, Washington, DC 20521-9100

telephone: [507] 317-5000

FAX: [507] 317-5568

email address and website:
Panama-ACS@state.gov

https://pa.usembassy.gov/
Flag description: divided into four, equal rectangles; the top quadrants are white (hoist side) with a blue five-pointed star in the center and plain red; the bottom quadrants are plain blue (hoist side) and white with a red five-pointed star in the center; the blue and red colors are those of the main political parties (Conservatives and Liberals respectively) and the white denotes peace between them; the blue star stands for the civic virtues of purity and honesty, the red star signifies authority and law
National symbol(s): harpy eagle; national colors: blue, white, red
National anthem: name: "Himno Istmeno" (Isthmus Hymn)

lyrics/music: Jeronimo DE LA OSSA/Santos A. JORGE

note: adopted 1925
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 5 (2 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)

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Panama's dollar-based economy rests primarily on a well-developed services sector that accounts for more than three-quarters of GDP. Services include operating the Panama Canal, logistics, banking, the Colon Free Trade Zone, insurance, container ports, flagship registry, and tourism and Panama is a center for offshore banking. Panama's transportation and logistics services sectors, along with infrastructure development projects, have boosted economic growth; however, public debt surpassed $37 billion in 2016 because of excessive government spending and public works projects. The US-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement was approved by Congress and signed into law in October 2011, and entered into force in October 2012.   Future growth will be bolstered by the Panama Canal expansion project that began in 2007 and was completed in 2016 at a cost of $5.3 billion - about 10-15% of current GDP. The expansion project more than doubled the Canal's capacity, enabling it to accommodate high-capacity vessels such as tankers and neopanamax vessels that are too large to traverse the existing canal. The US and China are the top users of the Canal.   Strong economic performance has not translated into broadly shared prosperity, as Panama has the second worst income distribution in Latin America. About one-fourth of the population lives in poverty; however, from 2006 to 2012 poverty was reduced by 10 percentage points.Panama's dollar-based economy rests primarily on a well-developed services sector that accounts for more than three-quarters of GDP. Services include operating the Panama Canal, logistics, banking, the Colon Free Trade Zone, insurance, container ports, flagship registry, and tourism and Panama is a center for offshore banking. Panama's transportation and logistics services sectors, along with infrastructure development projects, have boosted economic growth; however, public debt surpassed $37 billion in 2016 because of excessive government spending and public works projects. The US-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement was approved by Congress and signed into law in October 2011, and entered into force in October 2012. Future growth will be bolstered by the Panama Canal expansion project that began in 2007 and was completed in 2016 at a cost of $5.3 billion - about 10-15% of current GDP. The expansion project more than doubled the Canal's capacity, enabling it to accommodate high-capacity vessels such as tankers and neopanamax vessels that are too large to traverse the existing canal. The US and China are the top users of the Canal. Strong economic performance has not translated into broadly shared prosperity, as Panama has the second worst income distribution in Latin America. About one-fourth of the population lives in poverty; however, from 2006 to 2012 poverty was reduced by 10 percentage points.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $109.52 billion (2020 est.)

$133.47 billion (2019 est.)

$129.54 billion (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 5.4% (2017 est.)

5% (2016 est.)

5.8% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $25,400 (2020 est.)

$31,400 (2019 est.)

$31,000 (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $66.801 billion (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.9% (2017 est.)

0.7% (2016 est.)
Credit ratings: Fitch rating: BBB (2011)

Moody's rating: Baa1 (2019)

Standard & Poors rating: BBB (2020)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 2.4% (2017 est.)

industry: 15.7% (2017 est.)

services: 82% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 45.6% (2017 est.)

government consumption: 10.7% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 42.9% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories: 3% (2017 est.)

exports of goods and services: 41.9% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services: -44.2% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: sugar cane, bananas, rice, poultry, milk, plantains, pineapples, maize, beef, pork
Industries: construction, brewing, cement and other construction materials, sugar milling
Industrial production growth rate: 6.3% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 1.633 million (2017 est.)

note: shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 17%

industry: 18.6%

services: 64.4% (2009 est.)
Unemployment rate: 6.14% (2018 est.)

6% (2017 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 40.1%

male: 30.8%

female: 51.9% (2020 est.)
Population below poverty line: 22.1% (2016 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 49.2 (2018 est.)

56.1 (2003)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.1%

highest 10%: 38.9% (2014 est.)
Budget: revenues: 12.43 billion (2017 est.)

expenditures: 13.44 billion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -1.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 37.8% of GDP (2017 est.)

37.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 20.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Current account balance: -$3.036 billion (2017 est.)

-$3.16 billion (2016 est.)
Exports: $20.18 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$28.58 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$28.55 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

note: includes the Colon Free Zone
Exports - partners: Ecuador 20%, Guatemala 14%, China 8%, United States 6%, Netherlands 6% (2019)
Exports - commodities: refined petroleum, copper, bananas, ships, coal tar oil, packaged medicines (2019)
Imports: $17.41 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$27.38 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$28.9 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

note: includes the Colon Free Zone
Imports - partners: China 21%, United States 19%, Japan 16%, Colombia 6%, Ecuador 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities: ships, refined petroleum, crude petroleum, tanker ships, packaged medicines (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $2.703 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$3.878 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external: $101.393 billion (2019 est.)

$94.898 billion (2018 est.)
Exchange rates: balboas (PAB) per US dollar -

1 (2017 est.)

1 (2016 est.)

1 (2015 est.)

1 (2014 est.)

1 (2013 est.)

Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 92% (2019)

electrification - urban areas: 99.4% (2019)

electrification - rural areas: 77% (2019)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 4.106 million kW (2020 est.)

consumption: 10,808,780,000 kWh (2019 est.)

exports: 427 million kWh (2019 est.)

imports: 77 million kWh (2019 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 1.309 billion kWh (2019 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 24.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

solar: 2.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

wind: 6.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

hydroelectricity: 66.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

biomass and waste: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)

consumption: 1.118 million metric tons (2020 est.)

exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)

imports: 1.15 million metric tons (2020 est.)

proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 143,700 bbl/day (2019 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 66 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 129,200 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

consumption: 552.744 million cubic meters (2019 est.)

exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

imports: 552.744 million cubic meters (2019 est.)

proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 25.263 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 1.905 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 22.281 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from consumed natural gas: 1.077 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: 98.946 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 649,156 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 5,825,677 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 135 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Panama has seen a steady increase in revenue from the telecom sector in recent years; mobile services and broadband remain the key growth sectors, with mobile connections accounting for 90% of all connections, and over half of telecom sector revenue; the mobile sector has flourished since the arrival of Digicel Panamá in 2008 and of América Móvil in 2009, which ended the duopoly long enjoyed by Cable & Wireless Panamá and Telefónica’s Movistar. Millicom International Cellular (trading as Tigo) acquired Telefónica’s telecom assets in Panama in 2019; the mobile market has effective competition among these players; internet services have grown in recent years as consumers responded to government fixed-line projects, improved mobile broadband connectivity and a plethora of mobile applications. (2021)

domestic: fixed-line about 14 per 100 and rapid subscribership of mobile-cellular telephone roughly 132 per 100 (2020)

international: country code - 507; landing points for the PAN-AM, ARCOS, SAC, AURORA, PCCS, PAC, and the MAYA-1 submarine cable systems that together provide links to the US and parts of the Caribbean, Central America, and South America; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to the Central American Microwave System (2019)

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Broadcast media: multiple privately owned TV networks and a government-owned educational TV station; multi-channel cable and satellite TV subscription services are available; more than 100 commercial radio stations (2019)
Internet country code: .pa
Internet users: total: 2,761,452 (2020 est.)

percent of population: 64% (2020 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 562,413 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2020 est.)

Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 4 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 122

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 12,939,350 (2018)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 47.63 million (2018) mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: HP
Airports: total: 117 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 57

over 3,047 m: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 3

1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 20

under 914 m: 30 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 60

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 8

under 914 m: 51 (2021)
Heliports: 3 (2021)
Pipelines: 128 km oil (2013)
Railways: total: 77 km (2014)

standard gauge: 77 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge
Waterways: 800 km (2011) (includes the 82-km Panama Canal that is being widened)
Merchant marine: total: 7,980

by type: bulk carrier 2,697, container ship 643, general cargo 1,381, oil tanker 771, other 2,488 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Balboa, Colon, Cristobal

container port(s) (TEUs): Balboa (2,894,654), Colon (4,379,477) (2019)

Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular military forces; Ministry of Public Security: the Panama National Police (La Policía Nacional de Panamá, PNP), National Air-Naval Service (Servicio Nacional Aeronaval, SENAN), National Border Service (Servicio Nacional de Fronteras, SENAFRONT) (2022)

note: the PNP includes paramilitary special forces units for counterterrorism and counternarcotics missions; in addition to its 3 regionally-based border security brigades, SENAFRONT includes a special forces brigade, which is comprised of special forces, counternarcotics, maritime, and rapid reaction units
Military expenditures: 1.4% of GDP (2021 est.)

1.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

1.2% of GDP (2019) (approximately $1.38 billion)

1.1% of GDP (2018) (approximately $1.33 billion)

1.2% of GDP (2017) (approximately $1.32 billion)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 20,000 National Police; 4,000 National Border Service; 3,000 National Air-Naval Service (2022)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: Panama's security forces are lightly armed; Canada, Italy and the US have provided equipment to the security forces since 2010 (2022)
Military - note: Panama created a paramilitary National Guard (Guardia Nacional de Panamá) in the 1950s from the former National Police (established 1904); the National Guard subsequently evolved into more of a military force with some police responsibilities; it seized power in a coup in 1968 and military officers ran the country until 1989; in 1983, the National Guard was renamed the Panama Defense Force (PDF); the PDF was disbanded after the 1989 US invasion and the current national police forces were formed in 1990; the armed forces were officially abolished under the 1994 Constitution (2022)

Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Panama-Colombia: organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia operate within the remote border region with Panama Panama-Costa Rica: none identifiedPanama-Colombia: organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia operate within the remote border region with PanamaPanama-Costa Rica: none identified
Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 80,021 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum or have received alternative legal stay) (2021)
Illicit drugs: a prime sea and land passage for drugs, primarily cocaine from Colombia, from South America to North America and Europe; traffickers ship drugs in containers passing through the Panama Canal each year North America and Europe  a prime sea and land passage for drugs, primarily cocaine from Colombia, from South America to North America and Europe; traffickers ship drugs in containers passing through the Panama Canal each year North America and Europe