Why Panama?
Key Facts
Panama is located in Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific
Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica.
|
Population |
3,360,474 (July 2010 est.) |
|
Size |
78,200 sq km; Slightly smaller than South Carolina |
|
GDP per capita |
$12,100 (2009 est.) |
|
Minimum wage |
$285 per month |
|
Population below poverty line |
28.6% (2006 est.) |
|
Unemployment rate |
7% (2009 est.) |
Household income or consumption by
percentage share |
lowest 10%: 0.8%
highest 10%: 41.4% (2006)
|
Development Challenges
Panama's skyscrapers, vibrant banking and finance sector, and major ports give the impression
of a country well able to meet the needs of its citizens. However, serious underdevelopment
and security issues threaten Panama's democratic institutions and political stability. With
poverty levels high (37%) and deep-rooted, the economic and social well-being of many
Panamanians, particularly those in the lower middle class, will worsen without sustained
economic growth, equitable economic and social opportunities, and sustainable development.
Panama's key development challenges include:
- fighting systemic corruption;
- modernizing the judicial system to foster the rule
of law and equitable access to justice;
- consolidating its democracy;
- maintaining the smooth administration of the
economically vital Panama Canal and conserving the watershed that feeds it;
- fostering the enabling environment necessary to
increase trade and rural competitiveness while redressing widespread income
inequality.
|
|
|
DONATE
Upcoming events
Pictures
|
