Panama, country, Central America

CE5

Panama pănˈəmäˌ [key], Span. Panamá, officially Republic of Panama, republic (2015 est. pop. 3,657,000), 29,760 sq mi (77,081 sq km), occupying the Isthmus of Panama, which connects Central and South America. To the west and east of Panama, respectively, are Costa Rica and Colombia; the Panama Canal bisects the country. The capital and largest city is Panama City.

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• The Noriega Years and Modern Panama
• Independence, the United States, and the Canal
• Early History and Spanish Control
• Government
• Economy
• Land and People
• Bibliography

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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