To make informed decisions, it is always important to have context about the place where you are going to reside. These facts are relevant to get started, but they will always be an invitation to live a new experience.

When we think of Panama, the first thing that comes to mind is undoubtedly the famous Panama Canal. This incredible engineering feat, recognized as one of the new wonders of the modern world, plays a vital role in global trade, as approximately 6% of global commerce passes through its waters.

However, Panama is much more than the Canal. It is an ideal place to settle down and start a new life, always close to family. Moreover, it is just a few hours away from any place in Latin America. For example, just 1 hour from Bogotá, 2.5 hours from Lima, and 5 hours from Santiago. The country stands out as one of the nerve centers of the region.

Important Facts about Panama

• Location: Panama is located in the southeast of Central America, bordered to the north by the Caribbean Sea, to the east by the Republic of Colombia, to the south by the Pacific Ocean, and to the west by the Republic of Costa Rica.

• The Isthmus: Panama is also known as “The Isthmus” because it connects South America with Central America, being a narrow strip of land.

• Capital: The capital of Panama is Panama City.
• Administrative division: Panama is divided into 10 provinces and 5 comarcas. Area: The country has an area of 75,420 square kilometers.

• Population: The population of Panama is approximately 4.5 million people.

• Official Language: The official language is Spanish, but there is also a significant part of the population that is bilingual.

• Climate: Panama has a tropical climate due to its proximity to the Equator. It has two well-marked seasons: the dry season (December-April) and the rainy season (May-November).

• Average temperature: The average temperature is 27°C.

• Currency: The official currency of Panama is the Balboa, but the U.S. dollar (USD) is widely circulated and accepted as they have the same value.

• Government: Panama has a constitutional democratic government.

• Religious freedom: There is absolute freedom of worship, and in Panama, several religions coexist, such as Catholicism, Judaism, and Islam, among others, due to the racial diversity that has settled in the country.

• Time zone: The country’s time zone is GMT-5, following the official time of the Eastern United States.

• Economy: The country’s GDP in 2018 was US$65.2 billion, with a per capita GDP of US$27,305.

• Connectivity: The Tocumen Airport offers more than 400 daily flights to over 85 destinations worldwide, with frequent daily connections to major cities in the Americas and Europe.

• Biodiversity: Panama boasts an impressive diversity of plants and animals. It has around 10,000 different species of plants, including 1,400 varieties of orchids, 678 types of ferns, and more than 1,500 species of trees. In addition, Panama is home to over 976 species of birds, surpassing the number of bird species in the United States and Canada combined.

• Diplomatic presence: Panama hosts 56 embassies, 47 consulates, and 2 representations, making it the country with the highest diplomatic presence in the region.

• Economy: Panama’s economy is based on trade, financial services, and tourism. The country is considered an important business hub at the regional and international levels.

These are just some of the highlights of Panama. As you can see, the country offers a wide variety of opportunities and a rich cultural and natural diversity. We hope that this information is useful to you when making decisions and inspires you to live a new experience in this wonderful destination. Welcome to Panama!