Names: conventional long form: Republic of Panama conventional short form: Panama local long form: Republica de Panama local short form: Panama

Capital City: Panama

Population: 3,191,319 (July 2006 est.)

GDP Per Capita: $7,900 (2006 est.)

Currency: balboa (PAB); US dollar (USD)

Languages: Spanish (official), English 14%; note - many Panamanians bilingual

Total Area: total: 78,200 sq km land: 75,990 sq km water: 2,210 sq km slightly smaller than South Carolina

Region: North America

Industries: construction, brewing, cement and other construction materials, sugar milling

Agriculture: bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane, vegetables; livestock; shrimp

Resources: copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower

Labor Force: 1.441 million note: shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor (2006 est.)
agriculture: 20.8% industry: 18% services: 61.2% (1995 est.)

Exports: $8.087 billion f.o.b.; note - includes the Colon Free Zone (2006 est.)
bananas, shrimp, sugar, coffee, clothing

Imports: $9.365 billion f.o.b. (includes the Colon Free Zone) (2006 est.)
capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, chemicals

Overview: Panama's dollarised economy rests primarily on a well-developed services sector that accounts for three-fourths of GDP. Services include operating the Panama Canal, banking, the Colon Free Zone, insurance, container ports, flagship registry, and tourism. A slump in the Colon Free Zone and agricultural exports, the global slowdown, and the withdrawal of US military forces held back economic growth in 2000-03; growth picked up in 2004-06 led by export-oriented services and a construction boom stimulated by tax incentives. The government has implemented tax reforms, as well as social security reforms, and backs regional trade agreements and development of tourism. Unemployment remains high. In October 2006, voters passed a referendum to expand the Panama Canal to accommodate ships that are now too large to cross the transoceanic crossway. Not a CAFTA signatory, Panama in December 2006 independently negotiated a free trade agreement with the United States, which, when implemented, will help promote the country's economic growth.

_{CIA World Book}

In 2007 Missouri exported $10,832,905 in goods to Panama. This ranks Panama 52^nd among the 223 international buyers of Missouri goods. Missouri exports to Panama decreased from the previous year by $1,632,430 a change of -13.1%. State exports to Panama have increased over the last 5 years by $5,066,191 a change of 87.85%. Missouri exports account for .08%. of all 2007 US exports to Panama.