Republic of Panama: Map & History
Panama, officially the Republic of Panama, is a country located at the southern end of Central America in North America, bordering South America.
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Panama, officially the Republic of Panama, is a country located at the southern end of Central America in North America, bordering South America. It is bordered by Costa Rica to the west, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the south. Its capital and largest city is Panama City, whose metropolitan area is home to nearly half of the country's over 4 million inhabitants.
Modern Countries Once Part of Republic of Panama
At its mapped extent, Republic of Panama covered territory in 1 present-day country. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Republic of Panama's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Republic of Panama in Depth
History
The Isthmus of Panama was formed about three million years ago when the land bridge between North and South America finally became complete, and plants and animals gradually crossed it in both directions. The existence of the isthmus affected the dispersal of people, agriculture and technology throughout the Americas from the appearance of the first hunters and collectors to the era of villages and cities.
The earliest discovered artifacts of indigenous peoples in Panama include Paleo-Indian projectile points. Later central Panama was home to some of the first pottery-making in the Americas, for example the cultures at Monagrillo, which date back to 2500–1700 BC.
Government and politics
Panama's politics take place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Panama is both head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the National Assembly. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.
National elections are universal for all citizens 18 years and older. National elections for the executive and legislative branches take place every five years. Members of the judicial branch (justices) are appointed by the head of state. Panama's National Assembly is elected by proportional representation in fixed electoral districts, so many smaller parties are represented.
Economy
As of 2025 Panama had a GDP of 90.41 billion USD. This equated to 19,800 USD per capita. In 2025, Panama also had an unemployment rate of 8%, an increase from 2.7 percent in 2012. In more recent years, Panama's economy has experienced a boom, with growth in real gross domestic product (GDP) averaging over 10.4 percent in 2006–2008. Panama's economy was among the fastest growing and best managed in Latin America. The Latin Business Chronicle predicted that Panama would be the fastest growing economy in Latin America during the five-year period from 2010 to 2014. In 2025, Panama ranked as the second fastest-growing economy in Latin America.
On the Human Development Index, Panama ranked 59th in 2025.
Culture
The culture of Panama derives from European music, art and traditions brought by the Spanish to Panama. Hegemonic forces have created hybrid forms blending African and Indigenous Panamanian culture with European culture. For example, the tamborito is a Spanish dance with African rhythms, themes and dance moves.
Dance is typical of the diverse cultures in Panama. The local folklore can be experienced at a multitude of festivals, through dances and traditions handed down from generation to generation. Local cities host live reggae en español, reggaeton, haitiano (compas), jazz, blues, salsa, reggae, and rock music performances.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Panama (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Republic of Panama: Key Facts
| Capital | Panama City |
|---|---|
| Official language | Spanish |
| Form of government | presidential system |
| Currencies | Panamanian balboa, United States dollar |
| Founded | 1903 |
Preceded by
- Department of Panama
- United States of Colombia
Facts from Wikidata Q804 (CC0).
Interactive map
Republic of Panama on the World War I map →
See Republic of Panama’s territory change day by day from 7 April 1917, with every battle it fought.
Interactive map
Republic of Panama on the World War II map →
See Republic of Panama’s territory change day by day from 10 December 1941, with every battle it fought.
Republic of Panama Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Republic of Panama appears, with the other states of the time.
Republic of Panama: Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Republic of Panama exist?
The Republic of Panama is dated to 1905 CE – 2024 CE, in the Industrial era.
What was the capital of the Republic of Panama?
The capital of the Republic of Panama was Panama City.
How large was the Republic of Panama at its peak?
At its peak in 2024 the Republic of Panama covered about 83,580 km².
How did the map of the Republic of Panama change over time?
The Republic of Panama appears on 2 dated world maps in the atlas, from 1914 CE to 1945 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.
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