Gross National Product (GNP): $9.46bn

Exchange rates against the US$ over the last year: 1 balboa (1)

SCORE CARD

World GNP ranking: 87th GNP per capita: $3260 Balance of payments: –$154m Inflation: 1% Unemployment: 13%

Strengths

Colón Free Trade Zone: second-largest in the world. Income from Canal. Financial services. Banana, shrimp exports. Merchant shipping payments for sailing under the Panamanian flag. Tourism potential.

Weaknesses

History of political instability and corruption. Large foreign debt. High unemployment, underemployment. Poor infrastructure.

EXPORTS

IMPORTS

From "The Financial Times World Desk Reference" © Dorling Kindersley 2004