Date of independence, or formation date: 1903
Date when current borders were established: 1903
National day: Nov 3
Vehicle country identifying code: PA
Time zone (hours plus or minus from GMT): -5
International telephone dialling code: +507
Internet country identifying code: .pa

Panama is the southernmost of the seven countries occupying the isthmus that joins North and South America. The rainforests of the southeastern Darien region are some of the wildest areas left in the Americas. Elected governments have held power since the US invasion of 1989. Panama's traditional economic strength is its banking sector. The US returned control of the Panama Canal Zone to Panama on December 31, 1999.

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