Mexico City, capital of Mexico and the center of the nation's political, cultural, and economic life. Its population of 16.9 million (1996 estimate) makes Mexico City the second largest metropolitan area in the world, behind only Tokyo, Japan. It is also the seat of Mexico's powerful, centralized federal government. Much of the political decision-making for the nation takes place in Mexico City. Culturally, Mexico City dominates the nation since most of Mexico's leading universities, intellectual magazines, newspapers, museums, theaters, performing arts centers, and publishing firms are located in the capital.
Republic of Panama
National name: República de Panamá
President: Martín Torrijos Herrera (2004)
Current government officials
Land area: 29,340 sq mi (75,991 sq km); total area: 30,193 sq mi (78,200 sq km)
Population (2006 est.): 3,191,319 (growth rate: 1.6%); birth rate: 21.7/1000; infant mortality rate: 16.4/1000; life expectancy: 75.2; density per sq mi: 109
Capital and largest city (2003 est.): Panama City, 1,053,500 (metro. area), 437,200 (city proper)
Other large cities: San Miguelito, 309,500; Colón, 44,400
Monetary units: balboa; U.S. dollar
Languages: Spanish (official), English 14%, many bilingual
Ethnicity/race: mestizo 70%, Amerindian and mixed (West Indian) 14%, white 10%, Indian 6%
Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%
Literacy rate: 93% (2003 est.)
Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2005 est.): $22.33 billion; per capita $7,100. Real growth rate: 4.9%. Inflation: 2.5%. Unemployment: 8.7%. Arable land: 7%. Agriculture: bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane, vegetables; livestock; shrimp. Labor force: 1.39 million; note: shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor (2005 est.); agriculture 20.8%, industry 18%, services 61.2% (1995 est.). Industries: construction, brewing, cement and other construction materials, sugar milling. Natural resources: copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower. Exports: $7.481 billion f.o.b.; note: includes the Colon Free Zone (2005 est.): bananas, shrimp, sugar, coffee, clothing. Imports: $8.734 billion f.o.b. (includes the Colon Free Zone) (2005 est.): capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, chemicals. Major trading partners: U.S., Sweden, Spain, Netherlands, Costa Rica, Netherlands Antilles, Japan, Mexico, Colombia (2004).
Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 396,000 (1997); mobile cellular: 17,000 (1997). Radio broadcast stations: AM 80, FM 44, shortwave 0 (1998). Radios: 815,000 (1997). Television broadcast stations: 38 (including repeaters) (1998). Televisions: 510,000 (1997). Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 6 (2000). Internet users: 45,000 (2000).
Transportation: Railways: total: 355 km (2002). Highways: total: 11,400 km; paved: 3,944 km (including 30 km of expressways); unpaved: 7,456 km (1999). Waterways: 882 km navigable by shallow draft vessels; 82 km Panama Canal. Ports and harbors: Balboa, Cristobal, Coco Solo, Manzanillo (part of Colon area), Vacamonte. Airports: 103 (2002).
International disputes: none.
Major sources and definitions
Panama Canal.
2006-10-19 11:58:25
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answer #10
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answered by Rosemary G 3
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