Panama-Provincial and Municipal Government
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Background | | Explored and settled by the Spanish in the 16th century, Panama broke with Spain in 1821 and joined a union of Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela - named the Republic of Gran Colombia. When the latter dissolved in 1830, Panama remained part of Colombia. With US backing, Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903 and promptly signed a treaty with the US allowing for the construction of a canal and US sovereignty over a strip of land on either side of the structure (the Panama Canal Zone). The Panama Canal was built by the US Army Corps of Engineers between 1904 and 1914. In 1977, an agreement was signed for the complete transfer of the Canal from the US to Panama by the end of the century. Certain portions of the Zone and increasing responsibility over the Canal were turned over in the subsequent decades. With US help, dictator Manuel NORIEGA was deposed in 1989. The entire Panama Canal, the area supporting the Canal, and remaining US military bases were transferred to Panama by the end of 1999. In October 2006, Panamanians approved an ambitious plan to expand the Canal. The project, which began in 2007 and could double the Canal's capacity, is expected to be completed in 2014-15.
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Location | | Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica
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Area(sq km) | | total: 75,420 sq km
land: 74,340 sq km
water: 1,080 sq km
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Geographic coordinates | | 9 00 N, 80 00 W
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Land boundaries(km) | | total: 555 km
border countries: Colombia 225 km, Costa Rica 330 km
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Coastline(km) | | 2,490 km
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Climate | | tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry season (January to May)
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Elevation extremes(m) | | lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Volcan Baru 3,475 m
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Natural resources | | copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower
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Land use(%) | | arable land: 7.26%
permanent crops: 1.95%
other: 90.79% (2005)
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Irrigated land(sq km) | | 430 sq km (2003)
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Total renewable water resources(cu km) | | 148 cu km (2000)
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Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) | | total: 0.82 cu km/yr (67%/5%/28%)
per capita: 254 cu m/yr (2000)
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Natural hazards | | occasional severe storms and forest fires in the Darien area
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Environment - current issues | | water pollution from agricultural runoff threatens fishery resources; deforestation of tropical rain forest; land degradation and soil erosion threatens siltation of Panama Canal; air pollution in urban areas; mining threatens natural resources
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Environment - international agreements | | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
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Geography - note | | strategic location on eastern end of isthmus forming land bridge connecting North and South America; controls Panama Canal that links North Atlantic Ocean via Caribbean Sea with North Pacific Ocean
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Population | | 3,360,474 (July 2009 est.)
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Age structure(%) | | 0-14 years: 29.3% (male 501,950/female 481,750)
15-64 years: 63.9% (male 1,085,435/female 1,061,530)
65 years and over: 6.8% (male 106,934/female 122,875) (2009 est.)
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Median age(years) | | total: 27 years
male: 26.6 years
female: 27.3 years (2009 est.)
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Population growth rate(%) | | 1.503% (2009 est.)
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Birth rate(births/1,000 population) | | 20.18 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
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Death rate(deaths/1,000 population) | | 4.66 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
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Net migration rate(migrant(s)/1,000 population) | | -0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
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Urbanization(%) | | urban population: 73% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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Sex ratio(male(s)/female) | | at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
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Infant mortality rate(deaths/1,000 live births) | | total: 12.67 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 13.53 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth(years) | | total population: 77.25 years
male: 74.47 years
female: 80.16 years (2009 est.)
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Total fertility rate(children born/woman) | | 2.53 children born/woman (2009 est.)
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Nationality | | noun: Panamanian(s)
adjective: Panamanian
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Ethnic groups(%) | | mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 70%, Amerindian and mixed (West Indian) 14%, white 10%, Amerindian 6%
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Religions(%) | | Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%
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Languages(%) | | Spanish (official), English 14%; note - many Panamanians bilingual
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Country name | | conventional long form: Republic of Panama
conventional short form: Panama
local long form: Republica de Panama
local short form: Panama
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Government type | | constitutional democracy
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Capital | | name: Panama City
geographic coordinates: 8 58 N, 79 32 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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Administrative divisions | | 11 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 territory* (comarca); Bocas del Toro, Comarca Kuna Yala, Comarca Ngobe-Bugle, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los Santos, Panama, San Blas* (Kuna Yala), and Veraguas
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Constitution | | 11 October 1972; revised in 1978, 1983, 1994, and 2004
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Legal system | | based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
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Suffrage | | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
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Executive branch | | chief of state: President Ricardo MARTINELLI Berrocal (since 1 July 2009); Vice President Juan Carlos VARELA (since 1 July 2009); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Ricardo MARTINELLI Berrocal (since 1 July 2009); Vice President Juan Carlos VARELA (since 1 July 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms (not eligible for immediate reelection; president and vice president must sit out two additional terms (10 years) before becoming eligible for reelection); election last held 3 May 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: Ricardo MARTINELLI Berrocal elected president; percent of vote - Ricardo MARTINELLI Berrocal 60%, Balbina HERRERA 38%, Guillermo ENDARA Galimany 2%
note: government coalition - PRD (Democratic Revolutionary Party), PP (Popular Party)
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Legislative branch | | unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (71 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 3 May 2009 (next to be held May 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRD 26, Panamenista 22, CD 14, PU 4, Independent 2, MOLIRENA 2, PP 1
note: legislators from outlying rural districts are chosen on a plurality basis while districts located in more populous towns and cities elect multiple legislators by means of a proportion-based formula
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Judicial branch | | Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (nine judges appointed for 10-year terms); five superior courts; three courts of appeal
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Political pressure groups and leaders | | Chamber of Commerce; National Civic Crusade; National Council of Organized Workers or CONATO; National Council of Private Enterprise or CONEP; National Union of Construction and Similar Workers (SUNTRACS); Panamanian Association of Business Executives or APEDE; Panamanian Industrialists Society or SIP; Workers Confederation of the Republic of Panama or CTRP
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International organization participation | | BCIE, CACM, CAN (observer), CSN (observer), FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, SICA, UN, UNASUR (observer), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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Flag description | | divided into four, equal rectangles; the top quadrants are white (hoist side) with a blue five-pointed star in the center and plain red; the bottom quadrants are plain blue (hoist side) and white with a red five-pointed star in the center
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Economy - overview | | Panama's dollarized economy rests primarily on a well-developed services sector that accounts for 80% of GDP. Services include operating the Panama Canal, banking, the Colon Free Zone, insurance, container ports, flagship registry, and tourism. Economic growth will be bolstered by the Panama Canal expansion project that began in 2007 and is scheduled to be completed by 2014 at a cost of $5.3 billion - about 25% of current GDP. The expansion project will more than double the Canal's capacity, enabling it to accommodate ships that are now too large to transverse the transoceanic crossway, and should help to reduce the high unemployment rate. Strong economic performance has reduced the national poverty level to 29% in 2008; however, Panama has the second most unequal income distribution in Latin America. The government has implemented tax reforms, as well as social security reforms, and backs regional trade agreements and development of tourism. Not a CAFTA signatory, Panama in December 2006 independently negotiated a free trade agreement with the US, which, when implemented, will help promote the country's economic growth.
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GDP (purchasing power parity) | | $38.92 billion (2008 est.)
$35.64 billion (2007 est.)
$31.96 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
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GDP (official exchange rate) | | $23.09 billion (2008 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate(%) | | 9.2% (2008 est.)
11.5% (2007 est.)
8.5% (2006 est.)
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GDP - per capita (PPP) | | $11,800 (2008 est.)
$10,900 (2007 est.)
$10,000 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
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GDP - composition by sector(%) | | agriculture: 6.4%
industry: 17.2%
services: 76.4% (2008 est.)
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Labor force | | 1.392 million
note: shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor (2008 est.)
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Labor force - by occupation(%) | | agriculture: 15%
industry: 18%
services: 67% (2006)
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Unemployment rate(%) | | 5.6% (2008 est.)
6.4% (2007 est.)
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Population below poverty line(%) | | 28.6% (2006 est.)
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Household income or consumption by percentage share(%) | | lowest 10%: 0.8%
highest 10%: 41.4% (2006)
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Distribution of family income - Gini index | | 56.1 (2003)
48.5 (1997)
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Investment (gross fixed)(% of GDP) | | 25.7% of GDP (2008 est.)
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Budget | | revenues: $6.02 billion
expenditures: $5.923 billion (2008 est.)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices)(%) | | 8.8% (2008 est.)
4.2% (2007 est.)
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Stock of money | | $3.764 billion (31 December 2008)
$3.054 billion (31 December 2007)
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Stock of quasi money | | $15.84 billion (31 December 2008)
$14.26 billion (31 December 2007)
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Stock of domestic credit | | $19.8 billion (31 December 2008)
$17.4 billion (31 December 2007)
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Market value of publicly traded shares | | $6.568 billion (31 December 2008)
$6.219 billion (31 December 2007)
$5.716 billion (31 December 2006)
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Economic aid - recipient | | $19.54 million (2005)
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Public debt(% of GDP) | | 45% of GDP (2008 est.)
69.2% of GDP (2004 est.)
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Agriculture - products | | bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane, vegetables; livestock; shrimp
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Industries | | construction, brewing, cement and other construction materials, sugar milling
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Industrial production growth rate(%) | | 14.2% (2008 est.)
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Current account balance | | -$2.792 billion (2008 est.)
-$1.422 billion (2007 est.)
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Exports | | $10.29 billion (2008 est.)
$9.338 billion (2007 est.)
note: includes the Colon Free Zone
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Exports - commodities(%) | | bananas, shrimp, sugar, coffee, clothing
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Exports - partners(%) | | US 39.2%, Netherlands 10.7%, Costa Rica 5.8%, Sweden 5.4%, UK 5.4%, Spain 5%, China 4.1% (2008)
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Imports | | $15 billion (2008 est.)
$12.52 billion (2007 est.)
note: includes the Colon Free Zone
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Imports - commodities(%) | | capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, chemicals
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Imports - partners(%) | | US 29.6%, Costa Rica 5%, China 5%, Japan 4.2% (2008)
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | | $2.693 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$1.935 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
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Debt - external | | $11.26 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$10.45 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - at home | | $NA
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Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad | | $NA
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Exchange rates | | balboas (PAB) per US dollar - 1 (2008 est.), 1 (2007), 1 (2006), 1 (2005), 1 (2004)
note: the US dollar is the legal currency
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Currency (code) | | balboa (PAB); US dollar (USD)
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Telephones - main lines in use | | 495,800 (2008)
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Telephones - mobile cellular | | 3.805 million (2008)
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Telephone system | | general assessment: domestic and international facilities well developed
domestic: mobile-cellular telephone subscribership has increased rapidly with combined fixed and mobile-cellular teledensity reaching 130 per 100 persons in 2008
international: country code - 507; landing point for the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1), the MAYA-1, and PAN-AM submarine cable systems that together provide links to the US and parts of the Caribbean, Central America, and South America; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to the Central American Microwave System (2008)
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Internet country code | | .pa
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Internet users | | 934,500 (2008)
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Airports | | 117 (2009)
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Roadways(km) | | total: 11,978 km
paved: 4,300 km
unpaved: 7,678 km (2002)
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Ports and terminals | | Balboa, Colon, Cristobal
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Military branches | | no regular military forces; Panamanian public forces include: Panamanian National Police (PNP), National Air-Naval Service (SENAN), National Border Service (SENAFRONT) (2009)
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Manpower available for military service | | males age 16-49: 851,044 (2008 est.)
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Manpower fit for military service | | males age 16-49: 705,160
females age 16-49: 710,521 (2009 est.)
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Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually | | male: 31,089
female: 29,939 (2009 est.)
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Military expenditures(% of GDP) | | 1% of GDP (2006)
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Military - note | | on 10 February 1990, the government of then President ENDARA abolished Panama's military and reformed the security apparatus by creating the Panamanian Public Forces; in October 1994, Panama's Legislative Assembly approved a constitutional amendment prohibiting the creation of a standing military force but allowing the temporary establishment of special police units to counter acts of "external aggression"
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Disputes - international | | organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia operate within the remote border region with Panama
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Trafficking in persons | | current situation: Panama is a source, transit, and destination country for women and children trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation; the majority of victims are Panamanian women and children trafficked within the country into the sex trade; rural children in Panama may be trafficked internally to urban areas for labor exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Panama is on the Tier 2 Watch List for failing to show evidence of increasing efforts to combat human trafficking, particularly with respect to prosecuting, convicting, and sentencing human traffickers for their crimes, and for failing to provide adequate victim assistance (2008)
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Electricity - production(kWh) | | 6.322 billion kWh (2007 est.)
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Electricity - production by source(%) | | fossil fuel: 37%
hydro: 61.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 1.7% (2001)
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Electricity - consumption(kWh) | | 5.17 billion kWh (2007 est.)
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Electricity - exports(kWh) | | 124.9 million kWh (2007 est.)
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Electricity - imports(kWh) | | 8.74 million kWh (2007 est.)
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Oil - production(bbl/day) | | 0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
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Oil - consumption(bbl/day) | | 94,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
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Oil - exports(bbl/day) | | 4,803 bbl/day (2007 est.)
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Oil - imports(bbl/day) | | 87,100 bbl/day (2007 est.)
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Oil - proved reserves(bbl) | | 0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
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Natural gas - production(cu m) | | 0 cu m (2008 est.)
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Natural gas - consumption(cu m) | | 0 cu m (2008 est.)
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Natural gas - exports(cu m) | | 0 cu m (2008)
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Natural gas - proved reserves(cu m) | | 0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate(%) | | 1% (2007 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS | | 20,000 (2007 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths | | fewer than 1,000 (2007 est.)
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Major infectious diseases | | degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne disease: dengue fever and malaria (2009)
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Literacy(%) | | definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.9%
male: 92.5%
female: 91.2% (2000 census)
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School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)(years) | | total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2006)
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Education expenditures(% of GDP) | | 3.8% of GDP (2004)
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