Panama

Population: 2,845,647 (July 2001 est.)

Languages: Spanish (official), English 14%

Background: 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...

Currency: balboa (PAB, No information), U.S. Dollar (USD, US$1 = US$1)

Data from CIA World Factbook. Click on CIA link for more. Click on map or flag for larger images.