Panama Geography - 2024

Location

Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica

Geographic coordinates

9 00 N, 80 00 W

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Area

total: 75,420 sq km

land: 74,340 sq km

water: 1,080 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than South Carolina

Area comparison map:

Land boundaries

total: 687 km

border countries (2): Colombia 339 km; Costa Rica 348 km

Coastline

2,490 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or edge of continental margin

Climate

tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry season (January to May)

Terrain

interior mostly steep, rugged mountains with dissected, upland plains; coastal plains with rolling hills

Elevation

highest point: Volcan Baru 3,475 m

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

mean elevation: 360 m

Natural resources

copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower

Land use

agricultural land: 30.5% (2018 est.)

arable land: 7.3% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 2.5% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 20.7% (2018 est.)

forest: 43.6% (2018 est.)

other: 25.9% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land

407 sq km (2020)

Major lakes (area sq km)

salt water lake(s): Laguna de Chiriqui - 900 sq km

Population distribution

population is concentrated towards the center of the country, particularly around the Canal, but a sizeable segment of the populace also lives in the far west around David; the eastern third of the country is sparsely inhabited

Natural hazards

occasional severe storms and forest fires in the Darien area

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