Editing Panama (section)

==Society==

===Demographics===
{{Main|Demographics of Panama}}
[[File:Panama single age population pyramid 2020.png|thumb|Population pyramid, 2020]]
[[File:Panama-demography.png|thumb|upright=1.4|Panama's population, 1961–2003]]

Panama had an estimated population of {{UN_Population|Panama}} in {{UN_Population|Year}}.{{UN_Population|ref}} The proportion of the population aged less than 15 in 2010 was 29 percent. 64.5 percent of the population was between 15 and 65, with 6.6 percent of the population 65 years or older.<ref name="WPP 2012">{{cite web |url=http://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/index.htm |title=Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, World Population Prospects: The 2012 Revision |publisher=Esa.un.org |access-date=April 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110506065230/http://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/index.htm |archive-date=May 6, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
{{Image frame
 | caption=Population of Panama 2020 by Province<ref name="Pop2020">{{cite web|url=https://www.inec.gob.pa/archivos/P0579518620220531115126Algunas%20caracter%C3%ADsticas%20de%20la%20divisi%C3%B3n%20pol%C3%ADtica%20administrativa-Cartografia.pdf|title=ALGUNAS CARACTERÍSTICAS DE LA DIVISIÓN POLÍTICA ADMINISTRATIVA INDÍGENA Y DISTRITO: AÑO 2020 EN LA REPÚBLICA DE PANAMÁ, SEGÚN PROVINCIA, COMARCA|language=es|trans-title=SOME FEATURES OF THE INDIGENOUS ADMINISTRATIVE POLITICAL DIVISION AND DISTRICT: YEAR 2020 IN THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA, ACCORDING TO PROVINCE, COMARCA|access-date=March 11, 2023|publisher=[[National Institute of Statistics and Census of Panama]]|place=Panama|archive-date=May 9, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509212734/https://www.inec.gob.pa/archivos/P0579518620220531115126Algunas%20caracter%C3%ADsticas%20de%20la%20divisi%C3%B3n%20pol%C3%ADtica%20administrativa-Cartografia.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
 | content ={{Graph:Chart
 | width=400
 | height=200
 | type=rect
 | xAxisAngle = 45
 | showvalues= offset:20, fontcolor:darkgreen
 | x=Los Santos,Bocas del Toro,Coclé,Colón,Chiriqu,Darién,Herrera,Panamá,Veraguas, Comarca Guna Yala, Comarca Emberá, Comarca Ngäbe Buglé
 | y1=95557,179990,266969,298344,464538,57818,118982,1656339,248325, 47341, 13016, 224823

                  }}
}}
More than half the population lives in the Panama City–[[Colón, Panama|Colón]] metropolitan corridor, which spans several cities. Panama's urban population exceeds 75 percent, making Panama's population the most urbanized in Central America.<ref name="Estado de Información Forestal en Panamá">{{cite web |url=http://www.fao.org/docrep/006/ad395s/AD395s06.htm |title=Corredor Transístmico Panamá -Colón |access-date=August 5, 2010 |archive-date=May 2, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060502061904/http://www.fao.org/docrep/006/ad395s/AD395s06.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Ethnic groups===
[[File:Panama 08 2013 Ave Balboa 7044.JPG|thumb|[[Panama City]], Panama's capital]]

In 2010 the population was 65 percent [[Mestizo]] (mixed white, Native American), 12.3 percent Native American, 9.2 percent Black or African descent, 6.8 percent mulatto, and 6.7 percent White.<ref name="cia" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/panama/|title=The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency|website=CIA.gov|date=December 2, 2021|access-date=January 24, 2021|archive-date=January 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123023447/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/panama/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Amerindian population includes seven ethnic groups: the [[Ngäbe]], [[Guna people|Guna]], [[Emberá people|Emberá]], [[Bokota people|Buglé]], [[Wounaan]], [[Naso people|Naso Tjerdi]] (Teribe), and [[Bribri people|Bri Bri]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iwgia.org/regions/latin-america/panama/887-update-2011-panama |title=Update 2011 – Panama |publisher=Iwgia.org |access-date=June 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130307063455/http://www.iwgia.org/regions/latin-america/panama/887-update-2011-panama |archive-date=March 7, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Most Afro-Panamanians live on the Panama–[[Colón, Panama|Colón]] metropolitan area, the Darién Province, [[La Palma, Darién|La Palma]], and [[Bocas del Toro Province]]. Areas in Panama City with significant Afro-Panamian influence Rio Abajo and Casco Viejo.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-03 |title=Top 3 Afro-Panamanian Places Black Expats in Panama City, Panama Should Visit. |url=https://allthingsbiola.com/2023/01/03/top-3-afro-panamanian-places-black-expats-in-panama-city-panama-should-visit/ |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=AllThingsBiola |language=en |archive-date=September 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240908231240/https://allthingsbiola.com/2023/01/03/top-3-afro-panamanian-places-black-expats-in-panama-city-panama-should-visit/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Braga |first=Brunno |date=2023-10-06 |title=Panama: How To Experience Afro Culture in the Country |url=https://travelnoire.com/panama-afro-culture |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=Travel Noire |language=en |archive-date=September 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240908231240/https://travelnoire.com/panama-afro-culture |url-status=live }}</ref> Black Panamanians are descendants of African slaves brought to the Americas in the [[Atlantic slave trade]]. The second wave of black people brought to Panama came from the Caribbean during the construction of the Panama Canal.

Panama also has a considerable Chinese and Indian population brought to work on the canal during its construction. Most [[Chinese Panamanians]] reside in the province of [[Chiriquí Province|Chiriquí]]{{citation needed|date=July 2017}} and Chinese Panamanians compose 4% of the population of Panama.<ref name="Mon"/><ref name="Jackson"/> Europeans and [[Demographics of Panama#European Panamanians|White Panamanians]] are a minority in Panama forming 6.7% of the population. Panama is also home to a small Arab community that has [[mosque]]s and practices Islam, as well as a Jewish community and many synagogues.

===Languages===
{{Further|Panamanian Spanish}}

Spanish is the official and dominant language. The Spanish spoken in Panama is known as Panamanian Spanish. About 93 percent of the population speak Spanish as their first language. Many citizens who hold jobs at international levels, or at business corporations, speak both English and Spanish. About 14 percent of Panamanians speak English;<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-languages-are-spoken-in-panama.html |title=What Languages Are Spoken in Panama? |date=August 24, 2017 |publisher=World Atlas |access-date=January 1, 2020 |archive-date=June 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604131839/https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-languages-are-spoken-in-panama.html |url-status=live }}</ref> this number is expected to rise because Panama now requires English classes in its public schools.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pearsonlearned.com/improving-english-for-panamas-first-bilingual-generation/ |title=Improving English for Panama's First Bilingual Generation |publisher=Pearson |access-date=January 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200101163727/https://www.pearsonlearned.com/improving-english-for-panamas-first-bilingual-generation/ |archive-date=January 1, 2020 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Native languages, such as [[Guaymí language|Ngäbere]], are spoken throughout the country, mostly in their native territories. Over 400,000 Panamanians keep their native languages and customs.<ref name="Ethnologue Report for Panama">{{cite web|url=http://www.ethnologue.com/country/PA|title=Panama|access-date=August 5, 2010|archive-date=March 9, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230309065853/https://www.ethnologue.com/country/PA/|url-status=live}}</ref> About 4 percent speak French and 1 percent speak Arabic.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2098.html|title=The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency|website=www.cia.gov|language=en|access-date=October 11, 2017|archive-date=March 7, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307124031/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2098.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Largest cities===
{{Further|List of cities in Panama}}

These are the 10 largest Panamanian cities and towns. Most of Panama's largest cities are part of the [[Panama City Metropolitan Area]].

{{Largest cities
| country      = Panama
| stat_ref     = [http://www.citypopulation.de/Panama.html#Stadt_gross City Population]
| list_by_pop  =
| div_name     = Province
| div_link     =

|city_1 = Panama City
|div_1 = Panamá Province{{!}}Panamá
|pop_1 = 430,299
|img_1 = Panama City financial district.jpg

|city_2 = San Miguelito District{{!}}San Miguelito
|div_2 = Panamá Province{{!}}Panamá
|pop_2 = 315,019
|img_2 = San Miguelito skyline.jpg

|city_3 = Las Cumbres
|div_3 = Panamá Province{{!}}Panamá
|pop_3 = 127,440

|city_4 = La Chorrera, Panama{{!}}La Chorrera
|div_4 = Panamá Oeste Province{{!}}Panamá Oeste
|pop_4 = 118,521

|city_5 = Tocumen
|div_5 = Panamá Province{{!}}Panamá
|pop_5 = 113,174

|city_6 = Pacora
|div_6 = Panamá Province{{!}}Panamá
|pop_6 = 103,960

|city_7 = Arraiján
|div_7 = Panamá Oeste Province{{!}}Panamá Oeste
|pop_7 = 96,676

|city_8 = David, Chiriquí{{!}}David
|div_8 = Chiriquí Province{{!}}Chiriquí
|pop_8 = 81,957

|city_9 = Vista Alegre, Panama{{!}}Vista Alegre
|div_9 = Panamá Oeste Province{{!}}Panamá Oeste
|pop_9 = 55,114

|city_10 = Santiago de Veraguas
|div_10 = Veraguas Province{{!}}Veraguas
|pop_10 = 51,236
}}

===Religion===
{{Main|Religion in Panama}}
[[File:Panama Catedral Metropolitana.jpg|thumb|upright|Colonial [[Metropolitan Cathedral of Panama City]]]]
{{Pie chart|thumb=right|caption=Religion in Panama (2015)<ref name=2015survey/>
|label1=[[Catholics]]|value1=63.2|color1=DarkOrchid|label2=[[Protestants]]|value2=25|color2=DodgerBlue|label3=[[Adventist]]|value3=1.3|color3=SkyBlue|label4=[[Jehovah's Witnesses]]|value4=1.4|color4=Aquamarine|label5=[[Mormons]]|value5=0.6|color5=DarkTurquoise|label6=[[Buddhism]]|value6=0.4|color6=Yellow|label7=[[Judaism]]|value7=0.1|color7=Blue|label8=No religion|value8=7.6|color8=Honeydew|label9=Other religions|value9=0.4|color9=Gold}}

[[Christianity]] is the main religion in Panama. An official survey carried out by the government estimated in 2015 that 63.2% of the population, or 2,549,150 people, identifies itself as [[Roman Catholic]], and 25% as [[evangelical Protestant]], or 1,009,740.<ref name="2015survey"/>

The [[Baháʼí Faith]] community in Panama is estimated at 2% of the national population, or about 60,000<ref name="WCoC">{{cite web|title = Panama|work = World Council of Churches: WCC Member Churches|publisher = World Council of Churches|date = January 1, 2006|url = http://www.oikoumene.org/en/member-churches|access-date = July 1, 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170708044321/http://www.oikoumene.org/en/member-churches|archive-date = July 8, 2017|url-status = dead}}</ref> including about 10% of the [[Guaymí]] population.<ref name="guay">{{Cite journal |last = International Community |first = Baháʼí |author-link = Baháʼí International Community |title = In Panama, some Guaymis blaze a new path |journal = One Country |volume = 1994 |issue = October–December |date = October–December 1994 |url = http://info.bahai.org/article-1-8-1-18.html |access-date = April 7, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140802031749/http://info.bahai.org/article-1-8-1-18.html |archive-date = August 2, 2014 |url-status = dead }}</ref>

The [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] were the next largest congregation comprising the 1.4% of the population, followed by the [[Seventh-day Adventist Church|Adventist Church]] and [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] with 0.6%. Smaller groups include the [[Buddhist]], [[Jewish]], [[Anglicanism|Episcopalian]], [[Islam in Panama|Muslim]] and [[Hindu]] communities.<ref name="report">[https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90262.htm International Religious Freedom Report 2007: Panama] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408234244/https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90262.htm |date=April 8, 2023 }}. United States [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor]] (September 14, 2007). ''This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the [[public domain]].''</ref> Indigenous religions include Ibeorgun (among [[Guna people|Guna]]) and Mamatata (among [[Ngäbe]]).<ref name="report" /> There are also a small number of [[Rastafarians]].<ref name="report" />

===Education===
{{Main|Education in Panama}}

During the 16th century, education in Panama was provided by [[Jesuit]]s. [[Public education]] began in Panama soon after it seceded from Colombia in 1903. The first efforts were guided by a paternalistic view of the goals of education, as evidenced in comments made in a 1913 meeting of the First Panamanian Educational Assembly, "The cultural heritage given to the child should be determined by the social position he will or should occupy. For this reason education should be different in accordance with the social class to which the student should be related." This elitist focus changed rapidly under US influence.<ref name="cs">{{Country study|country=Panama|abbr=pa|editor=Sandra W. Meditz and Dennis M. Hanratty|date=December 1987|section=Education|last=Kluck |first= Patricia}}</ref>

In 2010, it was estimated that 94.1 percent of the population was literate (94.7 percent of males and 93.5 percent of females).<ref name="cia.gov">{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/panama/|title=The World Factbook|access-date=October 25, 2014|archive-date=January 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123023447/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/panama/|url-status=live}}</ref> Education in Panama is [[compulsory education|compulsory]] for all children between ages 6 and 15. In recent decades, school enrollment at all levels, but especially at upper levels, has increased significantly. Panama participates in the [[Programme for International Student Assessment|PISA]] exams, but due to debts and unsatisfactory exam results, it postponed participation until 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://impresa.prensa.com/panorama/Panama-pruebas-Pisa_0_4006849352.html |title=Panamá sin pruebas Pisa hasta 2018 |date=August 18, 2014 |website=Impresa.prensa.com |access-date=April 9, 2016 |archive-date=July 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709011304/https://impresa.prensa.com/panorama/Panama-pruebas-Pisa_0_4006849352.html |url-status=live }}</ref>