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The culture, customs, and language of the Panamanians are predominantly Caribbean Spanish. Ethnically, the majority of the population is mestizo (mixed indigenous, black and white) or mixed indigenous, West Indian, some Asian (Chinese and east Indian), and Spanish (Caucasian but includes Dutch, English, French, German, Irish, Italian, Portuguese and Russian ancestry).

The majority of Panamanians are Christian, most are Roman Catholics by centuries of Spanish colonial influence. Other faiths exist in Panama by the country's tolerance and freedom of religion, there are large Protestant, Jewish, Muslim and Hindu (under 1%) religious groups in Panama. A famous Panamanian Rod Carew, a professional baseball player in the US, was of Hispanic, West Indian, African, European and Jewish ancestry.

Many languages, including seven indigenous languages, are spoken in Panama, although Spanish is the official and dominant language. English is now a second official language, is spoken natively by the West Indian (mainly are of African origin) population, the history of American cultural influences, and as a second language by many professionals.

More than half the population lives in the Panama City-Colón metropolitan corridor. Panama City was enriched by the past century of American influences in terms of additions to the country's Latin culture, economics (the US was involved in development of roads, schools and medical care), and international trade by the nearby Panama Canal, once was under US jurisdiction: the Canal Zone territory from 1903 to 1979.

Panama is rich in folklore and popular traditions. Brightly colored national dress is worn during local festivals and the pre-Lenten carnival season, especially for traditional folk dances like the tamborito. Lively salsa — a mixture of Latin American popular music, rhythm and blues, jazz, and rock — is a Panamanian specialty, and Rubén Blades its best-known performer. Indian influences dominate handicrafts such as the famous Kuna textile molas. Artist Roberto Lewis' Presidential Palace murals and his restoration work and ceiling in the National Theater are well known and admired.

More than 65,000 Panamanian students attend the University of Panama, the Technological University, and the University of Santa Maria La Antigua, a private Catholic institution. Including smaller colleges, there are 14 institutions of higher education in Panama. The first 6 years of primary education are compulsory, and there are about 357,000 students currently enrolled in grades one through six. The total enrollment in the six secondary grades is about 207,000. Nearly 90% of Panamanians are literate.

Population: 3,191,319 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 30.3% (male 492,403; female 472,996) 15-64 years: 63.4% (male 1,025,898; female 998,926) 65 years and over: 6.3% (male 94,122; female 106,974) (2006 est.)

Median age: total: 26.1 years male: 25.8 years female: 26.5 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.6% (2006 est.)

Birth rate: 21.74 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate: 5.36 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate: total: 16.37 deaths/1,000 live births male: 17.75 deaths/1,000 live births female: 14.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.22 years male: 72.68 years female: 77.87 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.68 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian, African and white) 69%, (Black/West Indian) 11%, white 10%, Amerindian 5%, Asian 5% (Chinese and east Indian).

Religions: Roman Catholic almost 80%, Protestant up to 12%, Muslims 4.4%, Baha'i 1%, Buddhists 1%, Jews 0.4%, Hindu 0.2%.

Languages: Spanish (official), English 14%. note: many Panamanians bilingual.

Contents 1 Nationality: 2 Ethnic groups 3 Religions 4 Languages 5 Literacy: 6 See also

noun: Panamanian(s)

adjective: Panamanian

Mestizo (mixed Amerindian, African and white) 69%, Caribbean Antillean (West Indian) 11%, white 10%, Amerindian 5%, Asian (mostly Chinese) 5%

Roman Catholic almost 80%, Protestant up to 12%, Muslims 4.4%, Baha'i 1%, Buddhists 1%, Jews 0.4%, Hindu 0.2%

Spanish (official), English 14%, Indigenous languages: Kuna, Embera, Ngabere, Buglere, Teribe, Woun Meu
note: many Panamanians are bilingual

definition: age 15 and over can read and write:

• total population: 92.6%
• male: 93.2%
• female: 91.9% (2003 est.)

• Panama