Introduction

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Panama's sovereignty using the methodology of the Burke Institute. Sovereignty is assessed in 7 areas: political, economic, technological, informational, cultural, cognitive and military. Each aspect is assessed on the basis of official data from international and national sources (UN, World Bank, UNESCO, IMF, ITU, FAO, SIPRI, PISA, etc.) without using politicized indexes. The maximum score in each direction is 100; the sum (up to 700) is the accumulated Sovereignty Index (Burke Index).

To adapt and adjust statistical parameters, an international expert survey was conducted for each of the seven components using a single questionnaire of 10 questions with a 10-point scale and one open-ended question.

In total, at least 100 experts from 50+ countries were interviewed for each indicator, taking into account geographical representation and specialization. When calculating and analyzing the data, equalizing coefficients were used, bringing all data to a scale of 0-10 points.

The final index value is the arithmetic mean between statistical data and expert estimates.

Below is an analysis in each area, a summary table and the main conclusions about the peculiarities of Panama sovereignty.

Political sovereignty — 59.7

Panama is a member of the United Nations, WTO, OAS, IMF, WIPO, IBRD, Inter-American Development Bank, CELAC, regional Latin American and Pan-American unions; the CIUDAD DEL SABER base is a headquarters center for 35+ international organizations and 18 UN agencies in the country.

Panama implements the obligations of the WTO, the Paris, Berne Conventions, GDPR, and EITI; decisions of international courts are recognized in a number of civil and trade disputes, but the supremacy of the Constitution and the sovereignty of law is the priority of the corpus of laws.

The rating of political stability is 52.6% (2023, World Bank WGI), which corresponds to the global average; a functioning mechanism for changing power, regular elections, and a low risk of violence. There were no large-scale political crises in 2024-2025.

The Management Efficiency Index (WGI) is 62-66.8% in 2024 (World Bank), which is higher than the Latin American average, with a significant improvement over 5 years. EGDI (UN, 2024): 0.7298–79th place in the world, "high e-Gov development". The LOSI score (Panama City) is 0.573 (68th place among the cities of the world). Polls from 2024-2025 show the level of electoral support for the president/ruling party at 37-49% (according to two main tracking polls); the level of approval of the government is higher in cities and among young people.

Since 1999, after the closure of US military installations, there have been no more foreign bases in the country; Panama has officially secured a nuclear-weapon-free and non-military status, and any external military presence is constitutionally and legally prohibited.

The country is a member of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, the International Court of Justice, and WTO arbitration, but retains critical control over the execution of decisions regarding sovereign interests (especially in banking, tax, and maritime disputes).

The Republic is unitary; it is divided into 10 provinces and two comarcas (autonomous regions of Indian peoples) with local authorities; legislative and budgetary authorities are centralized, part of the socio-economic powers is delegated to the municipal level. Special services (national police, SENAFRONT, intelligence) are under parliamentary control, but with limited civil audit; corruption control is medium, internal audit is relatively developed, access to data is open through freedom of information laws.

Data completeness assessment: the main indicators are available from international sources, the coverage is 97%.

Economic sovereignty — 63.8

GDP per capita (PPP) according to various sources: 36,426-41,405 USD (World Bank, 2024), forecast for the end of 2025-37,664-43,840 USD, maximum estimate from World Economics is up to 55,748 USD (but official databases fix the level of 36-44 thousand). Foreign reserves (excluding gold): 5.6–6.8 billion USD (2024-2025), which covers 5.5-6 months of imports, the level is steadily maintained.

Government debt for 2024-2025: 56.44–58.11% of GDP (World Bank, Statista, TradingEconomics, CEIC), characterized by moderate growth after the pandemic, debt is stabilizing and is considered average among the region's fast-growing economies. The country imports up to 65-70% of food (according to the UN), domestic production covers basic needs only for bananas, sugar cane, fish, coffee, and purchases some items (water, meat, and grain) abroad.

Food security is maintained through strategic reserves and import contracts. About 55-60% of electricity is produced domestically (hydroelectric power plants, gas, oil), the rest is imported, fuel (petroleum products) and some technologies are imported mainly from the USA, Colombia and Mexico.

Deposits of copper, gold, silver, manganese, oil; the largest infrastructural resource is the Panama Canal (up to 15% of GDP through services and logistics), offshore financial and logistics zones. Per capita provision is one of the best in Latin America due to rivers, lakes and seasonal reservoirs; more than 95% of urban residents and 89% of rural residents have stable access to water. Heavy pressure on water reserves during periods of drought due to agriculture and shipping.

The national payment system is fully dollarized (USD), balboa (PAB, 1:1 to the dollar) is also used (for some transactions), and transfers are processed through local banks and international payment clouds. Payments within the country are carried out mainly in USD (balboa only in the form of coins and a unit of account), the share of PAB <5%.

There is no national issuing center: the entire money supply is pegged to the US dollar, the issue is fully delegated (the country does not issue paper PAB banknotes), monetary policy is determined on the basis of the external dollar system.

Data completeness assessment: the main macroeconomic indicators are available from official sources (World Bank, IMF), coverage is 90%

Technological sovereignty — 42.6

Spending on research and development works amounts to 0.18% of GDP (2022), a steady increase from the lows of the early 2000s; this is below the global average (0.45%), but higher than many countries in the region.

Panama actively integrates foreign technologies, there are few of its own products; imports are highly technical — equipment, software, infrastructure — mainly from the USA and the EU. Gross tertiary enrollment is 58.17% (2022), higher than the global average, due to the high level of private education and access to international universities. At the beginning of 2024, 78.8% of the population, 3.54 million Internet users; the growth rate is +6% per year.

Fixed Internet speed is 147.25 Mbps, mobile Internet speed is 18.5 Mbps. Digital prototypes of public services, tax, business registration, and electronic healthcare are used — the platforms are adapted based on foreign solutions with a high level of integration. The import of high-tech equipment, software and services is more than 85%; the state program of digitalization and support of technological infrastructure has been launched.

EGDI according to the UN is 0.73 (79th place), there are about 400 digital public services in active operation in key areas; most of the population has access to them. Educational and medical institutions are developing medical research; there are practically no own biotech companies, and products are imported.

There is no local production of robots and automated systems; experimental projects are being implemented at universities and private companies. Full import dependence: there are no domestic manufacturers of chips and microelectronics; supplier countries are the USA, Taiwan, China.

Data completeness assessment: key indicators are obtained from WIPO, ITU, UNESCO, which provides 83% coverage.

Information sovereignty — 58.1

Panama holds a strong position in the ITU Global Cybersecurity Index (2024), is in Tier 2 (“Developing”), has a national cybersecurity strategy (since 2021), formally established the state CERT/CSIRT under the management of AIG (Agencia para la Innovación Gubernamental), participates in regional cyber studies and data exchange. There are 2 IXP nodes in Panama: InteRed Panama (since 1997, updated 2021-2023), BGP.Exchange Panama City.

Both are located in data centers, significantly reduce latency and content costs within the country, global CDNs are connected, and local network traffic development programs are underway. The official and main language of the media is Spanish (~93% of the population speaks first), but indigenous languages (Guna, Ngeabere, English Creole) remain in radio content, regional newspapers and informal media.

The national infrastructure is significantly dependent on foreign companies — Google, Meta, Microsoft, Akamai are directly integrated into IXP and cloud services; most of the digital public services operate on foreign platforms/cloud services, although InteRed is developing elements to increase independence.

More than 62-65% of television and radio networks are locally produced: news, series, talk shows, the legacy of the Spanish-speaking and indigenous narrative; about 35% of the airtime is occupied by CMS with imported/licensed content (USA, Latin America). There are almost no national export IT products — developments are carried out mainly in the field of e-government, public services, tax, migration and customs infrastructure commissioned by the state/banks; commercial software exports are absent as a sector.

Internet penetration is 78.8% of the population; about 400 state and municipal online services are available, and mobile and broadband coverage exceeds 90% of the largest cities. InteRed operates as a data center node for government agencies, but the bulk of cloud solutions and data storage are based on Amazon AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud; data localization depends on financial, banking, and tax priorities.

Communications are provided by local operators (Movistar, Tigo, Digicel), licenses are issued by AIG, the state regulator controls standards and frequency allocation, but the equipment, network core, and digital infrastructure are imported and serviced by global vendors. In 2021, Law No. 81 “On the Protection of Personal Data” was adopted, based on the GDPR model, an independent regulator was identified; a system of mandatory notification of leaks was introduced, administrative fines were imposed, and state supervision is implemented through AIG and the courts.

Data completeness assessment: infrastructure indicators are available from ITU, CIRA, OECD and specialized sources, coverage is 82%.

Cultural sovereignty — 71.4

In 2025, Panama officially has 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites (3 cultural, 2 natural): Forts of the Caribbean coast (Portobelo-San Lorenzo, 1980)

• Darien National Park (1981)

• Coiba National Park and Conservation Area (2005)

• Talamanca Range/La Amistad (1990, shared with Costa Rica)

• "The Colonial Transisthmian Route of Panama" (The Colonial Transisthmian Route, 2025).

The historical role of Panama is a key global transport and financial hub (the Panama Canal, colonial roads, forts), a mixture of Spanish, African, Creole, indigenous cultural codes. Global importance — port, trade, architectural and ethnographic exchange, cuisine and musical styles (kuntumba, Congo, etc.), contribution to the study of tropical ecosystems.

Annual national state awards, the nationwide Gran Premio Nacional de Cultura, and the National Awards are held. Institute of Culture, awards in the context of national festivals and municipal grants (many nominations — literature, music, stage, crafts). Mixed Spanish, Afro, and Native American traditions are officially recognized; there are many festivals, carnivals, local music/clothing/cuisine; high attention to the preservation of indigenous languages and rituals (guna, Amibera, Ngeabere).

Five autonomous "comarcas" (districts) where Native American peoples live with their own cultural autonomy, direct subsidies from the budget; programs are being implemented to preserve languages, schools, ethnofestivals, and support goods and crafts. Five UNESCO sites, more than 25 museums and cultural centers, several hundred architectural monuments, historical districts of cities (Panama City, Portobelo, San Lorenzo), dozens of local institutions (art schools, theaters, craft centers).

Panama is a participant in UNESCO programs, Ibero-American Arts Festivals, Transcultura, Transisthmian Route, International Carnival, cultural programs through the Embassy of Spain, the United States, World Heritage Managers Forum (2025).

National brand registration system (Mukalolo — national Panamanian hat, moli, cumbia and kuntumba music, rum, coffee). The original gastronomic, textile, handicraft and dance traditions are implemented at the level of national legislation.

The cuisine is mixed: dishes with corn, banana, tropical fruits, seafood; national soups (sankocho), tomales, fish, shellfish, coffee traditions, sugar, cocoa and indigenous processing technologies. National programs, festivals and food tours.

From 38% (adults) to 58% (youth) participate massively in large-scale municipal actions, holidays, festivals, and gastrocarnivals, especially in the "month of culture" and the season of national parades; the PANAMA CANAL LAB programs involve over 23 thousand participants and volunteers per year.

Data completeness assessment: basic indicators are available in UNESCO and national statistics, coverage is 90%.

Cognitive sovereignty — 59.3

The HDI of Panama in 2023-2024 is 0.839 (“very high"), 51-61 places in the world (UNDP, World Bank, TheGlobalEconomy). The total share is 6.0–7.0% of GDP (2024, state budget, World Bank, UN, Ministry of Finance); the share in government spending is 11.92% (2023), which corresponds to global standards. Current figures: 96.0% (World Bank, 2023); among men — 95.7%, among women — 94.4%; youth (15-24 years old) — 98.1%.

Panama participates in regional assessments and in the PISA for Development (“PISA-D”) program, but the PISA world ranking is not published; the latest results indicate a lag in mathematics and reading from the OECD averages, the best results in natural sciences (2023-2024).

According to the national It is estimated that STEM fields account for 33-37% of the total number of university and college graduates, especially in IT, engineering, medicine, and agricultural disciplines. 13-18% of university courses are joint and exchange (programs with the USA, Spain, China, and the EU); there is extensive access to online education and distance learning programs.

The languages/identities of the Indian peoples (Guna, Ngeabere, Amibera) are recognized and supported; schools, cultural centers, autonomous communities with their own budget, education and radio operate.

There are 11 key centers in the country: at the National Research Institute of Panama (INDICASAT), the University, the Institute of Biological Sciences, the Museum of Biodiversity and other departmental platforms. 55-62% of all e-learning programs are served by Spanish-speaking national platforms and adaptations (Ministerio de Educacion, INADEH); the rest are international/regional LMS. 3.5-4 thousand state scholarships, dozens of competitions and awards for talents, the Talento Joven program with grants for STEM, inclusion and research are provided annually.

Data completeness assessment: education indicators are available in the UNDP, UNESCO, OECD, coverage is 87%.

Military sovereignty — 38.9

Officially, there is no military spending: 0% of GDP since 1999 (there is no army). All national security is funded by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, border protection, police and security tasks — through Public Forces/Ministry of Security. There is no army; the Public Forces of Panama operates — about 26,000-28,000 people (police, border guards, aero-motor services, special services).

Equipment: light rifles, special equipment, boats, patrol planes, helicopters (Bell, Airbus, Embraer A-29 Super Tucano, from 2025 — for the first time a contract for 4 combat aircraft, 2 transports). The main fleet of vehicles is imported (USA, EU, Brazil), the upgrade is implemented by the purchase of patrol, shockproof, search and rescue equipment.

There is no Panamanian military-industrial base — all weapons are imported; there are no official defense factories, licensed production or shipyards. It is controlled by the forces of SENAFRONT (border guard), SENAN (aero-naval), National Police; special attention is paid to the security of the Panama Canal, the Darien region (border with Colombia), ports.

Joint operations with the United States, permanent training missions, air defense and radar surveillance are imported. There is no reserve, there are no mobilization units, and SENAFRONT, SENAN, and the police have all the potential.

Panama is not a member of military alliances, has refused to deploy foreign bases; at the same time, it allows joint operations and missions with the United States, Colombia/regional partners to support the safety of navigation and against drug trafficking (starting in 2025 — after rising tensions).

It is absent as a class — there are no factories, military-industrial complex, or production licenses. There are no nuclear weapons — Panama is a signatory to the NPT and all regional agreements on a nuclear-weapon-free zone. There are no national military space programs, satellites, or military-type intelligence services of their own; intelligence and monitoring are carried out by the police, SENAFRONT, and the National security services in partnership with the United States/regional centers.

All parameters are reflected in the annual reports of SIPRI, UNODA, the Ministry of Defense, the official portals of state-owned companies (Embraer, IMBEL) and industry databases of UN/NGO — 91% coverage

Final Summary Table

The main conclusions

Strengths. Economic and financial stability: High GDP (36-44 thousand USD per capita, PPP), development index (HDI) 0.84, dollar-based economic model, sustainable banking and logistics sector, leading free economic zone (Colon Zone).

Global transport importance: The key location between the oceans, the Panama Canal provides 12-15% of GDP, effective integration into global trade and finance flows.

Political stability and modern governance: Regular elections, stable sovereign policy, objectively high level of tax-free environment, moderate level of security by Latin American standards. High human capital: Literacy rate 96%, higher education coverage >58%, advanced level of digitalization of public services (EGDI 0.73).

Digital and telecommunication infrastructure: ~79% of Internet users, national cybersecurity strategy, 400+ digital services, 2 IXPs and an independent personal data authority. International recognition and partnership: Successful lifting of sanctions and "grey" status (FATF Grey List, EU), active participation in global initiatives, membership in leading international organizations.

Weaknesses. Minimal sovereignty in security: There is no army, military-industrial complex, military reserve, defense is delegated to the police and border guards, joint operations with the United States and Colombia (but there are no alliances and foreign bases). Import dependence on technologies and resources: >85% of high-tech and software are imported; low R&D costs (0.18% of GDP), proprietary microelectronics, robotics, and biotechnologies are absent or are only being introduced.

High inequality and regional disparities: There is a high difference in living standards and access to infrastructure between the city and the periphery, poverty is 16-21%, and some regions are below average in education and medicine.

Gaps in education and personnel: Lagging behind in a number of PISA-D indicators, insufficient qualified STEM personnel for digital transformation tasks, and a high proportion of foreign educational programs as a compensating measure. Crime/security in remote regions: Increased activity of drug and transit gangs on the border with Colombia (Darien), uneven distribution of investments and security measures by region.

Environmental and infrastructural challenges: Rapid urbanization, pressure on water reserves and wastewater systems in dry years, point problems with waste and pollution.

Overall assessment. The cumulative sovereignty index of Panama is 393.8 out of 700 possible points (average — 56.3%), which places the country in the top 100 in the global top. Panama is a diversified, open and reformed leader in Central America, combining advanced economics, international integration, financial stability, dynamic digitalization and a democratic system.

Key constraints: import dependence and weak scientific and technological sovereignty, lack of military and strategic autonomy, socio-personnel and infrastructural challenges, inequality and limited innovation sector with a generally high potential for training and integration into global technological chains.

The sovereignty profile indicates that Panama is a regional leader in terms of development, economic openness, socio-humanitarian and digital standards. Sovereignty is rigidly protected by strategic facilities and international law, but strategically relies on imports, global platforms, and a delegated dollar economy.

The lack of an army and high technological autonomy is offset by logistical, financial, legal, and human capital.