Panama: Flag and Facts
Panama's flag is cut into four equal rectangles: white with a blue star at top left, solid red at top right, solid blue at bottom left, and white with a red star at bottom right.
- Official name
- Republic of Panama
- Capital
- Panama City
- Region
- Central America
- Population
- 4.5 million (2025)
- Languages
- Spanish
- Currency
- Panamanian balboa, United States dollar
- Area
- 75,417 km² (29,119 sq mi)
- People
- Panamanian
- Calling code
- +507
- Highest point
- Volcan Baru 3,475 m
- Independence
- 3 November 1903 (from Colombia)
- National symbols
- harpy eagle
- Borders
- Colombia, Costa Rica
About Panama
Picture it as a peace deal on cloth. Blue and red stand for the two main political parties, and the white squares mean peace between them. The blue star represents purity and honesty, the civic virtues, while the red star stands for law and authority. The harpy eagle is the national bird symbol.
Spain explored and settled the isthmus in the 16th century. Panama left Spanish rule in 1821 and joined Gran Colombia, then stayed with Colombia when that union broke up in 1830. With US support, it split from Colombia on 3 November 1903 and soon signed a deal letting the US dig a canal and control the land beside it. Army engineers built the canal from 1904 to 1914. A 1977 agreement set up the handover, and Panama had the whole canal, plus the last US bases, by the end of 1999. A big upgrade between 2007 and 2016 let larger ships pass through.
Did you know?
- Volcan Baru is Panama's tallest peak, reaching 3,475 meters.
- Panama's rainy season stretches from May to January, leaving a short dry stretch from January to May.
- Panama is a little smaller than South Carolina.
Want to test yourself? The random flag generator has a quiz mode, and the full flags of the world page shows every flag at once.
Questions about Panama
What currency does Panama use?
Panama uses both the Panamanian balboa and the US dollar.
What is the capital of Panama?
Panama City, home to nearly 2 million people.
Sources
- CIA World Factbook, checked October 8, 2026
- REST Countries data (mledoze/countries), checked October 8, 2026
- Flag artwork: flag-icons (MIT), checked October 8, 2026
Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.