Ethnicity, Language, & Religion of Panama
Ethnicity
Nearly three quarters of Panama's population is ethnically "mestizo," which is a combination of European (mostly Spanish) and American Indian. The degree of American Indian versus European and the actual Indian and European ethnic groups varies greatly from person to person so the country is quite ethnically diverse. Another 15% of the people are a different combination of ethnicities, generally with some American Indian, including Caribbean groups and creole groups. The rest of the people are either wholly European or wholly American Indian.
Language
Spanish is the only official language in Panama, although nearly 15% of the people are native English speakers. In schools both Spanish and English are taught and most people are fluent in both languages. Spanish is a Romance language that is related to Latin as well as other Latin-based languages, such as Portuguese, French, Italian, and Romanian. Both Spanish and English are widely spoken and understood in Panama.