Escudo de Panama

Kuna Mom & Girl

National bird of Panama

laughing Kuna Ladies with mola

Pollera

National Flower of Panama

New York Folkloric Dancers

Orange County California Folkloric Dancers

Panamanians in the diaspora have a long migratory history that consists of five generations. There are Panamanians in the fifty states of the United States of America. The largest concentration is found in New York. It is estimated that there are 250 thousands Panamanians in the U.S. this number does not include the large quantity of undocumented immigrants. Summering up the population deriving from the five generations of Panamanian descent, the total number of Panamanians in the United States easily surpasses half a million people.

Panamanians in the U.S strive to be connected. For example, Panamanian supports the activities of the more than 300 Panamanian civic, cultural, social, educational and athletic organizations in the United States.    For example, there are some 250 Panamanian professional, civic, culture, social, athletic organizations in the U.S. Moreover every year, thousands of Panamanians in the U.S come together during the 4th of July weekend for the Panamanian Friendship Reunion.

Old Panama City

It is noteworthy that the Panamanian community abroad maintains strong ties to their mother country For example, their contributions in terms of remittances of financial and material resources are, vital ingredients of Panama's economy. Due to its geographical proximity to the U.S and the low airfare, Panamanians in the United States frequently travel back and forth between the U.S and Panama. In this regards, it is noteworthy that in the year 2000 almost 10 thousand Panamanians returned to Panama from the United States, to celebrate the return of the Panama Canal to Panama. In 2003 about 50 thousand returned to participate in the Panama Centennial Celebrations. Thousands travel there annually, escaping the winter season and for special holiday seasons e.g. Thanksgiving, Easter, Christmas, and Carnival. There is a growing number returning to Panama to retire.

New Panama City

The Panamanian- American community is an educated, sophisticated, multiracial, cosmopolitan, multicultural, highly organized, multiethnic, and bilingual (Spanish and English) population with a high level of socio-economic upward. These qualities can be translated not only in economic power, but is a powerful political potential to be tapped, not only in the United States but in Panama as well. In this regard, the Panamanian Community in the Diaspora continues to advocate for the power to vote at home.

Panama Map

Currently there is a great opportunity for mobilizing the social economic and political potential of this group by simply fortifying the familial, political, social, economic, cultural, and fraternal ties that link the Diaspora communities to their native land. In this context, the Panamanian Council of New York serves as a key vehicle to link Panamanians in the Diaspora, as well as, to connect them with their compatriots in Panama.

Ballet Folklorico Nuestro Panama

Panamanian Beauties