Panama City is by far the largest city in Panama, and its metropolitan area contains nearly 1 million people, about one-third of the nation's inhabitants. From 1980 to 1990 the population of the city proper grew from 386,300 to 413,000. This modest increase, after decades of rapid growth, reflected political turmoil and the poor performance of the economy that accompanied it. After 1990 both the economy and the political system improved greatly, and by 1996 the city's population had increased to 668,927. The population of Panama City is young on average and relatively healthy.
Most of Panama City's residents are either mestizo (of mixed Native American and European background) or mulatto (of mixed European and African heritage). Others are descended from European and black Caribbean immigrants who arrived in the 19th and 20th centuries. Panama has long served as a crossroads between oceans and continents, and thus has attracted immigrants from all over the world. This diverse population is concentrated in the capital, along with a few other cities. People from the West Indies, the Middle East, Asia, and North America are now represented in Panama City. Although most of the city's residents are Roman Catholic, Jews and a range of other religious communities are also present.Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
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