Panama is the southernmost country of Central America, bordered by Costa Rica and Colombia. Its inhabitants' ethnic makeup is Mestizo (mixed white and Native American) 66 percent, Blacks/African descent 16 percent, white 8 percent, and Amerindian 10 percent; the Amerindian population including seven indigenous peoples. Panama's second largest population, Panamanians of African descent, are targeted for discrimination at multiple levels, according to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

UNDP reports indicate that discrimination against Afro-Panamanians is the top obstacle for the demographic, despite being major contributors to identity and national culture. Afro-Panamanians are excluded in the public sector, the education system, and within the workforce. Panamanian education isolates individuals of African descent, excluding them from academic content, ignoring discrimination when it occurs, and limiting education opportunities and advancements. Afro-Panamanians demand reform, but in spite of that, these traditions of displacement and discrimination prevail. Obstacles regarding immigration, education, and broken families are other issues that are prevalent in the community.

"While African musical and culinary influence on Latino culture is often celebrated, the Afro-Latino experience in many Latin American countries has been muted," said Damarys Ocaña Perez in an article that addressed the unique challenges that Afro Latinas face. "In the Dominican Republic, for example, the government once encouraged blacks to use the term 'indio' instead of 'black' to describe themselves, partly as a way to distance themselves from neighboring Haitians; Mexico officially recognized its extensive African DNA only recently, even though its second president was Afro-Mexican and at one point slaves there outnumbered their Spanish masters."

Afro-Panamanians comprise 15 percent of the population and it is estimated 50 percent of Panamanians have African ancestry. The population descended from slaves brought to Panama during the colonial period and the "Afro-Antillean." Also, West Indian immigrants from Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Martinique help to make up the Spanish and English-speaking Afro-Latino group that can be found in Colón, Cristóbal, Balboa, Panama City and the province of Bocas del Toro.

The U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination recognizes the continual discrimination, marginalization, impoverishment and vulnerability of Indigenous Peoples and those of African descent. There have been no specific courses of action proposed to improve conditions for Afro-Panamanians.