How many workers did it take to build the Panama Canal?

Answer 1

The Panama Canal was originall a French project started in 1881, and then stopped due to complications, the company sponsering it going bankrupt in 1889. Another French company acquired the project in 1894, and was ultimately acquired by the United States in 1904. The project was completed in 1914. It took 10 years (1 decade) to finish the canal in its entirety.

Answer 2

Many people died during the construction. It took over 70,000 men to build the canal (women didn't really work back then).

The first attempt to construct a canal began in 1880 under French leadership. After this attempt failed and saw 22,000 workers die, the project of building a canal was attempted and completed by the United States in Panama in the early 1900s, with the canal opening in 1914. The building of the 77 km (48 mi) canal was plagued by problems, including disease (particularly malaria and yellow fever) and landslides. By the time the canal was completed, a total of 27,500 workers are estimated to have died in the French and US attempts.

No record of actual number of workers involved.

Another Answer

The above answer, which states that there is no actual record of the number of workers used on the canal, is not strictly correct.

It is known that the French started the project with 20,000 men, allowing for the number of deaths (the hospitals were poor record-keepers) and natural wastage, the figure rises to around 50,000 men.

The Americans employed 45,000 men on the project. As far as I can find out, that seems to be the total figure.

So, adding the two together, you get 95,000 men, but allowing for the poor record-keeping of the time, it is far better to say between 90,000 and 100,000 men were used to build the Panama Canal.

Answer 3

it took 10 years to build the panama canal 1904-1914

Answer 4

The United States took ten years to build the Panama Canal.

Answer 5

It took 10 years

Answer 6

2 years

Answer 7

9 years

Answer 8

10 years