Old Panamao is a 5th class municipality in the province of Sulu.

According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 35,906 people in 5,663 households.

Old Panamao is politically subdivided into 31 barangays.

Its climate is warm, humidity is generally moist, but precipitation is constant throughout the year. February is considered the coldest month while May to August are the hottest, with mean relative humidity of 86%, one of the hottest in the country.