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Panama economy ranking: GDP & GDP per capita, debt

Updated on by Georank team

Panama ranked 78/197 by economy size with a GDP of $86.5B and 60/197 by GDP per capita at $19,161. Panama has $49.6B in government debt, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 57.4%.

In 2024, Panama made up 0.08% of the world's economy, compared to 0.04% in 1960.

Panama GDP & GDP growth by year

GDP, current $
Real growth
1x
Year GDP GDP growth
2024 $86,523,959,132 2.75%
2023 $83,812,155,244 7.17%
2022 $76,479,304,471 11%
2021 $67,396,392,506 16.5%
2020 $57,059,846,522 -17.8%
2019 $69,778,991,193 3.1%
2018 $67,316,471,181 3.92%
2017 $64,327,688,826 5.74%
2016 $59,760,858,718 4.57%
2015 $55,767,806,073 5.27%
2014 $51,427,104,882 4.63%
2013 $46,949,496,479 6.32%
2012 $41,595,439,721 9.63%
2011 $35,687,738,252 11.9%
2010 $30,231,009,533 6.07%
2009 $27,791,215,547 1.61%
2008 $25,721,327,955 10.2%
2007 $21,717,433,808 13.2%
2006 $18,659,721,513 9.86%
2005 $16,623,906,739 8.28%
2004 $15,100,203,362 8.18%
2003 $13,603,456,003 5.1%
2002 $12,800,851,271 2.51%
2001 $12,252,906,341 0.95%
2000 $11,966,497,049 4.21%
1999 $11,660,704,777 5.21%
1998 $11,019,557,689 8.39%
1997 $10,058,854,386 7.71%
1996 $9,197,503,323 4.08%
1995 $9,573,813,700 1.75%
1994 $9,365,289,800 2.85%
1993 $8,782,585,400 5.46%
1992 $8,042,337,700 8.2%
1991 $7,074,675,500 9.42%
1990 $6,433,967,000 8.1%
1989 $5,918,469,800 1.56%
1988 $5,902,783,400 -13.4%
1987 $6,827,665,300 -1.81%
1986 $6,797,834,200 3.57%
1985 $6,541,517,100 4.94%
1984 $6,183,387,100 2.71%
1983 $5,923,755,900 -4.49%
1982 $5,769,767,900 5.35%
1981 $5,222,421,500 9.21%
1980 $4,614,086,400 13.1%
1979 $3,704,551,600 4.51%
1978 $3,244,558,600 9.79%
1977 $2,738,261,900 1.09%
1976 $2,588,106,000 1.66%
1975 $2,435,304,100 1.74%
1974 $2,188,307,600 2.45%
1973 $1,913,793,400 5.36%
1972 $1,673,411,700 4.58%
1971 $1,523,917,200 9.62%
1970 $1,351,006,400 6.96%
1969 $1,221,305,700 8.44%
1968 $1,112,791,100 6.98%
1967 $1,034,376,400 8.55%
1966 $928,833,000 7.58%
1965 $852,485,300 9.16%
1964 $776,137,500 4.43%
1963 $722,784,500 8.54%
1962 $652,120,900 8.24%
1961 $599,026,300 10.9%
1960 $537,147,100 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/panama | CC BY

Panama GDP per capita by year

GDP per capita
GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $19,161 $41,369
2023 $18,797 $39,813
2022 $17,379 $36,333
2021 $15,510 $30,933
2020 $13,291 $27,017
2019 $16,478 $33,240
2018 $16,151 $32,464
2017 $15,695 $33,533
2016 $14,832 $30,277
2015 $14,083 $27,245
2014 $13,213 $24,376
2013 $12,273 $21,924
2012 $11,065 $19,473
2011 $9,662 $17,474
2010 $8,331 $15,573
2009 $7,797 $14,766
2008 $7,348 $14,705
2007 $6,318 $13,333
2006 $5,529 $11,685
2005 $5,018 $10,511
2004 $4,645 $9,592
2003 $4,265 $8,801
2002 $4,091 $8,370
2001 $3,992 $8,197
2000 $3,975 $8,097
1999 $3,950 $7,749
1998 $3,808 $7,408
1997 $3,546 $6,895
1996 $3,308 $6,421
1995 $3,514 $6,182
1994 $3,508 $6,073
1993 $3,358 $5,902
1992 $3,140 $5,582
1991 $2,821 $5,150
1990 $2,620 $4,651
1989 $2,462 -
1988 $2,509 -
1987 $2,966 -
1986 $3,019 -
1985 $2,972 -
1984 $2,875 -
1983 $2,819 -
1982 $2,811 -
1981 $2,605 -
1980 $2,357 -
1979 $1,938 -
1978 $1,738 -
1977 $1,503 -
1976 $1,457 -
1975 $1,406 -
1974 $1,296 -
1973 $1,164 -
1972 $1,046 -
1971 $979 -
1970 $893 -
1969 $830 -
1968 $778 -
1967 $745 -
1966 $689 -
1965 $651 -
1964 $611 -
1963 $587 -
1962 $546 -
1961 $516 -
1960 $477 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/panama | CC BY

Panama has a GDP per capita of $19,161, ranking 60/197, a GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity (PPP) of $41,369, ranking 56/197, and a median annual after tax income of $10,196, ranking 77/197.

Panama GDP rankings by year

GDP
GDP per capita
GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Rank
GDP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 77 56 51
2023 74 58 52
2022 73 59 53
2021 77 59 54
2020 81 60 57
2019 73 57 48
2018 74 58 43
2017 76 56 42
2016 74 56 43
2015 77 56 46
2014 82 63 54
2013 85 67 60
2012 87 69 65
2011 89 71 68
2010 91 74 71
2009 91 71 72
2008 96 78 71
2007 95 79 75
2006 91 78 78
2005 90 77 76
2004 87 73 79
2003 87 71 82
2002 86 67 80
2001 86 68 79
2000 85 71 74
1999 84 67 74
1998 86 68 74
1997 88 74 75
1996 87 71 78
1995 85 68 77
1994 80 62 75
1993 83 62 76
1992 84 62 77
1991 89 64 82
1990 92 67 86
1989 82 63 -
1988 84 61 -
1987 76 53 -
1986 70 52 -
1985 72 50 -
1984 74 51 -
1983 74 51 -
1982 75 50 -
1981 78 53 -
1980 79 56 -
1979 79 57 -
1978 78 51 -
1977 84 52 -
1976 80 50 -
1975 79 50 -
1974 76 48 -
1973 73 45 -
1972 73 43 -
1971 72 44 -
1970 73 43 -
1969 71 34 -
1968 69 33 -
1967 70 34 -
1966 71 34 -
1965 72 35 -
1964 72 34 -
1963 70 33 -
1962 70 32 -
1961 71 31 -
1960 70 31 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/panama | CC BY

Compared with 2000, in 2024 Panama is ranked 77th out of 182 by GDP (up from 85th), 56th by GDP per capita (up from 71st), and 51st by GDP per capita PPP (up from 74th).

Economic indicators

Panama Rank
Gross domestic product
$86.5B
2024
78/197
GDP growth
2.75%
2023-2024
114/194
GDP per capita
$19,161
2024
60/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$41,369
2024
56/197
Government debt
$49.6B
2024
74/185
Debt-to-GDP ratio
57.4%
2024
88/185
Government debt per person
$10,995
2024
51/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$10,196
2026
77/197
Listed domestic companies
36
2024
79/103
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$18.3B
2024
62/100
Income share by richest 10%
37.6%
2024
12/169
Income share by poorest 10%
1.2%
2024
164/169
Government expenditure, % of GDP
23.1%
2024
133/195
Consumer prices inflation
0.69%
2023-2024
178/195
Unemployment rate
8.61%
2024
48/196
Population
4642198
128/197

Government spending, deficit, and debt by year

Spending
Debt
Deficit/surplus
1x
Year % of GDP
Government spending Government debt Government deficit/surplus
2024 23.1% 57.4% -7.42%
2023 21.4% 51.2% -3.9%
2022 21.3% 52.7% -3.98%
2021 23.8% 54.4% -6.48%
2020 27.5% 61.5% -10.2%
2019 20.6% 39.8% -2.89%
2018 21.8% 35.6% -2.88%
2017 21.2% 33.6% -1.92%
2016 21.3% 33.6% -1.89%
2015 21.4% 34.2% -2.3%
2014 23% 34.7% -3.21%
2013 23.4% 33.7% -2.38%
2012 22.8% 34% -1.31%
2011 23.5% 35.6% -1.96%
2010 24.2% 38.1% -1.68%
2009 22.7% 39.1% -0.9%
2008 22.7% 40% 0.37%
2007 21.8% 47.4% 3.12%
2006 21.9% 54.7% 0.51%
2005 22.4% 59.3% -2.21%
2004 23.3% 58.8% -4.33%
2003 24.2% 56.5% -2.27%
2002 23.5% 57% -0.96%
2001 23.4% 57.8% -0.42%
2000 22.8% 53.6% 2.05%
1999 23% 55.1% -0.65%
1998 23.4% 58.1% -1.11%
1997 22.2% 60.2% 1.24%
1996 21.5% 65% 2.48%
1995 25.9% 76.6% 2.3%
1994 25.2% 78.3% 2.12%
1993 33.8% 83.6% -9.4%
1992 27.8% 91.2% -2.62%
1991 20.9% 103.7% -0.6%
1990 41.5% 112.7% -3.65%
1989 43% 104.4% -13.6%
1988 41.8% 105% -13.5%
1987 40.1% 92.2% -1.7%
1986 38.6% 84% -1%
1985 39.7% 82.5% -2.57%
1984 44% 82.5% -7.56%
1983 44.6% 86.6% -7.62%
1982 48% 80.9% -13.3%
1981 30.7% 68.7% -6.77%
1980 30.5% 69.4% -5.17%
1979 35% 78.9% -12.1%
1978 27.6% 83.1% -5.21%
1977 16.9% 77.7% -1.61%
1976 15.9% 69.7% -2.65%
1975 15.3% 52.6% -0.74%
1974 15.3% 37.6% -0.6%
1973 14.4% 32.6% -0.01%
1972 15.6% 29.5% -1.17%
1971 15% 26.2% -0.51%
1970 22.4% 25.7% -8.02%
1969 20.5% 23.2% -7.56%
1968 14.2% 18% -1.5%
1967 14.9% 17.8% -1.97%
1966 14% 17.9% -1.18%
1965 13.2% 18.7% -1.17%
1964 14.1% 20% -2.51%
1963 19.1% 22.6% -6.71%
1962 16.4% 19.8% -3.01%
1961 18.9% 20.5% -5.45%
1960 16.6% 21% -3.05%
1959 16.5% 18.8% -3.79%
1958 15.5% 16.5% -1.62%
1957 13.5% 14.3% -0.89%
1956 17.2% 15.3% -3.69%
1955 15% 13.3% -1.33%
1954 14.1% 13.5% -0.2%
1953 14.1% 14.1% -0.55%
1952 15.8% 14.9% -3.84%
1951 14.7% 13.1% -2.54%
1950 16.1% 12.8% -3.89%
1949 13.3% 10.6% -1%
1948 13.7% 10.1% -1.21%
1947 15% 8.68% -1.94%
1946 16.9% 8.69% -3.19%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1946–1993, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1994–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/panama | CC BY

This chart shows Panama's government spending, budget balance, and debt over time, each expressed as a share of GDP.

Over the past 50 years, Panama recorded a fiscal deficit in 42 of them, with an average annual deficit equal to 3.29% of GDP. In 2024, government spending reached $20B (23.1% of GDP), with a deficit of 7.42%.

The national debt reached $49.6B, ranking 74th out of 185 countries by total size, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 57.4%, ranking 88th.

Inflation rate by year

1x
Year Inflation
2024 0.69%
2023 1.49%
2022 2.86%
2021 1.63%
2020 -1.55%
2019 -0.36%
2018 0.76%
2017 0.88%
2016 0.74%
2015 0.14%
2014 2.63%
2013 4.03%
2012 5.7%
2011 5.88%
2010 3.49%
2009 2.41%
2008 8.76%
2007 4.17%
2006 2.46%
2005 2.86%
2004 0.47%
2003 0.39%
2002 1.01%
2001 0.31%
2000 1.5%
1999 1.25%
1998 0.56%
1997 1.32%
1996 1.26%
1995 0.99%
1994 1.27%
1993 0.45%
1992 1.82%
1991 1.26%
1990 0.77%
1989 0.21%
1988 0.36%
1987 1%
1986 -0.07%
1985 1.03%
1984 1.58%
1983 2.1%
1982 4.25%
1981 7.3%
1980 13.8%
1979 7.99%
1978 4.2%
1977 4.59%
1976 3.95%
1975 5.88%
1974 16.3%
1973 6.86%
1972 5.41%
1971 1.92%
1970 3.08%
1969 1.83%
1968 1.62%
1967 1.38%
1966 0.19%
1965 0.46%
1964 2.41%
1963 0.45%
1962 0.79%
1961 0.61%
1960 0.05%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/panama | CC BY

Over the past 20 years, Panama has had an average annual inflation rate of 2.48%. In 2024, inflation was 0.69%. The bar chart above shows consumer price inflation by year.

Balance of trade

Panama Rank
Current account balance
$1.67B
2024
51/190
Current account balance, % of GDP
+1.93%
2024
58/190
Goods imports
$25.1B
2024
73/189
Goods exports
$19.1B
2024
80/189
Service imports
$5.75B
2024
87/189
Service exports
$18.3B
2024
50/189
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
39.3%
2024
101/181
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
44.4%
2024
64/193

Panama top 10 trading partners

Panama's biggest trading partner accounting for 20.8% of all exports and imports is China, with a trade balance between the two of -$6.49B: Panama exports $258M worth of goods and services to China and imports $6.75B.

Below is the list of the top 10 trade partners of Panama.

Rank Country Trade value Share of total trade Export to Import from Top export to Top import from
1 China $7.01B 20.8% $258M $6.75B Raw materials & minerals Machinery & equipment
2 United States $6.16B 18.3% $1.16B $4.99B Chemicals & pharma Chemicals & pharma
3 Costa Rica $1.56B 4.64% $1.06B $503M Chemicals & pharma Processed food, beverages & tobacco
4 Colombia $1.28B 3.82% $841M $442M Machinery & equipment Chemicals & pharma
5 Mexico $1.22B 3.62% $203M $1.01B Machinery & equipment Chemicals & pharma
6 Venezuela $1.15B 3.43% $1.14B $12.7M Textiles & consumer goods Machinery & equipment
7 Guatemala $1.13B 3.37% $852M $282M Chemicals & pharma Chemicals & pharma
8 Dominican Republic $751M 2.23% $680M $70M Chemicals & pharma Chemicals & pharma
9 El Salvador $733M 2.18% $612M $120M Chemicals & pharma Chemicals & pharma
10 Honduras $658M 1.96% $601M $57.1M Chemicals & pharma Processed food, beverages & tobacco

Top 10 exports

Panama Rank
Transport & tourism services $15.2B 41/188
Chemicals & pharma $3.96B 48/193
Machinery & equipment $3.65B 60/193
Textiles & consumer goods $3.02B 50/193
Business & finance services $1.61B 67/188
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $954M 82/192
IT & IP services $495M 74/183
Precious metals & jewellery $370M 80/190
Metals $323M 101/192
Animal & marine products $244M 88/192

Top 10 imports

Panama Rank
Machinery & equipment $7.37B 76/193
Chemicals & pharma $6.63B 57/193
Textiles & consumer goods $4.25B 55/193
Transport & tourism services $3.82B 73/188
Raw materials & minerals $3.16B 93/193
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $2.33B 66/193
Business & finance services $1.12B 84/188
Metals $934M 100/193
Raw agricultural goods $547M 106/193
Precious metals & jewellery $510M 54/193

Economic freedom indices

Panama Rank
Economic freedom 64.9 70/197
Property rights 56.7 73/182
Government integrity 37.4 107/182
Judicial effectiveness 49.6 81/182
Tax burden 86.1 52/182
Government spending 85.5 47/180
Fiscal health 51.8 130/181
Business freedom 72.6 53/182
Labor freedom 60.9 44/182
Monetary freedom 78.2 35/180
Trade freedom 80.2 23/181
Investment freedom 60 80/181
Financial freedom 60 57/181

Economic freedom by year

1x
Year Index
Economic freedom Judicial effectiveness Tax burden Government spending Fiscal health
2026 64.9 49.6 86.1 85.5 51.8
2025 65.5 49.4 86.9 85.2 62.4
2024 64.1 51.2 85.9 82.6 21.1
2023 63.8 38.7 85.6 81.1 19.1
2022 65.4 50.7 85.5 81.9 40.7
2021 66.2 28.1 85.2 85.2 82.8
2020 67.2 30 85.3 85.7 91.2
2019 67.2 30.1 85 85.3 91.3
2018 67 29.4 85 84.1 86.1
2017 66.3 21.5 85.2 83.1 84.9
2016 64.8 - 84.4 77.9 -
2015 64.1 - 84.5 78.8 -
2014 63.4 - 84.3 78.7 -
2013 62.5 - 86.2 77.8 -
2012 65.2 - 84.6 88.2 -
2011 64.9 - 82.6 88.6 -
2010 64.8 - 82.6 90 -
2009 64.7 - 82.6 89.8 -
2008 64.7 - 83 89.1 -
2007 64.6 - 83 89.5 -
2006 65.6 - 81.3 88 -
2005 64.3 - 81.3 79.4 -
2004 65.3 - 81.2 76.5 -
2003 68.4 - 81.1 78.3 -
2002 68.5 - 80.9 76.5 -
2001 70.6 - 81 74.8 -
2000 71.6 - 77.7 78.1 -
1999 72.6 - 80.9 86.8 -
1998 72.6 - 80.7 87.3 -
1997 72.4 - 80.8 87.1 -
1996 71.8 - 77.6 85.2 -
1995 71.6 - 77.5 84 -

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/panama | CC BY

Panama is ranked 63/174 for economic freedom with a score of 64.9, compared to 42/162 and a score of 65.6 in 2006.

Other economic metrics

Panama Rank
Services, % of GDP
69.3%
2024
27/191
Industry, % of GDP
25.5%
2024
81/194
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
2.68%
2024
137/193
GNI, Atlas method
$81.3B
2024
74/194
GNI per capita, PPP
$39,260
2024
54/191
Total reserves including gold
$6.86B
2024
88/177
Net foreign direct investment
-$2.38B
2024
143/189
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$3.24B
2024
57/193
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$865M
2024
51/193
Poverty at national poverty lines
21.7%
2023
91/176
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
33.5%
2024
16/178

Compare Panama vs other countries

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/panama | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1946–1993, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1994–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. TradeMap (2022–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.