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Economy of Panama vs Saint Lucia compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Panama has a GDP of $86.5B compared to $2.55B for Saint Lucia, ranking 78/197 and 173/197 by economy size, respectively.

Panama has $49.6B in government debt (57.4% of GDP), compared to $1.97B (77.2% of GDP) in Saint Lucia.

Panama vs Saint Lucia GDP by year

Panama
Saint Lucia
1x
Year GDP, current $
Panama Saint Lucia
2024 $86,523,959,132 $2,549,062,963
2023 $83,812,155,244 $2,430,166,667
2022 $76,479,304,471 $2,342,714,815
2021 $67,396,392,506 $1,867,185,185
2020 $57,059,846,522 $1,499,274,074
2019 $69,778,991,193 $2,095,344,444
2018 $67,316,471,181 $2,060,955,556
2017 $64,327,688,826 $1,998,503,704
2016 $59,760,858,718 $1,868,544,444
2015 $55,767,806,073 $1,807,640,741
2014 $51,427,104,882 $1,749,185,185
2013 $46,949,496,479 $1,660,392,593
2012 $41,595,439,721 $1,598,207,407
2011 $35,687,738,252 $1,568,370,370
2010 $30,231,009,533 $1,482,385,185
2009 $27,791,215,547 $1,401,507,889
2008 $25,721,327,955 $1,437,731,111
2007 $21,717,433,808 $1,336,088,815
2006 $18,659,721,513 $1,268,319,185
2005 $16,623,906,739 $1,135,555,556
2004 $15,100,203,362 $1,066,666,667
2003 $13,603,456,003 $987,407,407
2002 $12,800,851,271 $900,000,000
2001 $12,252,906,341 $892,592,593
2000 $11,966,497,049 $932,592,593
1999 $11,660,704,777 $921,851,852
1998 $11,019,557,689 $877,407,407
1997 $10,058,854,386 $805,925,926
1996 $9,197,503,323 $788,888,889
1995 $9,573,813,700 $762,962,963
1994 $9,365,289,800 $713,703,704
1993 $8,782,585,400 $684,814,815
1992 $8,042,337,700 $674,074,074
1991 $7,074,675,500 $613,703,704
1990 $6,433,967,000 $579,629,630
1989 $5,918,469,800 $486,666,667
1988 $5,902,783,400 $429,629,630
1987 $6,827,665,300 $375,555,556
1986 $6,797,834,200 $340,000,000
1985 $6,541,517,100 $284,444,444
1984 $6,183,387,100 $251,481,481
1983 $5,923,755,900 $197,037,037
1982 $5,769,767,900 $183,333,333
1981 $5,222,421,500 $194,444,444
1980 $4,614,086,400 $170,370,370
1979 $3,704,551,600 -
1978 $3,244,558,600 -
1977 $2,738,261,900 -
1976 $2,588,106,000 -
1975 $2,435,304,100 -
1974 $2,188,307,600 -
1973 $1,913,793,400 -
1972 $1,673,411,700 -
1971 $1,523,917,200 -
1970 $1,351,006,400 -
1969 $1,221,305,700 -
1968 $1,112,791,100 -
1967 $1,034,376,400 -
1966 $928,833,000 -
1965 $852,485,300 -
1964 $776,137,500 -
1963 $722,784,500 -
1962 $652,120,900 -
1961 $599,026,300 -
1960 $537,147,100 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/panama/saint-lucia | CC BY

GDP per capita in Panama vs Saint Lucia by year

Panama
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Saint Lucia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Panama Saint Lucia
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $19,161 $41,369 $14,182 $27,567
2023 $18,797 $39,813 $13,555 $25,975
2022 $17,379 $36,333 $13,104 $24,599
2021 $15,510 $30,933 $10,459 $19,101
2020 $13,291 $27,017 $8,411 $14,912
2019 $16,478 $33,240 $11,794 $18,710
2018 $16,151 $32,464 $11,643 $17,433
2017 $15,695 $33,533 $11,333 $16,131
2016 $14,832 $30,277 $10,638 $15,307
2015 $14,083 $27,245 $10,335 $14,353
2014 $13,213 $24,376 $10,045 $14,403
2013 $12,273 $21,924 $9,577 $14,010
2012 $11,065 $19,473 $9,260 $13,443
2011 $9,662 $17,474 $9,129 $13,471
2010 $8,331 $15,573 $8,674 $12,718
2009 $7,797 $14,766 $8,251 $12,600
2008 $7,348 $14,705 $8,517 $12,969
2007 $6,318 $13,333 $7,964 $12,199
2006 $5,529 $11,685 $7,611 $11,758
2005 $5,018 $10,511 $6,863 $10,818
2004 $4,645 $9,592 $6,495 $10,610
2003 $4,265 $8,801 $6,059 $9,707
2002 $4,091 $8,370 $5,568 $9,205
2001 $3,992 $8,197 $5,570 $9,106
2000 $3,975 $8,097 $5,880 $9,314
1999 $3,950 $7,749 $5,883 $9,214
1998 $3,808 $7,408 $5,673 $8,965
1997 $3,546 $6,895 $5,282 $8,456
1996 $3,308 $6,421 $5,244 $8,490
1995 $3,514 $6,182 $5,148 $8,222
1994 $3,508 $6,073 $4,892 $8,041
1993 $3,358 $5,902 $4,765 $7,865
1992 $3,140 $5,582 $4,760 $7,753
1991 $2,821 $5,150 $4,399 $7,127
1990 $2,620 $4,651 $4,205 $6,951
1989 $2,462 - $3,565 -
1988 $2,509 - $3,182 -
1987 $2,966 - $2,819 -
1986 $3,019 - $2,591 -
1985 $2,972 - $2,202 -
1984 $2,875 - $1,979 -
1983 $2,819 - $1,576 -
1982 $2,811 - $1,489 -
1981 $2,605 - $1,605 -
1980 $2,357 - $1,428 -
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/saint-lucia | CC BY

Panama's GDP per capita is $19,161, ranking 60/197, compared to $14,182 in Saint Lucia, ranking 70/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Panama ranks 56th at $41,369, while Saint Lucia ranks 75th at $27,567.

Economic indicators

Panama Saint Lucia
Gross domestic product
$86.5B
2024
$2.55B
2024
GDP rank
78/197
2024
173/197
2024
GDP growth
2.75%
2023-2024
3.89%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$19,161
2024
$14,182
2024
GDP per capita rank
60/197
2024
70/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$41,369
2024
$27,567
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
56/197
2024
75/197
2024
Government debt
$49.6B
2024
$1.97B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
57.4%
2024
77.2%
2024
Government debt per person
$10,995
2024
$10,952
2024
Government debt per person rank
51/185
2024
52/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$10,196
2026
$10,412
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$18.3B
2024
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
37.6%
2024
34.1%
2015
Income share by poorest 10%
1.2%
2024
2.1%
2015
Government expenditure, % of GDP
23.1%
2024
24.5%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
0.69%
2023-2024
-0.11%
2023-2024
Unemployment rate
8.61%
2024
10.1%
2024
Population
4642198
180638

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Panama
Spending

Debt
Saint Lucia
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Panama Saint Lucia
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 23.1% 57.4% 24.5% 77.2%
2023 21.4% 51.2% 25.6% 76.6%
2022 21.3% 52.7% 23% 74.4%
2021 23.8% 54.4% 27.4% 87%
2020 27.5% 61.5% 34.9% 100%
2019 20.6% 39.8% 25.1% 62.1%
2018 21.8% 35.6% 23.2% 60.5%
2017 21.2% 33.6% 23.3% 60.4%
2016 21.3% 33.6% 23% 61.3%
2015 21.4% 34.2% 23.7% 61.1%
2014 23% 34.7% 23.6% 62.4%
2013 23.4% 33.7% 25.4% 62.1%
2012 22.8% 34% 28% 60.8%
2011 23.5% 35.6% 27% 55.2%
2010 24.2% 38.1% 26% 53%
2009 22.7% 39.1% 24.5% 51%
2008 22.7% 40% 22.2% 46.7%
2007 21.8% 47.4% 22.6% 49.1%
2006 21.9% 54.7% 24.7% 48.6%
2005 22.4% 59.3% 26% 51.9%
2004 23.3% 58.8% 22.9% 49.6%
2003 24.2% 56.5% 22.9% 45.6%
2002 23.5% 57% 23.6% 48.8%
2001 23.4% 57.8% 22.1% 38.1%
2000 22.8% 53.6% 20.7% 32.5%
1999 23% 55.1% 20.9% 28.9%
1998 23.4% 58.1% 18.8% 29.4%
1997 22.2% 60.2% 19.5% 27.2%
1996 21.5% 65% 18.9% 24.1%
1995 25.9% 76.6% 19.2% 22.9%
1994 25.2% 78.3% 19.1% 23.8%
1993 33.8% 83.6% 21.8% 22.9%
1992 27.8% 91.2% 18.4% 22.2%
1991 20.9% 103.7% 18.4% 19.8%
1990 41.5% 112.7% 16.7% 17%
1989 43% 104.4% 19% 18.1%
1988 41.8% 105% 18.2% 18.6%
1987 40.1% 92.2% 19.9% 19.6%
1986 38.6% 84% 21.1% 17.2%
1985 39.7% 82.5% 20.4% 17.1%
1984 44% 82.5% - -
1983 44.6% 86.6% - -
1982 48% 80.9% - -
1981 30.7% 68.7% - -
1980 30.5% 69.4% - -
1979 35% 78.9% - -
1978 27.6% 83.1% - -
1977 16.9% 77.7% - -
1976 15.9% 69.7% - -
1975 15.3% 52.6% - -
1974 15.3% 37.6% - -
1973 14.4% 32.6% - -
1972 15.6% 29.5% - -
1971 15% 26.2% - -
1970 22.4% 25.7% - -
1969 20.5% 23.2% - -
1968 14.2% 18% - -
1967 14.9% 17.8% - -
1966 14% 17.9% - -
1965 13.2% 18.7% - -
1964 14.1% 20% - -
1963 19.1% 22.6% - -
1962 16.4% 19.8% - -
1961 18.9% 20.5% - -
1960 16.6% 21% - -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1993, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/panama/saint-lucia | CC BY

In 2024, Panama's government spending was $20B, accounting for 23.1% of its GDP, while Saint Lucia spent $625M, or 24.5% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 57.4% in Panama and 77.2% in Saint Lucia, ranking 88/185 and 46/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Panama

Saint Lucia
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Panama Saint Lucia
2024 -7.42% -2.13%
2023 -3.9% -3.09%
2022 -3.98% -1.67%
2021 -6.48% -5.1%
2020 -10.2% -12%
2019 -2.89% -3.51%
2018 -2.88% -1.03%
2017 -1.92% -1.14%
2016 -1.89% -0.79%
2015 -2.3% -2.35%
2014 -3.21% -3.08%
2013 -2.38% -4.84%
2012 -1.31% -7.62%
2011 -1.96% -5.38%
2010 -1.68% -4.17%
2009 -0.9% -2.67%
2008 0.37% -0.72%
2007 3.12% -1.62%
2006 0.51% -5.07%
2005 -2.21% -6.18%
2004 -4.33% -2.63%
2003 -2.27% -3.23%
2002 -0.96% -3.1%
2001 -0.42% -3.08%
2000 2.05% -1.16%
1999 -0.65% 1.62%
1998 -1.11% 2.25%
1997 1.24% -1.13%
1996 2.48% -0.58%
1995 2.3% -0.13%
1994 2.12% -0.02%
1993 -9.4% -0.26%
1992 -2.62% -0.66%
1991 -0.6% -0.43%
1990 -3.65% 0.29%
1989 -13.6% 0.89%
1988 -13.5% 2.02%
1987 -1.7% 0.56%
1986 -1% -1.61%
1985 -2.57% -1.5%
1984 -7.56% -
1983 -7.62% -
1982 -13.3% -
1981 -6.77% -
1980 -5.17% -
1979 -12.1% -
1978 -5.21% -
1977 -1.61% -
1976 -2.65% -
1975 -0.74% -
1974 -0.6% -
1973 -0.01% -
1972 -1.17% -
1971 -0.51% -
1970 -8.02% -
1969 -7.56% -
1968 -1.5% -
1967 -1.97% -
1966 -1.18% -
1965 -1.17% -
1964 -2.51% -
1963 -6.71% -
1962 -3.01% -
1961 -5.45% -
1960 -3.05% -
1959 -3.79% -
1958 -1.62% -
1957 -0.89% -
1956 -3.69% -
1955 -1.33% -
1954 -0.2% -
1953 -0.55% -
1952 -3.84% -
1951 -2.54% -
1950 -3.89% -
1949 -1% -
1948 -1.21% -
1947 -1.94% -
1946 -3.19% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1946–1993, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/panama/saint-lucia | CC BY

In 2024, Panama's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $6.42B, equivalent to 7.42% of GDP. This compares to Saint Lucia's deficit of $54.2M, or 2.13% of GDP.

Over the past 40 years, Panama recorded a fiscal deficit in 32 of those years, while Saint Lucia ran a deficit in 34 years. On average, Panama posted an annual deficit equal to 2.54% of GDP, compared to deficit of 2.15% of GDP for Saint Lucia.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Panama

Saint Lucia
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Panama Saint Lucia
2024 0.69% -0.11%
2023 1.49% 4.07%
2022 2.86% 6.38%
2021 1.63% 2.41%
2020 -1.55% -1.76%
2019 -0.36% 0.54%
2018 0.76% 1.94%
2017 0.88% 0.1%
2016 0.74% -3.08%
2015 0.14% -0.98%
2014 2.63% 3.52%
2013 4.03% 1.47%
2012 5.7% 4.18%
2011 5.88% 2.77%
2010 3.49% 3.25%
2009 2.41% -0.16%
2008 8.76% 5.55%
2007 4.17% 2.82%
2006 2.46% 2.4%
2005 2.86% 3.9%
2004 0.47% 1.46%
2003 0.39% 1.03%
2002 1.01% -0.26%
2001 0.31% 5.31%
2000 1.5% 3.71%
1999 1.25% 3.5%
1998 0.56% 3.2%
1997 1.32% -0.006%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/panama/saint-lucia | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, Panama has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.02%, compared with 2.04% in Saint Lucia. In 2024, inflation was 0.69% in Panama and -0.11% in Saint Lucia.

Top exports between countries

Panama
Export category Export value
Textiles & consumer goods $6.46M
Machinery & equipment $3.05M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $2M
Chemicals & pharma $809K
Raw materials & minerals $623K
Metals $502K
Animal & marine products $210K
Wood & paper products $58K
Miscellaneous $57K
Precious metals & jewellery $24K
Saint Lucia
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $3K
Chemicals & pharma $1K

Balance of trade

Panama Saint Lucia
Current account balance
$1.67B
2024
-$64.1M
2024
Current account balance ranking
51/190
2024
86/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+1.93%
2024
-2.52%
2024
Goods imports
$25.1B
2024
$848M
2024
Goods exports
$19.1B
2024
$137M
2024
Service imports
$5.75B
2024
$598M
2024
Service exports
$18.3B
2024
$1.46B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
39.3%
2024
n/a
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
44.4%
2024
19%
2025

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

Panama Saint Lucia
Economic freedom 64.9 67.5
Economic freedom ranking 70/197 57/197
Property rights 56.7 64.3
Government integrity 37.4 59.7
Judicial effectiveness 49.6 77.3
Tax burden 86.1 77.7
Government spending 85.5 82.6
Fiscal health 51.8 80
Business freedom 72.6 71.9
Labor freedom 60.9 65.2
Monetary freedom 78.2 81
Trade freedom 80.2 60
Investment freedom 60 50
Financial freedom 60 40

Economic freedom comparison by year

Panama
Saint Lucia
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Panama Saint Lucia
2026 64.9 67.5
2025 65.5 67
2024 64.1 62.2
2023 63.8 60.7
2022 65.4 64.3
2021 66.2 67.5
2020 67.2 68.2
2019 67.2 68.7
2018 67 67.6
2017 66.3 65
2016 64.8 70
2015 64.1 70.2
2014 63.4 70.7
2013 62.5 70.4
2012 65.2 71.3
2011 64.9 70.8
2010 64.8 70.5
2009 64.7 68.8
2008 64.7 -
2007 64.6 -
2006 65.6 -
2005 64.3 -
2004 65.3 -
2003 68.4 -
2002 68.5 -
2001 70.6 -
2000 71.6 -
1999 72.6 -
1998 72.6 -
1997 72.4 -
1996 71.8 -
1995 71.6 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/panama/saint-lucia | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Panama is 64.9, ranking 70/197, compared to 67.5 for Saint Lucia, ranking 57/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Panama Saint Lucia
Services, % of GDP
69.3%
2024
75.9%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
25.5%
2024
9.75%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
2.68%
2024
1.13%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$81.3B
2024
$2.27B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$39,260
2024
$24,840
2024
Total reserves including gold
$6.86B
2024
$406M
2024
Total reserves ranking
88/177
2024
162/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$2.38B
2024
-$187M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$3.24B
2024
$187M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$865M
2024
-$350K
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI n/a
3.42%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
21.7%
2023
25%
2016
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
33.5%
2024
n/a

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/saint-lucia | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1946–1993, 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 (2020–2024, 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.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.

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.