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Economy of Panama vs Samoa compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Panama has a GDP of $90.5B compared to $1.29B for Samoa, ranking 82/197 and 186/197 by economy size, respectively.

Panama has $51.2B in government debt (56.6% of GDP), compared to $273M (21.2% of GDP) in Samoa.

Panama vs Samoa GDP by year

Panama
Samoa
1x
Year GDP, current $
Panama Samoa
2025 $90,462,600,000 $1,287,936,622
2024 $86,523,959,100 $1,175,749,786
2023 $83,812,155,200 $1,044,909,500
2022 $76,479,304,500 $889,554,712
2021 $67,396,392,500 $859,724,936
2020 $57,059,846,500 $868,884,903
2019 $69,778,991,200 $912,950,466
2018 $67,316,471,200 $878,448,433
2017 $64,327,688,800 $884,844,384
2016 $59,760,858,700 $843,924,797
2015 $55,767,806,100 $824,150,499
2014 $51,427,104,900 $796,683,520
2013 $46,949,496,500 $797,736,334
2012 $41,595,439,700 $773,141,661
2011 $35,687,738,300 $744,097,050
2010 $30,231,009,500 $680,260,907
2009 $27,791,215,500 $628,006,115
2008 $25,721,328,000 $641,346,192
2007 $21,717,433,800 $573,548,460
2006 $18,659,721,500 $499,923,758
2005 $16,623,906,700 $476,801,793
2004 $15,100,203,400 $407,747,565
2003 $13,603,456,000 $333,426,188
2002 $12,800,851,300 $281,790,134
2001 $12,252,906,300 $266,299,591
2000 $11,966,497,000 $258,856,140
1999 $11,660,704,800 $255,408,060
1998 $11,019,557,700 $269,485,244
1997 $10,058,854,400 $285,475,592
1996 $9,197,503,300 $249,907,869
1995 $9,573,813,700 $224,865,731
1994 $9,365,289,800 $221,098,107
1993 $8,782,585,400 $133,122,897
1992 $8,042,337,700 $132,303,041
1991 $7,074,675,500 $125,597,205
1990 $6,433,967,000 $125,766,270
1989 $5,918,469,800 $122,888,610
1988 $5,902,783,400 $133,016,065
1987 $6,827,665,300 $111,713,922
1986 $6,797,834,200 $100,947,849
1985 $6,541,517,100 $95,572,173
1984 $6,183,387,100 $109,200,934
1983 $5,923,755,900 $111,862,824
1982 $5,769,767,900 $121,221,652
1981 $5,222,421,500 $118,190,655
1980 $4,614,086,400 $125,747,038
1979 $3,704,551,600 $122,257,393
1978 $3,244,558,600 $108,223,444
1977 $2,738,261,900 $98,295,671
1976 $2,588,106,000 $85,003,078
1975 $2,435,304,100 $93,489,283
1974 $2,188,307,600 $93,549,611
1973 $1,913,793,400 $82,452,985
1972 $1,673,411,700 $62,566,116
1971 $1,523,917,200 $53,719,569
1970 $1,351,006,400 $45,208,338
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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/panama/samoa | CC BY

GDP per capita in Panama vs Samoa by year

Panama
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Samoa
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Panama Samoa
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $19,790 - $5,873 -
2024 $19,161 $41,369 $5,393 $8,737
2023 $18,797 $39,813 $4,823 $8,195
2022 $17,379 $36,333 $4,132 $6,909
2021 $15,510 $30,933 $4,022 $6,350
2020 $13,291 $27,017 $4,100 $6,451
2019 $16,478 $33,240 $4,352 $6,638
2018 $16,151 $32,464 $4,232 $6,318
2017 $15,695 $33,533 $4,308 $6,280
2016 $14,832 $30,277 $4,147 $6,141
2015 $14,083 $27,245 $4,084 $5,682
2014 $13,213 $24,376 $3,983 $5,468
2013 $12,273 $21,924 $4,024 $5,387
2012 $11,065 $19,473 $3,935 $5,339
2011 $9,662 $17,474 $3,822 $5,494
2010 $8,331 $15,573 $3,524 $5,229
2009 $7,797 $14,766 $3,279 $4,906
2008 $7,348 $14,705 $3,374 $4,939
2007 $6,318 $13,333 $3,039 $4,713
2006 $5,529 $11,685 $2,663 $4,592
2005 $5,018 $10,511 $2,550 $4,379
2004 $4,645 $9,592 $2,189 $3,997
2003 $4,265 $8,801 $1,798 $3,792
2002 $4,091 $8,370 $1,528 $3,553
2001 $3,992 $8,197 $1,454 $3,335
2000 $3,975 $8,097 $1,425 $3,062
1999 $3,950 $7,749 $1,417 $2,871
1998 $3,808 $7,408 $1,506 $2,792
1997 $3,546 $6,895 $1,608 $2,722
1996 $3,308 $6,421 $1,419 $2,681
1995 $3,514 $6,182 $1,288 $2,478
1994 $3,508 $6,073 $1,277 $2,294
1993 $3,358 $5,902 $775 $2,323
1992 $3,140 $5,582 $777 $2,198
1991 $2,821 $5,150 $742 $2,166
1990 $2,620 $4,651 $744 $2,148
1989 $2,462 - $728 -
1988 $2,509 - $790 -
1987 $2,966 - $666 -
1986 $3,019 - $604 -
1985 $2,972 - $573 -
1984 $2,875 - $655 -
1983 $2,819 - $671 -
1982 $2,811 - $728 -
1981 $2,605 - $713 -
1980 $2,357 - $765 -
1979 $1,938 - $751 -
1978 $1,738 - $671 -
1977 $1,503 - $615 -
1976 $1,457 - $541 -
1975 $1,406 - $610 -
1974 $1,296 - $626 -
1973 $1,164 - $563 -
1972 $1,046 - $433 -
1971 $979 - $377 -
1970 $893 - $322 -
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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/panama/samoa | CC BY

Panama's GDP per capita is $19,790, ranking 62/197, compared to $5,873 in Samoa, ranking 115/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Panama ranks 56th at $41,369, while Samoa ranks 137th at $8,737.

Economic indicators

Panama Samoa
Gross domestic product
$90.5B
2025
$1.29B
2025
GDP rank
82/197
2025
186/197
2025
GDP growth
4.35%
2024-2025
4.2%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$19,790
2025
$5,873
2025
GDP per capita rank
62/197
2025
115/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$41,369
2024
$8,737
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
56/197
2024
137/197
2024
Government debt
$51.2B
2025
$273M
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
56.6%
2025
21.2%
2025
Government debt per person
$11,198
2025
$1,246
2025
Government debt per person rank
56/185
2025
136/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$11,056
2026
$3,918
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$27.2B
2025
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
37.6%
2024
31.3%
2013
Income share by poorest 10%
1.2%
2024
2.7%
2013
Government expenditure, % of GDP
20.9%
2025
26.4%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
-0.19%
2024-2025
2.21%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate n/a
2.95%
2026
Unemployment rate
8.31%
2025
5.05%
2022
Population
4654479
221158

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Panama
Spending

Debt
Samoa
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Panama Samoa
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 20.9% 56.6% 26.4% 21.2%
2024 23.1% 57.8% 26.3% 25.2%
2023 21.4% 54.4% 28.8% 31.8%
2022 21.3% 56.2% 31.1% 41%
2021 23.7% 58% 34.1% 45.4%
2020 27% 62.4% 30.5% 43.2%
2019 20.5% 42.5% 31.8% 44.3%
2018 21.7% 36.3% 30% 49.4%
2017 21.1% 34.3% 30.9% 46.7%
2016 21.3% 34% 27.3% 49%
2015 21.4% 34.1% 30.5% 56.4%
2014 22.9% 32.9% 35.3% 54.9%
2013 23.6% 30.8% 30.7% 54.1%
2012 23% 31.3% 33.6% 50.9%
2011 23.7% 35.9% 33.7% 41.5%
2010 24.4% 38.5% 29.4% 40.3%
2009 22.9% 39.5% 31.5% 33.3%
2008 23% 40.6% 27.7% 28.2%
2007 22.2% 48.2% 31.1% 31.5%
2006 22.4% 56.1% 27.7% 33.5%
2005 23.2% 61.5% 30.6% 34.2%
2004 24.4% 61.5% 27.3% 39.8%
2003 25.7% 59.9% 28.5% 42.8%
2002 25.1% 60.9% 30.7% 50.3%
2001 25.2% 62.1% 30% 53.8%
2000 24.7% 58% 30.4% 55.8%
1999 25.2% 60.4% 33.8% 59.4%
1998 25.9% 64.3% 28.1% 58.9%
1997 24.8% 67.3% 31% -
1996 24.3% 73.6% 38.9% -
1995 29.3% 86.7% 42.2% -
1994 28.5% 88.7% 54.1% -
1993 33.8% 83.6% 49.5% -
1992 27.8% 91.2% 43.4% -
1991 20.9% 103.7% - -
1990 41.5% 112.7% - -
1989 43% 104.4% - -
1988 41.8% 105% - -
1987 40.1% 92.2% - -
1986 38.6% 84% - -
1985 39.7% 82.5% - -
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 (1992–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1993, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/panama/samoa | CC BY

In 2025, Panama's government spending was $18.9B, accounting for 20.9% of its GDP, while Samoa spent $340M, or 26.4% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 56.6% in Panama and 21.2% in Samoa, ranking 84/185 and 172/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Panama

Samoa
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Panama Samoa
2025 -3.67% 4.68%
2024 -6.23% 9.29%
2023 -3.9% 2.7%
2022 -3.98% 5.03%
2021 -6.45% 1.71%
2020 -9.68% 5.41%
2019 -2.74% 1.51%
2018 -2.76% 0.06%
2017 -1.8% -1.98%
2016 -1.76% -0.35%
2015 -2.17% -3.79%
2014 -3.04% -5.38%
2013 -2.4% -3.82%
2012 -1.32% -7.43%
2011 -1.97% -5.25%
2010 -1.69% -5.49%
2009 -0.91% -2.98%
2008 0.38% -0.36%
2007 3.17% 0.55%
2006 0.53% -0.44%
2005 -2.29% 0.23%
2004 -4.54% -0.74%
2003 -2.41% -0.51%
2002 -1.03% -1.77%
2001 -0.45% -1.96%
2000 2.22% -0.62%
1999 -0.71% 0.27%
1998 -1.23% 1.64%
1997 1.39% 1.92%
1996 2.81% 1.21%
1995 2.61% -5.82%
1994 2.4% -9.51%
1993 -9.4% -13.2%
1992 -2.62% -9.89%
1991 -0.6% -
1990 -3.65% -
1989 -13.6% -
1988 -13.5% -
1987 -1.7% -
1986 -1% -
1985 -2.57% -
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 (1992–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1946–1993, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/panama/samoa | CC BY

In 2025, Panama's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $3.32B, equivalent to 3.67% of GDP. This compares to Samoa's surplus of $60.3M, or 4.68% of GDP.

Over the past 34 years, Panama recorded a fiscal deficit in 26 of those years, while Samoa ran a deficit in 20 years. On average, Panama posted an annual deficit equal to 1.93% of GDP, compared to deficit of 1.32% of GDP for Samoa.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Panama

Samoa
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Panama Samoa
2025 -0.19% 2.21%
2024 0.69% 2.17%
2023 1.49% 7.92%
2022 2.86% 11%
2021 1.63% 3.13%
2020 -1.55% -1.57%
2019 -0.36% 0.98%
2018 0.76% 4.2%
2017 0.88% 1.75%
2016 0.74% 1.3%
2015 0.14% 0.72%
2014 2.63% -0.41%
2013 4.03% 0.61%
2012 5.7% 2.05%
2011 5.88% 5.24%
2010 3.49% 0.78%
2009 2.41% 6.32%
2008 8.76% 11.6%
2007 4.17% 5.58%
2006 2.46% 3.7%
2005 2.86% 1.86%
2004 0.47% 16.3%
2003 0.39% 0.12%
2002 1.01% 8.05%
2001 0.31% 3.84%
2000 1.5% 0.97%
1999 1.25% 0.27%
1998 0.56% 2.22%
1997 1.32% 6.86%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/panama/samoa | CC BY

Over the past 29 years, Panama has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 1.94%, compared with 3.78% in Samoa. In 2025, inflation was -0.19% in Panama and 2.21% in Samoa.

Top exports between countries

Panama
Export category Export value
Animal & marine products $230K
Samoa
Export category Export value

Balance of trade

Panama Samoa
Current account balance
-$169M
2025
$89.3M
2025
Current account balance ranking
91/190
2025
64/190
2025
Current account balance, % of GDP
-0.19%
2025
+6.93%
2025
Goods imports
$28.2B
2025
$440M
2025
Goods exports
$18.6B
2025
$24.2M
2025
Service imports
$5.91B
2025
$108M
2025
Service exports
$20.2B
2025
$328M
2025
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
39.3%
2024
43%
2025
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
44.4%
2024
27.6%
2025

Economic freedom indices

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

Panama Samoa
Economic freedom 64.9 68
Economic freedom ranking 70/197 52/197
Property rights 56.7 77.1
Government integrity 37.4 64.1
Judicial effectiveness 49.6 77.6
Tax burden 86.1 79.3
Government spending 85.5 75.2
Fiscal health 51.8 98.7
Business freedom 72.6 63.7
Labor freedom 60.9 73.7
Monetary freedom 78.2 69.4
Trade freedom 80.2 67.2
Investment freedom 60 40
Financial freedom 60 30

Economic freedom comparison by year

Panama
Samoa
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Panama Samoa
2026 64.9 68
2025 65.5 66.6
2024 64.1 67.2
2023 63.8 68.3
2022 65.4 68.3
2021 66.2 61.9
2020 67.2 62.1
2019 67.2 62.2
2018 67 61.5
2017 66.3 58.4
2016 64.8 63.5
2015 64.1 61.9
2014 63.4 61.1
2013 62.5 57.1
2012 65.2 60.5
2011 64.9 60.6
2010 64.8 60.4
2009 64.7 59.5
2008 64.7 -
2007 64.6 -
2006 65.6 -
2005 64.3 -
2004 65.3 -
2003 68.4 -
2002 68.5 -
2001 70.6 63.1
2000 71.6 60.8
1999 72.6 58.7
1998 72.6 49.9
1997 72.4 51.5
1996 71.8 47.6
1995 71.6 -

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/panama/samoa | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Panama is 64.9, ranking 70/197, compared to 68 for Samoa, ranking 52/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Panama Samoa
Services, % of GDP
70%
2025
72.1%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
24.9%
2025
10.2%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
2.62%
2025
9.09%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$87.5B
2025
$1.24B
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$41,770
2025
$9,300
2025
Total reserves including gold
$6.24B
2025
$598M
2025
Total reserves ranking
93/177
2025
153/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
-$1.81B
2025
-$1.83M
2025
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$2.09B
2024
$3.74M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$84.3M
2024
$2.05M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI n/a
3.15%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
21.7%
2023
21.9%
2018
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
33.5%
2024
30%
2025

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/panama/samoa | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1992–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1946–1993, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. TradeMap (2021, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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.