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Economy of Panama vs Taiwan compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Panama has a GDP of $86.5B compared to $802B for Taiwan, ranking 78/197 and 22/197 by economy size, respectively.

Panama has $49.6B in government debt (57.4% of GDP), compared to $211B (26.3% of GDP) in Taiwan.

Panama vs Taiwan GDP by year

Panama
Taiwan
1x
Year GDP, current $
Panama Taiwan
2024 $86,523,959,132 $801,529,000,000
2023 $83,812,155,244 $757,328,000,000
2022 $76,479,304,471 $765,529,000,000
2021 $67,396,392,506 $777,062,000,000
2020 $57,059,846,522 $676,935,000,000
2019 $69,778,991,193 $613,453,000,000
2018 $67,316,471,181 $610,744,000,000
2017 $64,327,688,826 $591,734,000,000
2016 $59,760,858,718 $543,002,000,000
2015 $55,767,806,073 $534,474,000,000
2014 $51,427,104,882 $535,332,000,000
2013 $46,949,496,479 $512,957,000,000
2012 $41,595,439,721 $495,536,000,000
2011 $35,687,738,252 $483,957,000,000
2010 $30,231,009,533 $444,245,000,000
2009 $27,791,215,547 $390,788,000,000
2008 $25,721,327,955 $415,824,000,000
2007 $21,717,433,808 $406,940,000,000
2006 $18,659,721,513 $386,492,000,000
2005 $16,623,906,739 $374,042,000,000
2004 $15,100,203,362 $346,881,000,000
2003 $13,603,456,003 $317,374,000,000
2002 $12,800,851,271 $307,429,000,000
2001 $12,252,906,341 $299,303,000,000
2000 $11,966,497,049 $330,725,000,000
1999 $11,660,704,777 $303,827,000,000
1998 $11,019,557,689 $279,926,000,000
1997 $10,058,854,386 $303,315,000,000
1996 $9,197,503,323 $292,473,000,000
1995 $9,573,813,700 $279,013,000,000
1994 $9,365,289,800 $256,213,000,000
1993 $8,782,585,400 $234,943,000,000
1992 $8,042,337,700 $222,947,000,000
1991 $7,074,675,500 $187,100,000,000
1990 $6,433,967,000 $166,392,000,000
1989 $5,918,469,800 $152,687,000,000
1988 $5,902,783,400 $126,378,000,000
1987 $6,827,665,300 $104,956,000,000
1986 $6,797,834,200 $78,347,000,000
1985 $6,541,517,100 $63,599,000,000
1984 $6,183,387,100 $61,036,000,000
1983 $5,923,755,900 $54,155,000,000
1982 $5,769,767,900 $49,540,000,000
1981 $5,222,421,500 $49,047,000,000
1980 $4,614,086,400 $42,292,000,000
1979 $3,704,551,600 $33,875,000,000
1978 $3,244,558,600 $27,373,000,000
1977 $2,738,261,900 $22,252,000,000
1976 $2,588,106,000 $18,988,000,000
1975 $2,435,304,100 $15,836,000,000
1974 $2,188,307,600 $14,739,000,000
1973 $1,913,793,400 $10,940,000,000
1972 $1,673,411,700 $8,063,000,000
1971 $1,523,917,200 $6,727,000,000
1970 $1,351,006,400 $5,785,000,000
1969 $1,221,305,700 $5,017,000,000
1968 $1,112,791,100 $4,325,000,000
1967 $1,034,376,400 $3,709,000,000
1966 $928,833,000 $3,207,000,000
1965 $852,485,300 $2,869,000,000
1964 $776,137,500 $2,592,000,000
1963 $722,784,500 $2,218,000,000
1962 $652,120,900 $1,960,000,000
1961 $599,026,300 $1,778,000,000
1960 $537,147,100 $1,743,000,000
1959 - $1,444,000,000
1958 - $1,836,000,000
1957 - $1,636,000,000
1956 - $1,399,000,000
1955 - $1,940,000,000
1954 - $1,628,000,000
1953 - $1,481,000,000
1952 - $1,677,000,000
1951 - $1,197,000,000

Data sources: National Statistics, Taiwan (1951–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

GDP per capita in Panama vs Taiwan by year

Panama
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Taiwan
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Panama Taiwan
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $19,161 $41,369 $34,238 -
2023 $18,797 $39,813 $32,444 -
2022 $17,379 $36,333 $32,827 -
2021 $15,510 $30,933 $33,111 -
2020 $13,291 $27,017 $28,705 -
2019 $16,478 $33,240 $25,998 -
2018 $16,151 $32,464 $25,901 -
2017 $15,695 $33,533 $25,121 $50,500
2016 $14,832 $30,277 $23,091 -
2015 $14,083 $27,245 $22,780 $46,800
2014 $13,213 $24,376 $22,874 -
2013 $12,273 $21,924 $21,973 $39,600
2012 $11,065 $19,473 $21,295 $39,400
2011 $9,662 $17,474 $20,866 $38,200
2010 $8,331 $15,573 $19,197 $35,700
2009 $7,797 $14,766 $16,933 $32,000
2008 $7,348 $14,705 $18,081 $31,100
2007 $6,318 $13,333 $17,757 $30,100
2006 $5,529 $11,685 $16,934 $29,500
2005 $5,018 $10,511 $16,456 $27,500
2004 $4,645 $9,592 $15,317 $25,300
2003 $4,265 $8,801 $14,066 $23,400
2002 $4,091 $8,370 $13,686 $18,000
2001 $3,992 $8,197 $13,397 $17,200
2000 $3,975 $8,097 $14,908 $17,400
1999 $3,950 $7,749 $13,804 $16,100
1998 $3,808 $7,408 $12,820 -
1997 $3,546 $6,895 $14,020 -
1996 $3,308 $6,421 $13,641 -
1995 $3,514 $6,182 $13,119 -
1994 $3,508 $6,073 $12,150 -
1993 $3,358 $5,902 $11,242 -
1992 $3,140 $5,582 $10,768 -
1991 $2,821 $5,150 $9,125 -
1990 $2,620 $4,651 $8,205 -
1989 $2,462 - $7,613 -
1988 $2,509 - $6,370 -
1987 $2,966 - $5,350 -
1986 $3,019 - $4,036 -
1985 $2,972 - $3,314 -
1984 $2,875 - $3,224 -
1983 $2,819 - $2,903 -
1982 $2,811 - $2,699 -
1981 $2,605 - $2,720 -
1980 $2,357 - $2,389 -
1979 $1,938 - $1,950 -
1978 $1,738 - $1,606 -
1977 $1,503 - $1,330 -
1976 $1,457 - $1,158 -
1975 $1,406 - $985 -
1974 $1,296 - $934 -
1973 $1,164 - $706 -
1972 $1,046 - $530 -
1971 $979 - $451 -
1970 $893 - $397 -
1969 $830 - $357 -
1968 $778 - $319 -
1967 $745 - $280.8 -
1966 $689 - $249.1 -
1965 $651 - $229.3 -
1964 $611 - $213.6 -
1963 $587 - $188.6 -
1962 $546 - $172 -
1961 $516 - $161.2 -
1960 $477 - $163.4 -
1959 - - $140.4 -
1958 - - $185.1 -
1957 - - $170.5 -
1956 - - $150.6 -
1955 - - $216.3 -
1954 - - $188.3 -
1953 - - $177.7 -
1952 - - $208.4 -
1951 - - $154.3 -

Data sources: National Statistics, Taiwan (1951–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2017, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

Panama's GDP per capita is $19,161, ranking 60/197, compared to $34,238 in Taiwan, ranking 35/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Panama ranks 56th at $41,369, while Taiwan ranks 44th at $50,500.

Economic indicators

Panama Taiwan
Gross domestic product
$86.5B
2024
$802B
2024
GDP rank
78/197
2024
22/197
2024
GDP growth
2.75%
2023-2024
2.3%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$19,161
2024
$34,238
2024
GDP per capita rank
60/197
2024
35/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$41,369
2024
$50,500
2017
GDP per capita PPP rank
56/197
2024
44/197
2017
Government debt
$49.6B
2024
$211B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
57.4%
2024
26.3%
2024
Government debt per person
$10,995
2024
$9,020
2024
Government debt per person rank
51/185
2024
59/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$10,196
2026
$18,163
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$18.3B
2024
n/a
Number of millionaires n/a
759,000
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
54
2025
Income share by richest 10%
37.6%
2024
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
1.2%
2024
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
23.1%
2024
15.8%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
0.69%
2023-2024
2.2%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
2%
2024
Unemployment rate
8.61%
2024
3.35%
2025
Population
4642198
23229461

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Panama
Spending

Debt
Taiwan
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Panama Taiwan
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 23.1% 57.4% 15.8% 26.3%
2023 21.4% 51.2% 17.1% 29%
2022 21.3% 52.7% 16% 29.5%
2021 23.8% 54.4% 15.4% 30.1%
2020 27.5% 61.5% 16.2% 32%
2019 20.6% 39.8% 15.3% 32.6%
2018 21.8% 35.6% 15.4% 33.8%
2017 21.2% 33.6% 15.4% 34.5%
2016 21.3% 33.6% 15.6% 35.4%
2015 21.4% 34.2% 15.5% 35.9%
2014 23% 34.7% - 37.5%
2013 23.4% 33.7% - 38.9%
2012 22.8% 34% - 39.2%
2011 23.5% 35.6% 18.3% 38.3%
2010 24.2% 38.1% - 36.9%
2009 22.7% 39.1% - 36.7%
2008 22.7% 40% - 33.4%
2007 21.8% 47.4% - 32.2%
2006 21.9% 54.7% - 33.3%
2005 22.4% 59.3% - 34.1%
2004 23.3% 58.8% - 33.4%
2003 24.2% 56.5% - 32.1%
2002 23.5% 57% - 29.8%
2001 23.4% 57.8% 22.5% 30.1%
2000 22.8% 53.6% - 26.2%
1999 23% 55.1% - 23.7%
1998 23.4% 58.1% - 23.7%
1997 22.2% 60.2% - 25%
1996 21.5% 65% - -
1995 25.9% 76.6% - -
1994 25.2% 78.3% - -
1993 33.8% 83.6% - -
1992 27.8% 91.2% - -
1991 20.9% 103.7% 25.4% -
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% 23.6% -
1980 30.5% 69.4% - -
1979 35% 78.9% - -
1978 27.6% 83.1% - -
1977 16.9% 77.7% - -
1976 15.9% 69.7% 21.4% -
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 (1994–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1993, retrieved 2026-02-20); National Statistics, Taiwan (1976–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09).

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

In 2024, Panama's government spending was $20B, accounting for 23.1% of its GDP, while Taiwan spent $127B, or 15.8% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 57.4% in Panama and 26.3% in Taiwan, ranking 88/185 and 160/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Panama

Taiwan
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Panama Taiwan
2024 -7.42% 0.43%
2023 -3.9% -0.61%
2022 -3.98% 0.17%
2021 -6.48% -0.18%
2020 -10.2% -1.03%
2019 -2.89% 0.11%
2018 -2.88% 0.02%
2017 -1.92% -0.14%
2016 -1.89% -0.31%
2015 -2.3% 0.1%
2014 -3.21% -
2013 -2.38% -
2012 -1.31% -
2011 -1.96% -2.15%
2010 -1.68% -
2009 -0.9% -
2008 0.37% -
2007 3.12% -
2006 0.51% -
2005 -2.21% -
2004 -4.33% -
2003 -2.27% -
2002 -0.96% -
2001 -0.42% -3.71%
2000 2.05% -
1999 -0.65% -
1998 -1.11% -
1997 1.24% -
1996 2.48% -
1995 2.3% -
1994 2.12% -
1993 -9.4% -
1992 -2.62% -
1991 -0.6% -4.5%
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% -0.78%
1980 -5.17% -
1979 -12.1% -
1978 -5.21% -
1977 -1.61% -
1976 -2.65% 1.39%
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) | Public Finances in Modern History (1946–1993, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1994–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); National Statistics, Taiwan (1976–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/panama/taiwan | 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 Taiwan's surplus of $3.45B, or 0.43% of GDP.

Over the past 49 years, Panama recorded a fiscal deficit in 41 of those years, while Taiwan ran a deficit in 9 years. On average, Panama posted an annual deficit equal to 3.34% of GDP, compared to deficit of 0.75% of GDP for Taiwan.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Panama

Taiwan
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Panama Taiwan
2024 0.69% 2.2%
2023 1.49% 2.5%
2022 2.86% 2.9%
2021 1.63% 2%
2020 -1.55% -0.2%
2019 -0.36% 0.6%
2018 0.76% 1.4%
2017 0.88% 0.6%
2016 0.74% 1.4%
2015 0.14% -0.3%
2014 2.63% 1.2%
2013 4.03% 0.8%
2012 5.7% 1.9%
2011 5.88% 1.4%
2010 3.49% 1%
2009 2.41% -0.9%
2008 8.76% 3.5%
2007 4.17% 1.8%
2006 2.46% 0.6%
2005 2.86% 2.3%
2004 0.47% 1.6%
2003 0.39% -0.3%
2002 1.01% -0.2%
2001 0.31% 0%
2000 1.5% 1.2%
1999 1.25% 0.2%
1998 0.56% 1.7%
1997 1.32% 0.9%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Over the past 28 years, Panama has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.02%, compared with 1.14% in Taiwan. In 2024, inflation was 0.69% in Panama and 2.2% in Taiwan.

Balance of trade

Panama Taiwan
Current account balance
$1.67B
2024
$113B
2024
Current account balance ranking
51/190
2024
4/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+1.93%
2024
+14.1%
2024
Goods imports
$25.1B
2024
n/a
Goods exports
$19.1B
2024
n/a
Service imports
$5.75B
2024
n/a
Service exports
$18.3B
2024
n/a
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
39.3%
2024
50.2%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
44.4%
2024
63.3%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Panama Taiwan
Economic freedom 64.9 79.8
Economic freedom ranking 70/197 6/197
Property rights 56.7 83.4
Government integrity 37.4 74.3
Judicial effectiveness 49.6 94.3
Tax burden 86.1 78.9
Government spending 85.5 90
Fiscal health 51.8 92.9
Business freedom 72.6 78.6
Labor freedom 60.9 69
Monetary freedom 78.2 80.3
Trade freedom 80.2 86
Investment freedom 60 70
Financial freedom 60 60

Economic freedom comparison by year

Panama
Taiwan
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Panama Taiwan
2026 64.9 79.8
2025 65.5 79.7
2024 64.1 80
2023 63.8 80.7
2022 65.4 80.1
2021 66.2 78.6
2020 67.2 77.1
2019 67.2 77.3
2018 67 76.6
2017 66.3 76.5
2016 64.8 74.7
2015 64.1 75.1
2014 63.4 73.9
2013 62.5 72.7
2012 65.2 71.9
2011 64.9 70.8
2010 64.8 70.4
2009 64.7 69.5
2008 64.7 70.3
2007 64.6 69.4
2006 65.6 69.7
2005 64.3 71.3
2004 65.3 69.6
2003 68.4 71.7
2002 68.5 71.3
2001 70.6 72.8
2000 71.6 72.5
1999 72.6 71.5
1998 72.6 70.4
1997 72.4 70
1996 71.8 74.1
1995 71.6 74.2

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Panama is 64.9, ranking 70/197, compared to 79.8 for Taiwan, ranking 6/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Panama Taiwan
Services, % of GDP
69.3%
2024
58.8%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
25.5%
2024
39.8%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
2.68%
2024
1.47%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$81.3B
2024
$832B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$39,260
2024
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$6.86B
2024
n/a
Total reserves ranking
88/177
2024
n/a
Net foreign direct investment
-$2.38B
2024
n/a
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$3.24B
2024
n/a
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$865M
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
21.7%
2023
1.5%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
33.5%
2024
26.7%
2024

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); National Statistics, Taiwan (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. National Statistics, Taiwan (1951–2025, retrieved 2026-02-09)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1946–1993, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  4. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1994–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  6. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  7. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2020, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  8. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  9. 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.