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Economy of Panama vs Tonga compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Panama has a GDP of $86.5B compared to $591M for Tonga, ranking 78/197 and 191/197 by economy size, respectively.

Panama has $49.6B in government debt (57.4% of GDP), compared to $256M (37% of GDP) in Tonga.

Panama vs Tonga GDP by year

Panama
Tonga
1x
Year GDP, current $
Panama Tonga
2024 $86,523,959,132 -
2023 $83,812,155,244 $591,139,749
2022 $76,479,304,471 $556,514,555
2021 $67,396,392,506 $519,306,353
2020 $57,059,846,522 $506,571,468
2019 $69,778,991,193 $506,031,239
2018 $67,316,471,181 $493,530,783
2017 $64,327,688,826 $459,976,850
2016 $59,760,858,718 $420,828,262
2015 $55,767,806,073 $437,525,514
2014 $51,427,104,882 $440,997,738
2013 $46,949,496,479 $451,788,498
2012 $41,595,439,721 $471,122,971
2011 $35,687,738,252 $414,143,828
2010 $30,231,009,533 $366,887,375
2009 $27,791,215,547 $312,415,028
2008 $25,721,327,955 $344,438,844
2007 $21,717,433,808 $298,519,623
2006 $18,659,721,513 $292,232,703
2005 $16,623,906,739 $261,823,805
2004 $15,100,203,362 $230,678,011
2003 $13,603,456,003 $202,246,591
2002 $12,800,851,271 $182,764,281
2001 $12,252,906,341 $181,117,230
2000 $11,966,497,049 $204,848,488
1999 $11,660,704,777 $199,208,718
1998 $11,019,557,689 $191,504,893
1997 $10,058,854,386 $214,991,452
1996 $9,197,503,323 $222,100,576
1995 $9,573,813,700 $208,871,666
1994 $9,365,289,800 $195,990,986
1993 $8,782,585,400 $138,489,884
1992 $8,042,337,700 $137,066,291
1991 $7,074,675,500 $132,201,141
1990 $6,433,967,000 $113,563,822
1989 $5,918,469,800 $106,344,855
1988 $5,902,783,400 $106,657,267
1987 $6,827,665,300 $81,667,133
1986 $6,797,834,200 $68,195,856
1985 $6,541,517,100 $60,058,663
1984 $6,183,387,100 $64,248,355
1983 $5,923,755,900 $60,863,964
1982 $5,769,767,900 $62,068,161
1981 $5,222,421,500 $62,242,013
1980 $4,614,086,400 $53,260,077
1979 $3,704,551,600 $44,667,002
1978 $3,244,558,600 $41,567,472
1977 $2,738,261,900 $34,139,388
1976 $2,588,106,000 $30,036,417
1975 $2,435,304,100 $32,506,742
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/tonga | CC BY

GDP per capita in Panama vs Tonga by year

Panama
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Tonga
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Panama Tonga
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $19,161 $41,369 - -
2023 $18,797 $39,813 $5,652 $7,803
2022 $17,379 $36,333 $5,298 $7,296
2021 $15,510 $30,933 $4,923 $6,929
2020 $13,291 $27,017 $4,792 $6,676
2019 $16,478 $33,240 $4,789 $6,473
2018 $16,151 $32,464 $4,675 $6,393
2017 $15,695 $33,533 $4,366 $6,229
2016 $14,832 $30,277 $3,988 $5,920
2015 $14,083 $27,245 $4,124 $5,472
2014 $13,213 $24,376 $4,137 $5,336
2013 $12,273 $21,924 $4,219 $5,120
2012 $11,065 $19,473 $4,384 $4,996
2011 $9,662 $17,474 $3,850 $4,855
2010 $8,331 $15,573 $3,416 $4,465
2009 $7,797 $14,766 $2,914 $4,384
2008 $7,348 $14,705 $3,218 $4,600
2007 $6,318 $13,333 $2,797 $4,316
2006 $5,529 $11,685 $2,750 $4,327
2005 $5,018 $10,511 $2,478 $4,315
2004 $4,645 $9,592 $2,195 $4,235
2003 $4,265 $8,801 $1,936 $4,231
2002 $4,091 $8,370 $1,759 $4,171
2001 $3,992 $8,197 $1,754 $3,955
2000 $3,975 $8,097 $1,995 $3,834
1999 $3,950 $7,749 $1,952 $3,636
1998 $3,808 $7,408 $1,889 $3,527
1997 $3,546 $6,895 $2,136 $3,434
1996 $3,308 $6,421 $2,215 $3,410
1995 $3,514 $6,182 $2,084 $3,347
1994 $3,508 $6,073 $1,957 $3,088
1993 $3,358 $5,902 $1,383 $2,882
1992 $3,140 $5,582 $1,370 $2,716
1991 $2,821 $5,150 $1,323 $2,652
1990 $2,620 $4,651 $1,139 $2,416
1989 $2,462 - $1,070 -
1988 $2,509 - $1,078 -
1987 $2,966 - $830 -
1986 $3,019 - $696 -
1985 $2,972 - $613 -
1984 $2,875 - $656 -
1983 $2,819 - $621 -
1982 $2,811 - $633 -
1981 $2,605 - $636 -
1980 $2,357 - $545 -
1979 $1,938 - $458 -
1978 $1,738 - $428 -
1977 $1,503 - $353 -
1976 $1,457 - $315 -
1975 $1,406 - $349 -
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/tonga | CC BY

Panama's GDP per capita is $19,161, ranking 60/197, compared to $5,652 in Tonga, ranking 115/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Panama ranks 56th at $41,369, while Tonga ranks 144th at $7,803.

Economic indicators

Panama Tonga
Gross domestic product
$86.5B
2024
$591M
2023
GDP rank
78/197
2024
191/197
2023
GDP growth
2.75%
2023-2024
2.79%
2022-2023
GDP per capita
$19,161
2024
$5,652
2023
GDP per capita rank
60/197
2024
115/197
2023
GDP per capita, PPP
$41,369
2024
$7,803
2023
GDP per capita PPP rank
56/197
2024
144/197
2023
Government debt
$49.6B
2024
$256M
2023
Debt-to-GDP ratio
57.4%
2024
37%
2024
Government debt per person
$10,995
2024
$2,445
2023
Government debt per person rank
51/185
2024
111/185
2023
Average annual personal income after taxes
$10,196
2026
$3,886
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$18.3B
2024
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
37.6%
2024
22%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
1.2%
2024
4%
2021
Government expenditure, % of GDP
23.1%
2024
51.3%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
0.69%
2023-2024
3.18%
2023-2024
Unemployment rate
8.61%
2024
1.65%
2023
Population
4642198
103309

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Panama
Spending

Debt
Tonga
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Panama Tonga
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 23.1% 57.4% 51.3% 37%
2023 21.4% 51.2% 48.2% 43.3%
2022 21.3% 52.7% 44.4% 43.2%
2021 23.8% 54.4% 44.6% 43%
2020 27.5% 61.5% 37.9% 42.6%
2019 20.6% 39.8% 39.9% 42.8%
2018 21.8% 35.6% 39.6% 45.8%
2017 21.2% 33.6% 39.7% 44.7%
2016 21.3% 33.6% 37.2% 49.4%
2015 21.4% 34.2% 37.4% 51.1%
2014 23% 34.7% 31.5% 47.4%
2013 23.4% 33.7% 34.3% 48.9%
2012 22.8% 34% 32% 60%
2011 23.5% 35.6% 32.6% 51.9%
2010 24.2% 38.1% 28.4% 44.7%
2009 22.7% 39.1% 23.9% 39.7%
2008 22.7% 40% 24% 34%
2007 21.8% 47.4% 23.2% 37.8%
2006 21.9% 54.7% 25.6% 39.6%
2005 22.4% 59.3% 19.8% 43.3%
2004 23.3% 58.8% 19.3% 52.2%
2003 24.2% 56.5% 20% 56.2%
2002 23.5% 57% 21.3% 60.7%
2001 23.4% 57.8% 19.1% 53.4%
2000 22.8% 53.6% 20% 43.6%
1999 23% 55.1% 18.8% 38.4%
1998 23.4% 58.1% - -
1997 22.2% 60.2% - -
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% - -
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 (1994–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1993, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, Panama's government spending was $20B, accounting for 23.1% of its GDP, while Tonga spent $285M, or 51.3% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 57.4% in Panama and 37% in Tonga, ranking 88/185 and 142/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Panama

Tonga
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Panama Tonga
2024 -7.42% 4.17%
2023 -3.9% 6.14%
2022 -3.98% -0.1%
2021 -6.48% -0.87%
2020 -10.2% 5.25%
2019 -2.89% 3.28%
2018 -2.88% 2.92%
2017 -1.92% 3.58%
2016 -1.89% 1.47%
2015 -2.3% -2.75%
2014 -3.21% 6.38%
2013 -2.38% -1.3%
2012 -1.31% -1.74%
2011 -1.96% -6.02%
2010 -1.68% -1.22%
2009 -0.9% 6.85%
2008 0.37% 2.14%
2007 3.12% 5.39%
2006 0.51% 1.34%
2005 -2.21% 4.23%
2004 -4.33% 4.23%
2003 -2.27% 2.37%
2002 -0.96% 2.59%
2001 -0.42% 2.23%
2000 2.05% 1.35%
1999 -0.65% 1.55%
1998 -1.11% -
1997 1.24% -
1996 2.48% -
1995 2.3% -
1994 2.12% -
1993 -9.4% -
1992 -2.62% -
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 (1994–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1946–1993, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2023, Panama's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $3.27B, equivalent to 3.9% of GDP. This compares to Tonga's surplus of $36.3M, or 6.14% of GDP.

Over the past 25 years, Panama recorded a fiscal deficit in 21 of those years, while Tonga ran a deficit in 7 years. On average, Panama posted an annual deficit equal to 2.11% of GDP, compared to surplus of 1.97% of GDP for Tonga.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Panama

Tonga
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Panama Tonga
2024 0.69% 3.18%
2023 1.49% 6.35%
2022 2.86% 11%
2021 1.63% 5.64%
2020 -1.55% -0.35%
2019 -0.36% 1.18%
2018 0.76% 5.03%
2017 0.88% 7.52%
2016 0.74% 2.58%
2015 0.14% -1.05%
2014 2.63% 2.51%
2013 4.03% 0.78%
2012 5.7% 1.15%
2011 5.88% 6.27%
2010 3.49% 3.53%
2009 2.41% 1.43%
2008 8.76% 10.4%
2007 4.17% 5.84%
2006 2.46% 6.15%
2005 2.86% 8.67%
2004 0.47% 11%
2003 0.39% 11.6%
2002 1.01% 10.4%
2001 0.31% 8.29%
2000 1.5% 6.33%
1999 1.25% 4.46%
1998 0.56% 3.27%
1997 1.32% 2.12%

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

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

Over the past 28 years, Panama has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.02%, compared with 5.19% in Tonga. In 2024, inflation was 0.69% in Panama and 3.18% in Tonga.

Balance of trade

Panama Tonga
Current account balance
$1.67B
2024
-$43.5M
2024
Current account balance ranking
51/190
2024
83/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+1.93%
2024
-7.93%
2023
Goods imports
$25.1B
2024
$232M
2024
Goods exports
$19.1B
2024
$10.8M
2024
Service imports
$5.75B
2024
$161M
2024
Service exports
$18.3B
2024
$93.6M
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
39.3%
2024
64.9%
2023
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
44.4%
2024
14.7%
2023

Economic freedom indices

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

Panama Tonga
Economic freedom 64.9 58.9
Economic freedom ranking 70/197 107/197
Property rights 56.7 71.1
Government integrity 37.4 45.1
Judicial effectiveness 49.6 64.9
Tax burden 86.1 85.6
Government spending 85.5 31
Fiscal health 51.8 97.3
Business freedom 72.6 59.2
Labor freedom 60.9 55.9
Monetary freedom 78.2 61
Trade freedom 80.2 75.4
Investment freedom 60 40
Financial freedom 60 20

Economic freedom comparison by year

Panama
Tonga
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Panama Tonga
2026 64.9 58.9
2025 65.5 58.5
2024 64.1 59.2
2023 63.8 60
2022 65.4 60.8
2021 66.2 57.5
2020 67.2 58.8
2019 67.2 57.7
2018 67 63.1
2017 66.3 63
2016 64.8 59.6
2015 64.1 59.3
2014 63.4 58.2
2013 62.5 56
2012 65.2 57
2011 64.9 55.8
2010 64.8 53.4
2009 64.7 54.1
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/tonga | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Panama is 64.9, ranking 70/197, compared to 58.9 for Tonga, ranking 107/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Panama Tonga
Services, % of GDP
69.3%
2024
50%
2023
Industry, % of GDP
25.5%
2024
14.9%
2023
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
2.68%
2024
19%
2023
GNI, Atlas method
$81.3B
2024
$619M
2023
GNI per capita, PPP
$39,260
2024
$8,400
2023
Total reserves including gold
$6.86B
2024
$377M
2024
Total reserves ranking
88/177
2024
163/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$2.38B
2024
$13.3M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$3.24B
2024
-$12.1M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$865M
2024
$1.25M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI n/a
2.76%
2023
Poverty at national poverty lines
21.7%
2023
20.6%
2021
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
33.5%
2024
25.9%
2023

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/tonga | 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 (1994–2024, 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. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  7. 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.