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Economy of Panama vs Vanuatu compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Panama has a GDP of $86.5B compared to $1.12B for Vanuatu, ranking 78/197 and 188/197 by economy size, respectively.

Panama has $49.6B in government debt (57.4% of GDP), compared to $507M (45.3% of GDP) in Vanuatu.

Panama vs Vanuatu GDP by year

Panama
Vanuatu
1x
Year GDP, current $
Panama Vanuatu
2024 $86,523,959,132 $1,117,972,034
2023 $83,812,155,244 $1,115,861,056
2022 $76,479,304,471 $1,055,031,361
2021 $67,396,392,506 $950,394,007
2020 $57,059,846,522 $909,421,044
2019 $69,778,991,193 $936,526,268
2018 $67,316,471,181 $914,727,908
2017 $64,327,688,826 $880,043,284
2016 $59,760,858,718 $804,323,577
2015 $55,767,806,073 $759,690,181
2014 $51,427,104,882 $773,717,011
2013 $46,949,496,479 $758,304,466
2012 $41,595,439,721 $747,839,698
2011 $35,687,738,252 $770,153,588
2010 $30,231,009,533 $670,712,980
2009 $27,791,215,547 $592,622,319
2008 $25,721,327,955 $590,748,429
2007 $21,717,433,808 $516,392,923
2006 $18,659,721,513 $439,358,587
2005 $16,623,906,739 $394,962,433
2004 $15,100,203,362 $364,996,869
2003 $13,603,456,003 $314,471,413
2002 $12,800,851,271 $262,596,536
2001 $12,252,906,341 $257,926,882
2000 $11,966,497,049 $272,014,628
1999 $11,660,704,777 $268,006,973
1998 $11,019,557,689 $262,293,411
1997 $10,058,854,386 $272,771,209
1996 $9,197,503,323 $261,370,044
1995 $9,573,813,700 $249,333,250
1994 $9,365,289,800 $233,701,301
1993 $8,782,585,400 $200,491,853
1992 $8,042,337,700 $209,088,825
1991 $7,074,675,500 $201,334,169
1990 $6,433,967,000 $168,879,207
1989 $5,918,469,800 $154,013,202
1988 $5,902,783,400 $158,351,368
1987 $6,827,665,300 $139,464,174
1986 $6,797,834,200 $126,498,935
1985 $6,541,517,100 $131,856,421
1984 $6,183,387,100 $144,482,515
1983 $5,923,755,900 $117,389,554
1982 $5,769,767,900 $114,501,913
1981 $5,222,421,500 $113,781,796
1980 $4,614,086,400 $121,185,498
1979 $3,704,551,600 $119,258,835
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/vanuatu | CC BY

GDP per capita in Panama vs Vanuatu by year

Panama
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Vanuatu
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Panama Vanuatu
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $19,161 $41,369 $3,411 $3,606
2023 $18,797 $39,813 $3,483 $3,568
2022 $17,379 $36,333 $3,370 $3,453
2021 $15,510 $30,933 $3,107 $3,136
2020 $13,291 $27,017 $3,043 $3,118
2019 $16,478 $33,240 $3,207 $3,315
2018 $16,151 $32,464 $3,207 $3,233
2017 $15,695 $33,533 $3,160 $3,146
2016 $14,832 $30,277 $2,956 $3,030
2015 $14,083 $27,245 $2,855 $2,966
2014 $13,213 $24,376 $2,973 $2,890
2013 $12,273 $21,924 $2,980 $2,832
2012 $11,065 $19,473 $3,005 $2,834
2011 $9,662 $17,474 $3,163 $2,816
2010 $8,331 $15,573 $2,815 $2,733
2009 $7,797 $14,766 $2,546 $2,730
2008 $7,348 $14,705 $2,604 $2,701
2007 $6,318 $13,333 $2,334 $2,573
2006 $5,529 $11,685 $2,035 $2,496
2005 $5,018 $10,511 $1,874 $2,287
2004 $4,645 $9,592 $1,774 $2,157
2003 $4,265 $8,801 $1,567 $2,070
2002 $4,091 $8,370 $1,341 $1,995
2001 $3,992 $8,197 $1,350 $2,125
2000 $3,975 $8,097 $1,460 $2,206
1999 $3,950 $7,749 $1,472 $2,084
1998 $3,808 $7,408 $1,471 $2,091
1997 $3,546 $6,895 $1,562 $2,087
1996 $3,308 $6,421 $1,529 $1,998
1995 $3,514 $6,182 $1,492 $1,961
1994 $3,508 $6,073 $1,431 $1,946
1993 $3,358 $5,902 $1,257 $1,789
1992 $3,140 $5,582 $1,344 $1,777
1991 $2,821 $5,150 $1,326 $1,737
1990 $2,620 $4,651 $1,141 $1,670
1989 $2,462 - $1,067 -
1988 $2,509 - $1,125 -
1987 $2,966 - $1,017 -
1986 $3,019 - $946 -
1985 $2,972 - $1,012 -
1984 $2,875 - $1,137 -
1983 $2,819 - $947 -
1982 $2,811 - $946 -
1981 $2,605 - $962 -
1980 $2,357 - $1,048 -
1979 $1,938 - $1,055 -
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/vanuatu | CC BY

Panama's GDP per capita is $19,161, ranking 60/197, compared to $3,411 in Vanuatu, ranking 137/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Panama ranks 56th at $41,369, while Vanuatu ranks 170th at $3,606.

Economic indicators

Panama Vanuatu
Gross domestic product
$86.5B
2024
$1.12B
2024
GDP rank
78/197
2024
188/197
2024
GDP growth
2.75%
2023-2024
0.94%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$19,161
2024
$3,411
2024
GDP per capita rank
60/197
2024
137/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$41,369
2024
$3,606
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
56/197
2024
170/197
2024
Government debt
$49.6B
2024
$507M
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
57.4%
2024
45.3%
2024
Government debt per person
$10,995
2024
$1,546
2024
Government debt per person rank
51/185
2024
131/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$10,196
2026
$3,164
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$18.3B
2024
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
37.6%
2024
24.7%
2019
Income share by poorest 10%
1.2%
2024
3%
2019
Government expenditure, % of GDP
23.1%
2024
41.1%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
0.69%
2023-2024
11.2%
2022-2023
Unemployment rate
8.61%
2024
4.05%
2020
Population
4642198
344750

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Panama
Spending

Debt
Vanuatu
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Panama Vanuatu
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 23.1% 57.4% 41.1% 45.3%
2023 21.4% 51.2% 41.6% 41.8%
2022 21.3% 52.7% 42% 42.8%
2021 23.8% 54.4% 44.4% 48.5%
2020 27.5% 61.5% 43.4% 48%
2019 20.6% 39.8% 39.8% 45.1%
2018 21.8% 35.6% 33.3% 45.3%
2017 21.2% 33.6% 37.1% 52.6%
2016 21.3% 33.6% 35.2% 42.5%
2015 21.4% 34.2% 42.4% 36.3%
2014 23% 34.7% 23.3% 20.2%
2013 23.4% 33.7% 22.9% 18.6%
2012 22.8% 34% 24.5% 19.3%
2011 23.5% 35.6% 25.1% 21.3%
2010 24.2% 38.1% 28.3% 20.2%
2009 22.7% 39.1% 27.6% 21.1%
2008 22.7% 40% 27.8% 21.2%
2007 21.8% 47.4% 22.5% 19.5%
2006 21.9% 54.7% 20.1% 22.2%
2005 22.4% 59.3% 18.3% 26.3%
2004 23.3% 58.8% 18.5% 30.4%
2003 24.2% 56.5% 18.8% 38.3%
2002 23.5% 57% 22.3% 38.8%
2001 23.4% 57.8% 22.3% 37%
2000 22.8% 53.6% 25.4% 36.1%
1999 23% 55.1% 23.9% 30.6%
1998 23.4% 58.1% 27.9% 28%
1997 22.2% 60.2% 22.2% 22.9%
1996 21.5% 65% 24.5% 23.1%
1995 25.9% 76.6% 28% 24.1%
1994 25.2% 78.3% 24.4% 21.6%
1993 33.8% 83.6% 26.2% 20.3%
1992 27.8% 91.2% 31.8% 21%
1991 20.9% 103.7% 33.2% 15.9%
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 (1991–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1993, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, Panama's government spending was $20B, accounting for 23.1% of its GDP, while Vanuatu spent $459M, or 41.1% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 57.4% in Panama and 45.3% in Vanuatu, ranking 88/185 and 119/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Panama

Vanuatu
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Panama Vanuatu
2024 -7.42% -2.34%
2023 -3.9% -0.95%
2022 -3.98% -6.5%
2021 -6.48% 2.38%
2020 -10.2% -1.95%
2019 -2.89% 2.81%
2018 -2.88% 6.26%
2017 -1.92% -1.2%
2016 -1.89% -0.72%
2015 -2.3% -8.66%
2014 -3.21% 1.44%
2013 -2.38% -0.25%
2012 -1.31% -1.7%
2011 -1.96% -2.19%
2010 -1.68% -2.63%
2009 -0.9% -0.85%
2008 0.37% -0.04%
2007 3.12% 0.28%
2006 0.51% 0.49%
2005 -2.21% 1.86%
2004 -4.33% 0.8%
2003 -2.27% -1.35%
2002 -0.96% -3.63%
2001 -0.42% -3.33%
2000 2.05% -6.28%
1999 -0.65% -0.55%
1998 -1.11% -6.65%
1997 1.24% -0.51%
1996 2.48% -1.78%
1995 2.3% -2.59%
1994 2.12% -1.49%
1993 -9.4% -3.67%
1992 -2.62% -2.32%
1991 -0.6% -2.81%
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 (1991–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1946–1993, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/panama/vanuatu | 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 Vanuatu's deficit of $26.2M, or 2.34% of GDP.

Over the past 34 years, Panama recorded a fiscal deficit in 26 of those years, while Vanuatu ran a deficit in 26 years. On average, Panama posted an annual deficit equal to 1.93% of GDP, compared to deficit of 1.49% of GDP for Vanuatu.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Panama

Vanuatu
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Panama Vanuatu
2024 0.69% -
2023 1.49% 11.2%
2022 2.86% 6.68%
2021 1.63% 2.34%
2020 -1.55% 5.33%
2019 -0.36% 2.76%
2018 0.76% 2.33%
2017 0.88% 3.08%
2016 0.74% 0.84%
2015 0.14% 2.48%
2014 2.63% 0.8%
2013 4.03% 1.46%
2012 5.7% 1.35%
2011 5.88% 0.87%
2010 3.49% 2.76%
2009 2.41% 4.3%
2008 8.76% 4.84%
2007 4.17% 3.94%
2006 2.46% 2.04%
2005 2.86% 1.2%
2004 0.47% 1.42%
2003 0.39% 3.02%
2002 1.01% 1.96%
2001 0.31% 3.58%
2000 1.5% 2.54%
1999 1.25% 2%
1998 0.56% 3.28%
1997 1.32% 2.83%

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

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

Over the past 27 years, Panama has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.07%, compared with 3.01% in Vanuatu. In 2023, inflation was 0.69% in Panama and 11.2% in Vanuatu.

Balance of trade

Panama Vanuatu
Current account balance
$1.67B
2024
-$127M
2022
Current account balance ranking
51/190
2024
90/190
2022
Current account balance, % of GDP
+1.93%
2024
-12.1%
2022
Goods imports
$25.1B
2024
$350M
2022
Goods exports
$19.1B
2024
$73.6M
2022
Service imports
$5.75B
2024
$230M
2022
Service exports
$18.3B
2024
$78.5M
2022
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
39.3%
2024
54.2%
2022
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
44.4%
2024
9.43%
2022

Economic freedom indices

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

Panama Vanuatu
Economic freedom 64.9 61.1
Economic freedom ranking 70/197 92/197
Property rights 56.7 62.1
Government integrity 37.4 48.3
Judicial effectiveness 49.6 67.9
Tax burden 86.1 96.9
Government spending 85.5 48.1
Fiscal health 51.8 78.8
Business freedom 72.6 50.3
Labor freedom 60.9 41
Monetary freedom 78.2 72.1
Trade freedom 80.2 62
Investment freedom 60 65
Financial freedom 60 40

Economic freedom comparison by year

Panama
Vanuatu
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Panama Vanuatu
2026 64.9 61.1
2025 65.5 61.8
2024 64.1 62.2
2023 63.8 62.1
2022 65.4 62.9
2021 66.2 60.5
2020 67.2 60.7
2019 67.2 56.4
2018 67 69.5
2017 66.3 67.4
2016 64.8 60.8
2015 64.1 61.1
2014 63.4 59.5
2013 62.5 56.6
2012 65.2 56.6
2011 64.9 56.7
2010 64.8 56.4
2009 64.7 58.4
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/vanuatu | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Panama is 64.9, ranking 70/197, compared to 61.1 for Vanuatu, ranking 92/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Panama Vanuatu
Services, % of GDP
69.3%
2024
59.1%
2022
Industry, % of GDP
25.5%
2024
7.37%
2022
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
2.68%
2024
24.3%
2022
GNI, Atlas method
$81.3B
2024
$1.28B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$39,260
2024
$4,140
2024
Total reserves including gold
$6.86B
2024
$615M
2024
Total reserves ranking
88/177
2024
152/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$2.38B
2024
-$9.21M
2022
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$3.24B
2024
$28.9M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$865M
2024
$2.79M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI n/a
2.04%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
21.7%
2023
15.9%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
33.5%
2024
38.3%
2022

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/vanuatu | 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 (1991–2024, 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.