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Panama vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Panama has a population of 4.52M (ranked 128/197), compared with 64M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). Panama's land area is 28,641 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 115th vs. 24th).

By GDP, Panama ranks 78/197 ($86.5B) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B). By GDP per capita, Panama ranks 60/197 ($19,161), while South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267).

Main facts and rankings

Panama South Africa
Population
4642198
65683993
Population rank 128/197 24/197
GDP
$86.5B
2024
$401B
2024
GDP rank 78/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$19,161
2024
$6,267
2024
GDP per capita rank 60/197 111/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$41,369
2024
$15,456
2024
Government debt
$49.6B
2024
$305B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
57.4%
2024
76%
2024
Government debt per person
$10,995
2024
$4,761
2024
Government debt per person rank 51/185 83/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$10,196
2026
$15,431
2026
Land area 28,641 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
161.6 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.12
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
30.9 years
2024
29.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
80.1 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

Panama and South Africa: Comparison Charts

Panama and South Africa economies compared

GDP
Panama

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
Panama South Africa
2024 $86,523,959,132 $401,144,998,374
2023 $83,812,155,244 $381,440,724,491
2022 $76,479,304,471 $407,596,043,068
2021 $67,396,392,506 $419,986,284,375
2020 $57,059,846,522 $337,974,655,408
2019 $69,778,991,193 $389,330,032,224
2018 $67,316,471,181 $405,260,723,893
2017 $64,327,688,826 $381,448,814,653
2016 $59,760,858,718 $323,585,509,674
2015 $55,767,806,073 $346,709,790,459
2014 $51,427,104,882 $381,198,869,776
2013 $46,949,496,479 $400,886,013,596
2012 $41,595,439,721 $434,400,545,086
2011 $35,687,738,252 $458,199,494,831
2010 $30,231,009,533 $417,363,822,802
2009 $27,791,215,547 $329,754,060,647
2008 $25,721,327,955 $316,131,258,616
2007 $21,717,433,808 $333,077,117,254
2006 $18,659,721,513 $303,858,675,364
2005 $16,623,906,739 $288,867,217,197
2004 $15,100,203,362 $255,806,908,595
2003 $13,603,456,003 $197,018,965,309
2002 $12,800,851,271 $129,087,556,612
2001 $12,252,906,341 $135,429,905,923
2000 $11,966,497,049 $151,752,757,215
1999 $11,660,704,777 $151,516,957,079
1998 $11,019,557,689 $152,982,984,557
1997 $10,058,854,386 $168,978,057,328
1996 $9,197,503,323 $163,234,925,381
1995 $9,573,813,700 $171,735,933,897
1994 $9,365,289,800 $153,512,712,382
1993 $8,782,585,400 $147,194,747,566
1992 $8,042,337,700 $146,956,150,987
1991 $7,074,675,500 $135,203,698,238
1990 $6,433,967,000 $126,048,140,142
1989 $5,918,469,800 $108,055,624,082
1988 $5,902,783,400 $103,976,831,871
1987 $6,827,665,300 $96,535,763,418
1986 $6,797,834,200 $73,354,771,399
1985 $6,541,517,100 $64,459,376,087
1984 $6,183,387,100 $84,870,163,366
1983 $5,923,755,900 $96,204,110,942
1982 $5,769,767,900 $85,904,057,409
1981 $5,222,421,500 $93,141,472,164
1980 $4,614,086,400 $89,411,864,402
1979 $3,704,551,600 $63,038,658,089
1978 $3,244,558,600 $51,607,412,902
1977 $2,738,261,900 $45,328,411,332
1976 $2,588,106,000 $41,150,460,288
1975 $2,435,304,100 $42,906,905,672
1974 $2,188,307,600 $41,389,186,095
1973 $1,913,793,400 $33,262,772,008
1972 $1,673,411,700 $24,515,919,217
1971 $1,523,917,200 $23,411,076,638
1970 $1,351,006,400 $21,218,391,513
1969 $1,221,305,700 $19,256,992,297
1968 $1,112,791,100 $17,124,793,150
1967 $1,034,376,400 $15,821,393,671
1966 $928,833,000 $14,211,394,315
1965 $852,485,300 $13,068,994,772
1964 $776,137,500 $11,955,995,218
1963 $722,784,500 $10,854,195,658
1962 $652,120,900 $9,813,996,074
1961 $599,026,300 $9,225,996,310
1960 $537,147,100 $8,748,596,501

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

GeoRank.org/facts/panama/south-africa | CC BY

Panama and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
Panama

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
Panama South Africa
2024 $19,161 $6,267
2023 $18,797 $6,034
2022 $17,379 $6,534
2021 $15,510 $6,829
2020 $13,291 $5,581
2019 $16,478 $6,534
2018 $16,151 $6,914
2017 $15,695 $6,618
2016 $14,832 $5,651
2015 $14,083 $6,112
2014 $13,213 $6,857
2013 $12,273 $7,332
2012 $11,065 $8,077
2011 $9,662 $8,646
2010 $8,331 $7,973
2009 $7,797 $6,375
2008 $7,348 $6,185
2007 $6,318 $6,592
2006 $5,529 $6,077
2005 $5,018 $5,837
2004 $4,645 $5,221
2003 $4,265 $4,062
2002 $4,091 $2,688
2001 $3,992 $2,847
2000 $3,975 $3,218
1999 $3,950 $3,242
1998 $3,808 $3,310
1997 $3,546 $3,700
1996 $3,308 $3,618
1995 $3,514 $3,856
1994 $3,508 $3,489
1993 $3,358 $3,400
1992 $3,140 $3,462
1991 $2,821 $3,243
1990 $2,620 $3,093
1989 $2,462 $2,727
1988 $2,509 $2,702
1987 $2,966 $2,586
1986 $3,019 $2,027
1985 $2,972 $1,839
1984 $2,875 $2,504
1983 $2,819 $2,938
1982 $2,811 $2,717
1981 $2,605 $3,050
1980 $2,357 $3,029
1979 $1,938 $2,202
1978 $1,738 $1,852
1977 $1,503 $1,671
1976 $1,457 $1,559
1975 $1,406 $1,670
1974 $1,296 $1,656
1973 $1,164 $1,369
1972 $1,046 $1,038
1971 $979 $1,020
1970 $893 $952
1969 $830 $891
1968 $778 $817
1967 $745 $779
1966 $689 $722
1965 $651 $685
1964 $611 $646
1963 $587 $605
1962 $546 $563
1961 $516 $546
1960 $477 $532

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

GeoRank.org/facts/panama/south-africa | CC BY

Panama vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Panama

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Panama South Africa
2026 80.1 66.7
2025 80 66.5
2024 79.8 66.3
2023 79.6 66.1
2022 79.3 65.5
2021 77 62
2020 76.3 65.2
2019 78.5 66.1
2018 78.3 65.7
2017 77.9 65.4
2016 77.8 64.7
2015 77.6 64.1
2014 77.4 63.2
2013 77.1 62.4
2012 76.9 61.7
2011 76.7 60.6
2010 76.4 58.9
2009 76.2 57.4
2008 75.9 56
2007 75.7 54.9
2006 75.4 54.2
2005 75.2 53.9
2004 74.8 54
2003 74.6 54.2
2002 74.2 55.6
2001 73.8 57.2
2000 73.4 58.4
1999 73.1 59.2
1998 72.8 59.9
1997 72.5 60.5
1996 72.2 61.1
1995 72 61.6
1994 71.9 62.1
1993 71.8 62.6
1992 71.5 62.8
1991 71.3 63
1990 71.3 62.9
1989 70.1 63
1988 70.9 62.9
1987 70.8 62.7
1986 70.7 62.4
1985 70.5 62.2
1984 70.4 61.8
1983 70.1 61.4
1982 69.9 60.9
1981 69.8 60.4
1980 69.5 60
1979 69.1 59.5
1978 68.7 59
1977 68.3 58.5
1976 67.8 58
1975 67.2 57.6
1974 66.6 57.1
1973 65.8 56.7
1972 65.2 56.4
1971 64.7 56
1970 64.1 55.7
1969 63.7 55.4
1968 63.2 55.2
1967 62.9 55
1966 62.6 54.7
1965 62.3 54.4
1964 62.1 54.2
1963 61.8 53.9
1962 61.4 53.6
1961 60.9 53.1
1960 60.3 52.6
1959 59.6 51.9
1958 58.9 51.1
1957 58.3 50.2
1956 57.9 49.2
1955 57.5 48.2
1954 57.2 47.1
1953 56.8 46.1
1952 56.4 45
1951 55.9 44.1
1950 55.4 43.1

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/panama/south-africa | CC BY

Panama and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
Panama

South Africa
1x
Year Population
Panama South Africa
2024 4,515,577 64,007,187
2023 4,458,759 63,212,384
2022 4,400,773 62,378,410
2021 4,345,405 61,502,603
2020 4,293,261 60,562,381
2019 4,234,700 59,587,885
2018 4,167,860 58,613,001
2017 4,098,707 57,635,162
2016 4,029,086 57,259,551
2015 3,960,035 56,723,537
2014 3,892,101 55,594,838
2013 3,825,329 54,678,791
2012 3,759,256 53,782,567
2011 3,693,505 52,995,205
2010 3,628,535 52,344,051
2009 3,564,381 51,728,516
2008 3,500,648 51,114,599
2007 3,437,490 50,528,584
2006 3,375,024 49,998,277
2005 3,313,026 49,490,033
2004 3,251,155 48,991,421
2003 3,189,807 48,500,348
2002 3,129,344 48,019,415
2001 3,069,537 47,566,800
2000 3,010,369 47,159,719
1999 2,951,822 46,730,335
1998 2,893,914 46,223,880
1997 2,836,695 45,666,838
1996 2,780,227 45,123,018
1995 2,724,557 44,541,554
1994 2,669,546 44,004,139
1993 2,615,099 43,297,156
1992 2,561,336 42,443,509
1991 2,508,265 41,687,898
1990 2,455,583 40,746,268
1989 2,403,820 39,628,575
1988 2,352,848 38,480,649
1987 2,301,970 37,326,190
1986 2,251,325 36,180,515
1985 2,200,915 35,042,093
1984 2,150,782 33,892,788
1983 2,101,106 32,739,304
1982 2,052,271 31,615,339
1981 2,004,418 30,541,044
1980 1,957,534 29,518,857
1979 1,911,552 28,634,162
1978 1,866,311 27,869,507
1977 1,821,543 27,118,952
1976 1,776,935 26,395,450
1975 1,732,389 25,690,940
1974 1,687,926 24,989,108
1973 1,643,690 24,294,263
1972 1,599,723 23,609,456
1971 1,556,081 22,942,143
1970 1,513,070 22,279,984
1969 1,470,886 21,614,676
1968 1,429,447 20,957,287
1967 1,388,628 20,314,066
1966 1,348,388 19,690,087
1965 1,308,835 19,089,380
1964 1,270,065 18,511,361
1963 1,232,124 17,954,564
1962 1,195,301 17,418,522
1961 1,159,870 16,908,035
1960 1,126,005 16,440,172

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

GeoRank.org/facts/panama/south-africa | CC BY

Fertility rates in Panama and South Africa

Fertility rate
Panama

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
Panama South Africa
2023 2.12 2.22
2022 2.14 2.23
2021 2.15 2.25
2020 2.18 2.26
2019 2.29 2.26
2018 2.4 2.27
2017 2.46 2.28
2016 2.5 2.26
2015 2.53 2.36
2014 2.55 2.42
2013 2.57 2.43
2012 2.59 2.45
2011 2.6 2.44
2010 2.59 2.44
2009 2.59 2.5
2008 2.61 2.68
2007 2.61 2.55
2006 2.62 2.55
2005 2.64 2.51
2004 2.68 2.44
2003 2.68 2.36
2002 2.7 2.32
2001 2.72 2.37
2000 2.74 2.41
1999 2.77 2.56
1998 2.79 2.63
1997 2.81 2.73
1996 2.83 2.99
1995 2.85 3.17
1994 2.88 3.26
1993 2.91 3.37
1992 2.95 3.48
1991 3 3.62
1990 3.07 3.72
1989 3.12 3.98
1988 3.17 4.18
1987 3.25 4.35
1986 3.34 4.41
1985 3.43 4.5
1984 3.52 4.57
1983 3.6 4.63
1982 3.66 4.7
1981 3.72 4.71
1980 3.8 4.78
1979 3.88 4.82
1978 3.98 4.85
1977 4.12 4.94
1976 4.26 5.07
1975 4.41 5.19
1974 4.58 5.3
1973 4.74 5.41
1972 4.91 5.49
1971 5.05 5.57
1970 5.18 5.63
1969 5.29 5.72
1968 5.41 5.78
1967 5.53 5.85
1966 5.65 5.91
1965 5.73 5.89
1964 5.81 5.96
1963 5.87 6.01
1962 5.87 6.05
1961 5.87 6.08
1960 5.83 6.11

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/panama/south-africa | CC BY

Panama and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
Panama

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
Panama South Africa
2024 30.9 29.5
2023 30.6 29.2
2022 30.3 28.9
2021 30 28.6
2020 29.7 28.3
2019 29.4 27.9
2018 29.1 27.5
2017 28.8 27
2016 28.5 26.7
2015 28.3 26.4
2014 28 26
2013 27.8 25.7
2012 27.5 25.3
2011 27.2 25
2010 27 24.6
2009 26.7 24.3
2008 26.4 24
2007 26.1 23.8
2006 25.9 23.5
2005 25.6 23.3
2004 25.3 23.1
2003 25.1 22.8
2002 24.8 22.4
2001 24.5 22.2
2000 24.3 21.9
1999 24 21.6
1998 23.7 21.4
1997 23.5 21.2
1996 23.2 21.2
1995 22.9 21.5
1994 22.7 22
1993 22.4 21.9
1992 22.1 21.5
1991 21.8 21.5
1990 21.5 21.3
1989 21.3 21.1
1988 21 20.9
1987 20.7 20.7
1986 20.4 20.5
1985 20.2 20.4
1984 19.9 20.2
1983 19.7 20
1982 19.5 19.8
1981 19.2 19.6
1980 19 19.4
1979 18.8 19.3
1978 18.6 19.2
1977 18.4 19.1
1976 18.3 19
1975 18.1 18.9
1974 18 18.9
1973 17.8 18.8
1972 17.7 18.8
1971 17.7 18.8
1970 17.6 18.8
1969 17.6 18.8
1968 17.5 18.8
1967 17.5 18.8
1966 17.5 18.8
1965 17.5 18.8
1964 17.6 18.9
1963 17.6 18.9
1962 17.7 18.9
1961 17.8 19
1960 17.8 19

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

GeoRank.org/facts/panama/south-africa | CC BY

Interactive Maps

Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for Panama and South Africa.

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Panama South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$81.3B
2024
$391B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
23.1%
2024
33%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
2.47%
2023
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
0.97%
1999
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel
28,000
2020
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-7.42%
2024
-5.79%
2024
Unemployment rate
8.61%
2024
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
69.3%
2024
63%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
25.5%
2024
24.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
64.9
2026
58.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
37.6%
2024
50.5%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
1.2%
2024
0.9%
2014
Number of millionaires n/a
90,595
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
0.22%
2025
Number of billionaires
0
2025
7
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0%
2025
0.00002%
2025
Listed domestic companies
36
2024
220
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$18.3B
2024
$986B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$6.86B
2024
$65.4B
2024
Personal remittances received
$532M
2024
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals
647,000
2020
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports
9.3%
2020
2.89%
2020
Banked people share
64.1%
2024
81.1%
2024

Energy

Panama South Africa
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,063 kg
2022
1,939 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$34.2
2022
$7.84
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
12.4 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
2.74 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
76.5%
2022
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
28%
2021
9.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
17.3%
2022
3.58%
2023
Net energy imports use share
171.2%
2022
-12.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
2,546 kWh
2022
3,247 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
79.3%
2021
6.45%
2021
Hydroelectric share
66.3%
2022
2.91%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
3.73%
2023
Electricity access
97%
2023
87.7%
2023

Society

Panama South Africa
% of world population
0.06%
2024
0.79%
2024
Annual migration change
+6,151
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
66%
2024
63.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
50:50
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.58 ft
2025
5.56 ft
2025
Average female height
5.19 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
60.2
2026
42.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
33
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
40
2026
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
11.3
2022
45.5
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
13.9
2019
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
138
2025
109
2025
Adult literacy rate
96.3%
2024
91.2%
2024
English speaking
14%
2023
31%
2023
People using the Internet
68.5%
2023
75.7%
2023

Health

Panama South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$1,558
2023
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$630
2023
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
80.1 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.76%
2023
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
1.63
2022
0.79
2022
Maternal mortality per 100K births
37
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
13.3
2023
34.7
2023
Obesity rate
37.1%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
11.1%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
79
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
5.2%
2022
20.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
4.66 liters
2020
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

Panama South Africa
% of world land
0.05%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
6,343 sq mi
2024
7,318 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
8,456 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
16,138 sq mi
2026
65,409 sq mi
2026
Roads length n/a
466,028 mi
2016

In-depth comparisons

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  8. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  10. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

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