Skip to content

Population in Panama compared to South Korea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Panama was 4,515,577 in 2024 vs 51,751,065 people in South Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Panama's population is 4,642,198 people compared to 51,649,918 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 11.1 times bigger than Panama's.
  • Panama is ranked the 128th most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 0.68% of the world: 0.06% for Panama vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Panama has had an average growth rate of +1.52% per year vs +0.24% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Panama has increased from 3.38M people to 4.64M (37.5% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.63% growth).

Panama vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Panama
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Panama South Korea
2100 5,947,731 22,012,503
2099 5,958,919 22,335,528
2098 5,969,676 22,668,719
2097 5,979,860 23,009,661
2096 5,989,615 23,360,151
2095 5,998,960 23,722,747
2094 6,007,655 24,093,391
2093 6,015,893 24,473,038
2092 6,023,482 24,860,975
2091 6,030,584 25,255,379
2090 6,037,116 25,655,577
2089 6,043,194 26,060,945
2088 6,048,506 26,470,073
2087 6,053,252 26,884,813
2086 6,057,347 27,301,913
2085 6,060,940 27,723,736
2084 6,063,735 28,147,480
2083 6,065,863 28,578,182
2082 6,067,171 29,012,953
2081 6,067,635 29,456,022
2080 6,067,317 29,901,880
2079 6,066,164 30,352,062
2078 6,064,127 30,809,176
2077 6,061,297 31,273,700
2076 6,057,645 31,744,480
2075 6,053,134 32,221,226
2074 6,047,620 32,706,020
2073 6,041,318 33,196,556
2072 6,034,065 33,696,490
2071 6,026,051 34,203,935
2070 6,017,288 34,719,324
2069 6,007,621 35,241,850
2068 5,997,109 35,762,799
2067 5,985,932 36,292,307
2066 5,973,853 36,826,655
2065 5,961,039 37,368,086
2064 5,947,320 37,916,439
2063 5,932,822 38,469,051
2062 5,917,367 39,028,473
2061 5,900,972 39,584,621
2060 5,883,654 40,149,830
2059 5,865,433 40,712,514
2058 5,846,037 41,277,134
2057 5,825,696 41,833,887
2056 5,804,369 42,377,427
2055 5,781,900 42,909,302
2054 5,758,339 43,427,254
2053 5,733,538 43,938,741
2052 5,707,562 44,441,106
2051 5,680,231 44,923,604
2050 5,651,617 45,385,311
2049 5,621,841 45,832,153
2048 5,590,701 46,258,529
2047 5,558,382 46,668,898
2046 5,524,843 47,056,404
2045 5,490,228 47,433,205
2044 5,454,371 47,797,411
2043 5,417,316 48,144,730
2042 5,379,169 48,478,991
2041 5,339,872 48,806,273
2040 5,299,492 49,115,658
2039 5,257,983 49,412,830
2038 5,215,284 49,694,340
2037 5,171,497 49,957,504
2036 5,126,814 50,200,702
2035 5,081,210 50,426,000
2034 5,034,708 50,632,962
2033 4,987,247 50,821,090
2032 4,938,646 50,987,020
2031 4,889,260 51,134,940
2030 4,838,970 51,267,908
2029 4,787,654 51,385,868
2028 4,735,214 51,486,791
2027 4,681,847 51,576,746
2026 4,627,497 51,649,918
2025 4,572,106 51,710,062
2024 4,515,577 51,751,065
2023 4,458,759 51,712,619
2022 4,400,773 51,672,569
2021 4,345,405 51,769,539
2020 4,293,261 51,836,239
2019 4,234,700 51,764,822
2018 4,167,860 51,585,058
2017 4,098,707 51,361,911
2016 4,029,086 51,217,803
2015 3,960,035 51,014,947
2014 3,892,101 50,746,659
2013 3,825,329 50,428,893
2012 3,759,256 50,199,853
2011 3,693,505 49,936,638
2010 3,628,535 49,554,112
2009 3,564,381 49,307,835
2008 3,500,648 49,054,708
2007 3,437,490 48,683,638
2006 3,375,024 48,438,292
2005 3,313,026 48,184,561
2004 3,251,155 48,082,519
2003 3,189,807 47,892,330
2002 3,129,344 47,644,736
2001 3,069,537 47,370,164
2000 3,010,369 47,008,111
1999 2,951,822 46,616,677
1998 2,893,914 46,286,503
1997 2,836,695 45,953,580
1996 2,780,227 45,524,681
1995 2,724,557 45,092,991
1994 2,669,546 44,641,540
1993 2,615,099 44,194,628
1992 2,561,336 43,747,962
1991 2,508,265 43,295,704
1990 2,455,583 42,869,283
1989 2,403,820 42,449,038
1988 2,352,848 42,031,247
1987 2,301,970 41,621,690
1986 2,251,325 41,213,674
1985 2,200,915 40,805,744
1984 2,150,782 40,405,956
1983 2,101,106 39,910,403
1982 2,052,271 39,326,352
1981 2,004,418 38,723,248
1980 1,957,534 38,123,775
1979 1,911,552 37,534,236
1978 1,866,311 36,969,185
1977 1,821,543 36,411,795
1976 1,776,935 35,848,523
1975 1,732,389 35,280,725
1974 1,687,926 34,692,266
1973 1,643,690 34,103,149
1972 1,599,723 33,505,406
1971 1,556,081 32,882,704
1970 1,513,070 32,240,827
1969 1,470,886 31,544,266
1968 1,429,447 30,838,302
1967 1,388,628 30,130,983
1966 1,348,388 29,435,571
1965 1,308,835 28,704,674
1964 1,270,065 27,984,155
1963 1,232,124 27,261,747
1962 1,195,301 26,513,030
1961 1,159,870 25,765,673
1960 1,126,005 25,012,374

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/panama/south-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Panama increased by 654,062 people (a 19.4% growth), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Panama gained 613,112 people (a 15.2% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth).

Panama was ranked 128th most populous country in 2006 and is still 128th in 2026. South Korea was ranked 25th in 2006 and ranked 31st now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Panama's population will grow by 21.7% to 5,651,617 people with a rank change from 128th to 124th. The population of South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,385,311 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

Panama is projected to reach its peak in 2081 at 6.07M people, while South Korea's population already peaked in 2020 at 51.8M people and is projected to decrease to 22M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Panama
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Panama South Korea
2100 -0.19% -1.45%
2099 -0.18% -1.47%
2098 -0.17% -1.48%
2097 -0.16% -1.5%
2096 -0.16% -1.53%
2095 -0.14% -1.54%
2094 -0.14% -1.55%
2093 -0.13% -1.56%
2092 -0.12% -1.56%
2091 -0.11% -1.56%
2090 -0.1% -1.56%
2089 -0.09% -1.55%
2088 -0.08% -1.54%
2087 -0.07% -1.53%
2086 -0.06% -1.52%
2085 -0.05% -1.51%
2084 -0.04% -1.51%
2083 -0.02% -1.5%
2082 -0.008% -1.5%
2081 0.005% -1.49%
2080 0.02% -1.48%
2079 0.03% -1.48%
2078 0.05% -1.49%
2077 0.06% -1.48%
2076 0.07% -1.48%
2075 0.09% -1.48%
2074 0.1% -1.48%
2073 0.12% -1.48%
2072 0.13% -1.48%
2071 0.15% -1.48%
2070 0.16% -1.48%
2069 0.18% -1.46%
2068 0.19% -1.46%
2067 0.2% -1.45%
2066 0.21% -1.45%
2065 0.23% -1.45%
2064 0.24% -1.44%
2063 0.26% -1.43%
2062 0.28% -1.4%
2061 0.29% -1.41%
2060 0.31% -1.38%
2059 0.33% -1.37%
2058 0.35% -1.33%
2057 0.37% -1.28%
2056 0.39% -1.24%
2055 0.41% -1.19%
2054 0.43% -1.16%
2053 0.46% -1.13%
2052 0.48% -1.07%
2051 0.51% -1.02%
2050 0.53% -0.97%
2049 0.56% -0.92%
2048 0.58% -0.88%
2047 0.61% -0.82%
2046 0.63% -0.79%
2045 0.66% -0.76%
2044 0.68% -0.72%
2043 0.71% -0.69%
2042 0.74% -0.67%
2041 0.76% -0.63%
2040 0.79% -0.6%
2039 0.82% -0.57%
2038 0.85% -0.53%
2037 0.87% -0.48%
2036 0.9% -0.45%
2035 0.92% -0.41%
2034 0.95% -0.37%
2033 0.98% -0.33%
2032 1.01% -0.29%
2031 1.04% -0.26%
2030 1.07% -0.23%
2029 1.11% -0.2%
2028 1.14% -0.17%
2027 1.17% -0.14%
2026 1.21% -0.12%
2025 1.25% -0.08%
2024 1.27% 0.07%
2023 1.32% 0.08%
2022 1.27% -0.19%
2021 1.21% -0.13%
2020 1.38% 0.14%
2019 1.6% 0.35%
2018 1.69% 0.43%
2017 1.73% 0.28%
2016 1.74% 0.4%
2015 1.75% 0.53%
2014 1.75% 0.63%
2013 1.76% 0.46%
2012 1.78% 0.53%
2011 1.79% 0.77%
2010 1.8% 0.5%
2009 1.82% 0.52%
2008 1.84% 0.76%
2007 1.85% 0.51%
2006 1.87% 0.53%
2005 1.9% 0.21%
2004 1.92% 0.4%
2003 1.93% 0.52%
2002 1.95% 0.58%
2001 1.97% 0.77%
2000 1.98% 0.84%
1999 2% 0.71%
1998 2.02% 0.72%
1997 2.03% 0.94%
1996 2.04% 0.96%
1995 2.06% 1.01%
1994 2.08% 1.01%
1993 2.1% 1.02%
1992 2.12% 1.04%
1991 2.15% 0.99%
1990 2.15% 0.99%
1989 2.17% 0.99%
1988 2.21% 0.98%
1987 2.25% 0.99%
1986 2.29% 1%
1985 2.33% 0.99%
1984 2.36% 1.24%
1983 2.38% 1.49%
1982 2.39% 1.56%
1981 2.4% 1.57%
1980 2.41% 1.57%
1979 2.42% 1.53%
1978 2.46% 1.53%
1977 2.51% 1.57%
1976 2.57% 1.61%
1975 2.63% 1.7%
1974 2.69% 1.73%
1973 2.75% 1.78%
1972 2.8% 1.89%
1971 2.84% 1.99%
1970 2.87% 2.21%
1969 2.9% 2.29%
1968 2.94% 2.35%
1967 2.98% 2.36%
1966 3.02% 2.55%
1965 3.05% 2.57%
1964 3.08% 2.65%
1963 3.08% 2.82%
1962 3.05% 2.9%
1961 3.01% 3.01%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/panama/south-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Panama grew by 1.27%, while South Korea's population grew by 0.07%.

Live population counters

Panama South Korea
Current population
4642198
51649918
Population rank 128/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.62%
One net population change
9.25 minutes
13.7 minutes
One birth every
7.35 minutes
2.26 minutes
One death every
24.7 minutes
1.69 minutes
Daily growth/decline +156 +105
Annual growth/decline +56,818 +38,446
Annual growth/decline rate +1.27% +0.07%
Population growth rate rank 83/197 160/197
One migration net change every
1.43 hours
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change +6,151 +65,731
Net migration rank 49/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 477,749 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 81/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 10.6% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 63/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

Panama
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Panama South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 6,151 - 65,731
2024 - 6,706 - 75,963
2023 50,197 7,262 -77,569 87,800
2022 50,556 7,967 -124,014 87,800
2021 46,747 5,473 -56,947 -16,778
2020 46,599 5,473 -31,101 112,631
2019 54,420 10,623 10,353 128,622
2018 57,508 11,130 30,951 118,220
2017 58,607 11,059 71,907 104,029
2016 59,454 10,109 122,923 91,568
2015 59,896 8,648 163,248 276,427
2014 60,227 7,105 167,464 308,037
2013 60,295 5,926 166,415 301,926
2012 60,471 5,447 215,859 281,866
2011 60,411 5,167 214,728 269,958
2010 59,418 4,953 213,083 52,042
2009 59,168 4,765 197,231 5,308
2008 58,961 4,568 215,841 -19,630
2007 58,454 4,330 248,286 -42,293
2006 58,067 4,087 203,441 -28,434
2005 58,014 3,843 187,920 -47,821
2004 58,281 3,596 225,988 -42,549
2003 57,458 3,352 244,251 -31,994
2002 57,011 3,099 247,752 -18,105
2001 56,654 2,856 312,643 -28,006
2000 56,236 2,602 390,167 -84,960
1999 55,911 2,341 368,272 -107,448
1998 55,482 2,084 393,436 -98,044
1997 55,060 1,820 422,773 -109,130
1996 54,512 1,533 446,142 -115,705
1995 54,069 1,221 468,967 -208,491
1994 53,845 899 473,200 -208,309
1993 53,591 560 477,302 -222,802
1992 53,186 182 494,352 -265,849
1991 53,079 -305 467,594 -270,754
1990 53,451 -854 411,546 79,294
1989 52,295 -1,368 403,266 186,120
1988 52,767 -1,750 399,297 192,534
1987 52,690 -1,953 378,758 198,057
1986 52,681 -2,136 395,651 189,782
1985 52,573 -2,297 416,219 97,949
1984 52,436 -2,435 436,384 101,394
1983 51,880 -2,518 514,844 102,167
1982 50,858 -2,554 605,626 48,638
1981 50,018 -2,620 631,189 18,442
1980 49,077 -2,701 583,294 -148,341
1979 48,362 -2,772 623,068 -139,566
1978 47,694 -2,811 499,084 -85,721
1977 47,438 -2,792 578,947 -90,737
1976 47,307 -2,727 530,558 -92,314
1975 47,149 -2,635 603,300 -52,332
1974 46,932 -2,531 673,030 27,005
1973 46,540 -2,464 699,115 35,779
1972 46,311 -2,448 740,469 25,382
1971 45,867 -2,454 789,185 -6,326
1970 45,075 -2,476 747,987 -27,999
1969 44,278 -2,510 694,227 -21,175
1968 43,641 -2,528 684,487 -16,868
1967 43,054 -2,528 692,169 -16,484
1966 42,457 -2,500 623,534 -16,688
1965 41,604 -2,454 641,090 -146,386
1964 40,806 -2,418 655,501 -102,284
1963 39,872 -2,380 685,824 -80,226
1962 38,537 -2,377 712,590 -94,606
1961 37,100 -2,394 730,173 -93,179
1960 35,431 -2,409 728,010 47,245

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/panama/south-korea | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 86.5% of the population change in Panama is from natural causes (a gain of 544,211 people) and 13.5% is from migration (a gain of 84,849 people). In South Korea 17.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 277,215 people) and 82.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,298,356 people).

As of 2024, 477,749 residents or 10.6% of the population were not native-born in Panama, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.

Biggest cities by population

Panama
City Population
Panama 410K
Colon 242K
Santiago de Veraguas 110K
Tocumen 103K
David 82.9K
La Chorrera 68.9K
Pacora 52.5K
Penonome 21.7K
Balboa 10K
Chitre 9.02K
South Korea
City Population
Seoul 9.67M
Busan 3.45M
Incheon 3.05M
Daegu 2.38M
Daejeon 1.48M
Gwangju 1.41M
Suwon 1.23M
Ulsan 1.13M
Yongin 1.08M
Goyang 1.06M

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/panama/south-korea | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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.