Panama/Society

Society in Panama

An overview of key social indicators. Select a category for detailed trends, charts, and insights.

Explore Social Domains

Demographics

Coming Soon
Population
4.5M(2023)
Population Growth
1.3%(2023)
Fertility Rate
2.12(2023)
Death Rate
4.8 per 1k(2023)
Net Migration
+6.7K(2024)

Public Health

Coming Soon
Life Expectancy
79.6 years(2023)
Under-5 Mortality
13.3 per 1k(2023)
Maternal Mortality
37 per 100k(2023)
Health Expenditure (as share of GDP)
8.5%(2022)

Education & Human Capital

Coming Soon
Literacy Rate
96%(2019)
Primary Enrollment
86.2%(2017)
Secondary Enrollment
82.9%(2021)
Tertiary Enrollment
58.2(2022)
Education Expenditure (as share of GDP)
3.4%(2022)

Living Standards & Connectivity

Coming Soon
Internet Users
78%(2023)
Access to Electricity
97%(2023)
Access to Basic Drinking Water
94.7%(2022)
Urban Population
3.1M(2023)
Rural Population
1.4M(2023)

Current Snapshot Overview

A summary of key social and demographic indicators for Panama

  • Panama has an estimated population of 4.5M
    2023
    A steady annual growth rate of 1.3%
    2023
    supports sustained population expansion, providing a stable base for economic development. The fertility rate of 2.1 births per woman
    2023
    is above replacement level, ensuring sustainable long-term population stability without significant external migration. Positive net migration of approximately 7K individuals annually (or 1.5 per 1,000 inhabitants)
    2024
    contributes to population stability and growth.
  • Regarding public health, robust public health systems are evident in a strong life expectancy of 79.6 years
    2023
    , indicating effective healthcare delivery. Concurrently, maternal and child health indicators show solid progress, with child mortality (under 5 years) at 13.3 per 1,000 live births
    2023
    and maternal mortality at 37 per 100,000 live births
    2023
    , indicating improving but still developing services. These outcomes are supported by a moderate commitment to health system development, with 8.5% of GDP directed to healthcare expenditure
    2022
    .
  • Strong educational foundations are evident in the high adult literacy rate of 96%
    2019
    , which significantly contributes to human capital development. Complementing this, educational access shows solid progress through 86% primary enrollment
    2017
    and 83% secondary participation rates
    2021
    . This educational framework is supported by limited educational investment, at 3.4% of GDP
    2022
    , which may constrain the scale and quality of future human capital development initiatives.
  • In terms of infrastructure and connectivity, the predominantly urban character, with 70% urban population
    2023
    , supports modern economic structures while maintaining important rural-urban linkages. Furthermore, infrastructure development shows strong progress with 97% electricity access
    2023
    and 78% internet penetration
    2023
    , supporting ongoing modernization efforts and enhancing quality of life.

Key Development Insights

Population Dynamics

Managing demographic trends is crucial for long-term economic planning and workforce stability.

Public Health System

Sustained, high investment in healthcare underpins the country's excellent life expectancy and human development outcomes.

Human Capital Formation

Educational attainment is a direct driver of economic innovation and global competitiveness. Investment in education is key to unlocking human potential.

Infrastructure & Connectivity

Infrastructure shapes economic efficiency, urbanization patterns, and digital integration, being critical for modern economies.

More About This Country

Neighbors & Regional Peers

Note: The information on this page has been compiled from authoritative sources. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, please note that some figures may not be current or entirely precise.