Costa Rica vs Panama: Income share held by highest 20%
Costa Rica
50.9%
in 2025
Panama
54.3%
in 2024
Costa Rica rank
10th
Panama rank
7th
Income share held by highest 20% over time
- Costa Rica
- Panama
How they compare
Panama currently reports 54.3% against 50.9% in Costa Rica, a difference of 3.4%.
That makes Panama's figure about 1.1 times Costa Rica's.
Across all 29 years both countries report, Panama has been ahead every year.
Costa Rica ranks 10th and Panama ranks 7th of 123 countries.
Panama has averaged higher in every one of the 5 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Costa Rica | Panama | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 49.9% | 60.8% | 10.9% | Panama |
| 1990s | 51.0% | 60.5% | 9.5% | Panama |
| 2000s | 54.5% | 58.4% | 3.9% | Panama |
| 2010s | 53.8% | 55.1% | 1.3% | Panama |
| 2020s | 52.4% | 54.5% | 2.0% | Panama |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher income share held by highest 20%, Costa Rica or Panama?
- Panama, at 54.3% against 50.9% in Costa Rica as of 2024.
- What is the difference in income share held by highest 20% between Costa Rica and Panama?
- 3.4%, with Panama ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Costa Rica and Panama?
- 29 years are reported by both, from 1989 to 2024.
- How do Costa Rica and Panama rank globally for income share held by highest 20%?
- Costa Rica ranks 10th and Panama ranks 7th of 123 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ, published as Income share held by highest 20%. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
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About this data
Percentage share of income or consumption is the share that accrues to subgroups of population indicated by deciles or quintiles. Percentage shares by quintile may not sum to 100 because of rounding.