Proportion of population below international poverty line (%) in Panama
Panama: Proportion of population below international poverty line (%) was 3.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
3.1%
Change on year
down 16.2%
World rank
51st
of 133 countries
All-time high
29.8%
in 1989
All-time low
2.9%
in 2019
Years of data
30
1979–2024
Proportion of population below international poverty line in Panama, 1979–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
In 2024, proportion of population below international poverty line in Panama stood at 3.1%.
The figure is down 16.2% on the previous year and down 51.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of population below international poverty line in Panama peaked at 29.8% in 1989 and was at its lowest, 2.9%, in 2019.
Panama ranks 51st of 133 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Proportion of population below international poverty line (%) in Panama, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 15.6% | — |
| 1989 | 29.8% | +91.0% |
| 1991 | 27.1% | -9.1% |
| 1995 | 21.1% | -22.1% |
| 1997 | 19.9% | -5.7% |
| 1998 | 19.8% | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 17.7% | -10.6% |
| 2000 | 16.3% | -7.9% |
| 2001 | 20.8% | +27.6% |
| 2002 | 17.2% | -17.3% |
| 2003 | 16.8% | -2.3% |
| 2004 | 15.5% | -7.7% |
| 2005 | 14.5% | -6.5% |
| 2006 | 15.7% | +8.3% |
| 2007 | 13.0% | -17.2% |
| 2008 | 9.0% | -30.8% |
| 2009 | 6.6% | -26.7% |
| 2010 | 7.7% | +16.7% |
| 2011 | 6.1% | -20.8% |
| 2012 | 7.4% | +21.3% |
| 2013 | 5.9% | -20.3% |
| 2014 | 6.4% | +8.5% |
| 2015 | 4.8% | -25.0% |
| 2016 | 4.8% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 4.3% | -10.4% |
| 2018 | 3.7% | -14.0% |
| 2019 | 2.9% | -21.6% |
| 2021 | 3.3% | +13.8% |
| 2023 | 3.7% | +12.1% |
| 2024 | 3.1% | -16.2% |
Panama compared with similar countries
- Panama's 3.1% is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.4%, 7.8× the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Panama's 3.1% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 2.5%, 1.2× the median. (18 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 15.6% | 15.6% | 15.6% | 1 |
| 1980s | 29.8% | 29.8% | 29.8% | 1 |
| 1990s | 21.1% | 17.7% | 27.1% | 5 |
| 2000s | 14.5% | 6.6% | 20.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.4% | 2.9% | 7.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.4% | 3.1% | 3.7% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Panama
- 48 North Macedonia 3.9% compare
- 49 Morocco 3.7% compare
- 50 Ecuador 3.4% compare
- 52 Brazil 3.0% compare
- 53 Sri Lanka 2.7% compare
- 54 Iran (Islamic Republic of) 2.5% compare
- 54 Montenegro 2.5% compare
More poverty & inequality data for Panama
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 7 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 2.12 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 4,226 kg per hectare (2024)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate -5.59 % change on previous year (2024)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 12.5 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 12.5% (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of population below international poverty line in Panama?
- Proportion of population below international poverty line in Panama was 3.1% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest proportion of population below international poverty line recorded in Panama?
- The highest recorded value was 29.8% in 1989.
- What is the lowest proportion of population below international poverty line recorded in Panama?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.9% in 2019.
- How does Panama rank for proportion of population below international poverty line?
- Panama ranks 51st out of 133 countries with data for 2024.
- Is proportion of population below international poverty line rising or falling in Panama?
- Over the last ten years it is down 51.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Panama data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of population below international poverty line (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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