Share in poverty relative to different poverty lines in Panama
Panama: Share in poverty relative to different poverty lines was 3.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share in poverty relative to different poverty lines in Panama, 1979–2024
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share in poverty relative to different poverty lines in Panama is 3.1%, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 16.3% on the previous year and down 51.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share in poverty relative to different poverty lines in Panama peaked at 29.8% in 1989 and was at its lowest, 2.9%, in 2019.
That places Panama 45th out of 120 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share in poverty relative to different poverty lines in Panama, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 15.6% | — |
| 1989 | 29.8% | +90.3% |
| 1991 | 27.1% | -8.9% |
| 1995 | 21.1% | -22.1% |
| 1997 | 19.9% | -5.7% |
| 1998 | 19.8% | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 17.7% | -10.4% |
| 2000 | 16.3% | -7.7% |
| 2001 | 20.8% | +27.2% |
| 2002 | 17.2% | -17.2% |
| 2003 | 16.8% | -2.4% |
| 2004 | 15.5% | -7.5% |
| 2005 | 14.5% | -6.4% |
| 2006 | 15.7% | +8.1% |
| 2007 | 13.0% | -17.5% |
| 2008 | 9.0% | -30.6% |
| 2009 | 6.6% | -26.2% |
| 2010 | 7.7% | +15.2% |
| 2011 | 6.1% | -20.6% |
| 2012 | 7.4% | +22.3% |
| 2013 | 5.9% | -20.4% |
| 2014 | 6.4% | +7.8% |
| 2015 | 4.8% | -25.0% |
| 2016 | 4.8% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 4.3% | -10.9% |
| 2018 | 3.7% | -12.4% |
| 2019 | 2.9% | -22.2% |
| 2021 | 3.3% | +13.2% |
| 2023 | 3.7% | +13.1% |
| 2024 | 3.1% | -16.3% |
Panama compared with similar countries
- Panama's 3.1% is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.4%, 7.9× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Panama's 3.1% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 3.1%, 1.0× 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 | 14.6% | 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
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 share in poverty relative to different poverty lines in Panama?
- Share in poverty relative to different poverty lines in Panama was 3.1% in 2024, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share in poverty relative to different poverty lines recorded in Panama?
- The highest recorded value was 29.8% in 1989.
- What is the lowest share in poverty relative to different poverty lines recorded in Panama?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.9% in 2019.
- How does Panama rank for share in poverty relative to different poverty lines?
- Panama ranks 45th out of 120 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share in poverty relative to different poverty lines rising or falling in Panama?
- Over the last ten years it is down 51.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Panama data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share in poverty relative to different poverty lines. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of population living in households with an income or consumption below $3 per day.