Panama: poverty, inequality and aid
Extreme poverty is 3.1% (2024), 64th of 151 in the world and 7th of 22 in Latin America & Caribbean. Poverty, $4.20/day is 6.8% (2024), 70th of 151 in the world and 7th of 22 in Latin America & Caribbean. Poverty, $8.30/day is 19.8% (2024), 87th of 151 in the world and 12th of 22 in Latin America & Caribbean.
Aid, poverty & equality: Panama in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Latin America & Caribbean; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme povertyExtreme poverty, $3.00 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 3.1%2024 | 64/151 | 7/22 | 16.3% | 7.7% | 3.3%2021 | −3.3 ppsince 2014 | 4.3% | 0.6% | 10.1% | |
| Poverty, $4.20/dayPoverty at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 6.8%2024 | 70/151 | 7/22 | 23.5% | 13.3% | 6.7%2021 | −3.6 ppsince 2014 | 8.0% | 0.7% | 18.2% | |
| Poverty, $8.30/dayPoverty at $8.30 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 19.8%2024 | 87/151 | 12/22 | 46.3% | 30.2% | 20.3%2021 | −4.6 ppsince 2014 | 24.7% | 1.7% | 46.2% | |
| National poverty ratePoverty at national poverty lines, % of population | 21.7%2023 | 71/145 | 15/23 | 37.9% | 29.8% | 21.8%2021 | −4.1 ppsince 2013 | — | — | — | |
| Gini indexGini index of income inequality | 49.72024 | 10/151 | 3/22 | 56.6 | 51.6 | 50.92021 | −1.6%since 2014 | — | — | — | |
| Top 10% income shareIncome share held by the richest 10% | 37.6%2024 | 11/151 | 3/22 | 43.2% | 39.6% | 39.3%2021 | −0.9 ppsince 2014 | — | — | — | |
| Bottom 20% income shareIncome share held by the poorest 20% | 3.6%2024 | 149/151 | 21/22 | 2.2% | 3.3% | 3.7%2021 | +0.2 ppsince 2014 | — | — | — | |
| UndernourishmentPrevalence of undernourishment, % of population | 4.7%2024 | 87/167 | 14/28 | 23.3%2001 | 9.0% | 4.7% | −2.6 ppsince 2014 | 5.1% | 2.6% | 8.1% | |
| Account ownershipAccount ownership (bank or mobile money), % of adults | 64.1%2024 | 86/145 | 12/21 | · | 24.9%2011 | 45.0%2021 | +20.4 ppsince 2014 | 73.5% | 94.9% | 78.7% | |
| Women in parliamentSeats held by women in national parliament, % | 21.7%2025 | 114/190 | 25/32 | 9.9% | 8.5% | 22.5% | +3.4 ppsince 2015 | 36.6% | 31.2% | 27.2% | |
| Net ODA receivedNet official development assistance received, US$ | $410m2023 | 75/145 | 13/32 | $26.9m | $127m | $146m | +4,356%since 2013 | $10.8bn | $761m | $259bn | |
| ODA, % of GNINet ODA received, % of GNI | 0.5%2023 | 106/139 | 16/30 | 0.2% | 0.5% | 0.3% | +0.5 ppsince 2013 | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.2% | |
| ODA per personNet ODA received per capita, US$ | $92.02023 | 49/145 | 8/32 | $9.0 | $35.0 | $34.0 | +3,723%since 2013 | $16.4 | $0.54 | $32.2 |
Better than ten years ago
- Extreme poverty−3.3 pp3.1% in 2024
- Poverty, $4.20/day−3.6 pp6.8% in 2024
- Poverty, $8.30/day−4.6 pp19.8% in 2024
- National poverty rate−4.1 pp21.7% in 2023
Worse than ten years ago
No rated indicator got worse over the decade.
Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).
Panama and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with Panama. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | Panama | United States | Colombia | Costa Rica |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme poverty | 3.1%2024 | 1.1%2024 | 8.5%2024 | 0.8%2025 |
| Poverty, $4.20/day | 6.8%2024 | 1.2%2024 | 14.7%2024 | 1.7%2025 |
| Poverty, $8.30/day | 19.8%2024 | 1.8%2024 | 37.0%2024 | 9.7%2025 |
| National poverty rate | 21.7%2023 | — | 31.8%2024 | 17.1%2025 |
| Gini index | 49.72024 | 41.82024 | 54.42024 | 45.52025 |
| Top 10% income share | 37.6%2024 | 30.7%2024 | 42.7%2024 | 34.3%2025 |
| Bottom 20% income share | 3.6%2024 | 5.1%2024 | 3.2%2024 | 4.7%2025 |
| Undernourishment | 4.7%2024 | 2.5%2024 | 4.1%2024 | 2.5%2024 |
| Account ownership | 64.1%2024 | 97.0%2024 | 57.1%2024 | 71.4%2024 |