Latin America
Living in Panama
Photo: Panama City skyline on the bay · Nico2panama, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
A tropical country joining two oceans, with the Panama Canal, a dollarised economy and a modern skyline in Panama City. Editorial
The numbers
Main city climate27° to 28°CColdest and warmest month averages, Panama City · 2020
Average temperature27.2°CPanama City (whole country 25.6°C) · 2020
Price level50%Of US prices for everyday goods and services · 2025
Average spending$1,513Per person per month (international $, PPP) · 2024
Income per person$43,900GDP per person a year (international $, PPP) · 2025
Unemployment8.4%Of the labour force · 2025
Homicides11.7Per 100,000 people a year · 2023
Life expectancy79.8 yearsAt birth · 2024
Clean air15 µg/m³Average fine-particle pollution (WHO guideline: 5) · 2023
Forest62%Of the land area · 2024
City dwellers66%Of people live in cities and towns · 2025
Tax revenue7.2%Of GDP · 2024
Language and getting around Editorial
- Languages: Spanish. Some English, mostly in cities and business.
- Public transport: Moderate: good in the main cities, a car helps elsewhere.
- Geography: Has a coastline, with mountain areas. Capital: Panama City.
Moving to Panama
Visa and residence rules depend on your nationality, job, studies and family, and they change often. Start with the government's own website: www.migracion.gob.pa.
Sources
| Indicator | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP per person (PPP) | 43,902.16 international $ | 2025 | World Bank WDI |
| Unemployment | 8.36 % of labour force | 2025 | World Bank WDI (ILO estimate) |
| Intentional homicides | 11.71 per 100,000 people | 2023 | World Bank WDI (UNODC) |
| Political stability and absence of violence | 0.24 score, -2.5 to 2.5 | 2025 | Worldwide Governance Indicators |
| Government effectiveness (public services) | 0.22 score, -2.5 to 2.5 | 2025 | Worldwide Governance Indicators |
| Life expectancy at birth | 79.78 years | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Health spending per person | 1,557.81 US$ per person | 2023 | World Bank WDI (WHO) |
| Tax revenue | 7.18 % of GDP | 2024 | World Bank WDI (IMF) |
| People living in cities and towns | 66.15 % of population | 2025 | World Bank WDI (UN) |
| Forest area | 62.25 % of land | 2024 | World Bank WDI (FAO) |
| Fine-particle air pollution (PM2.5) | 15.12 µg/m³, annual mean | 2023 | World Bank WDI |
| Price level of household goods and services | 0.5 ratio, United States = 1 | 2025 | Calculated: PPP conversion factor (private consumption) / official exchange rate, World Bank WDI |
| Average household spending per person | 1,513 international $ per person per month | 2024 | Calculated: household consumption (PPP) / population / 12, World Bank WDI |
| Average temperature, whole country 1991-2020 | 25.6 °C | 2020 | World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal (CRU TS 4.08, 1991-2020) |
| Average temperature, main city | 27.2 °C | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
| Coldest month average, main city | 26.6 °C | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
| Warmest month average, main city | 28.1 °C | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
| Rainfall, main city | 1,934 mm per year | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
Data checked 2 November 2026. National averages hide differences between cities and regions. Climate figures for Panama City are 2001–2020 averages.
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