Panama vs Puerto Rico (US)
Panama and Puerto Rico (US) compared on 110 measures that both have. Each pair of values is for the same period, the latest one with data for both countries, so the year can differ from one row to the next.
Where Panama and Puerto Rico (US) differ most
- Tuberculosis incidence, 2024: Panama 63 per 100,000 people, Puerto Rico (US) 1 per 100,000 people (114.5 times as high)
- Employment in agriculture, 2025: Panama 16.0%, Puerto Rico (US) 1.1% (14.1 times as high)
- Renewable internal freshwater per person, 2022: Panama 31,040 m³ per person, Puerto Rico (US) 2,205 m³ per person (14.1 times as high)
- Protected areas, 2025: Panama 27.2%, Puerto Rico (US) 2.3% (11.8 times as high)
- Renewable energy share, 2021: Panama 28.0%, Puerto Rico (US) 2.6% (10.8 times as high)
Measures where one value is the largest multiple of the other, among measures with positive values. Totals such as population, index values and growth rates are left out, because their size says little about the difference.
Population and ageing
| Measure | Panama | Puerto Rico (US) | Panama compared with Puerto Rico (US) | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population estimates and projections people |
4,458,759 people | 3,242,022 people | +37.5% | 2023 | UN Population Division |
| Median age estimates and projections years |
29.6 years | 45.3 years | −34.7% | 2023 | UN Population Division |
| Fertility rate estimates and projections live births per woman |
2.12 births per woman | 0.94 births per woman | +125.1% | 2023 | UN Population Division |
| Population growth estimates and projections % per year |
1.29% | 0.12% | +1.17 percentage points | 2023 | UN Population Division |
| Population people |
4,571,189 people | 3,184,835 people | +43.5% | 2025 | World Bank |
| Population growth annual % change |
1.22% | -0.55% | +1.78 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
| Population aged 65 and over % of total population |
9.7% | 25.3% | −15.6 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
| Population aged 0 to 14 % of total population |
24.5% | 11.2% | +13.3 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
| Fertility rate births per woman |
2.11 births per woman | 0.92 births per woman | +128.9% | 2024 | World Bank |
| Crude birth rate births per 1,000 people |
15.9 per 1,000 people | 5.7 per 1,000 people | +10.2 per 1,000 people | 2024 | World Bank |
| Crude death rate deaths per 1,000 people |
4.9 per 1,000 people | 10.3 per 1,000 people | −5.4 per 1,000 people | 2024 | World Bank |
| Urban population share % of total population |
66.2% | 94.3% | −28.2 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
| Adolescent birth rate births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 |
55.9 per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 | 13.3 per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 | +42.6 per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 | 2024 | World Bank |
| Age dependency ratio dependants per 100 people aged 15 to 64 |
51.9 per 100 working-age people | 57.5 per 100 working-age people | −5.6 per 100 working-age people | 2025 | World Bank |
| Population density people per square kilometre of land |
60.9 people per km² | 361.1 people per km² | −83.1% | 2024 | World Bank |
| Urban population growth annual % change |
1.46% | -0.46% | +1.92 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
Migration and citizenship
| Measure | Panama | Puerto Rico (US) | Panama compared with Puerto Rico (US) | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration estimates and projections per 1,000 people |
1.6 per 1,000 people | 6.1 per 1,000 people | −4.5 per 1,000 people | 2023 | UN Population Division |
| Net migration people |
6,151 people | 5,495 people | +11.9% | 2025 | World Bank |
| International migrant stock % of population |
10.6% | 6.9% | +3.7 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
Employment and occupations
| Measure | Panama | Puerto Rico (US) | Panama compared with Puerto Rico (US) | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ILO estimate of the unemployment rate % of the labour force aged 15 and over |
8.4% | 6.0% | +2.4 percentage points | 2025 | ILOSTAT |
| ILO estimate of youth unemployment % of the labour force aged 15 to 24 |
19.8% | 14.0% | +5.8 percentage points | 2025 | ILOSTAT |
| Labour force participation % of working-age population aged 15 and over |
66.3% | 42.8% | +23.5 percentage points | 2025 | ILOSTAT |
| Women's labour force participation % of women aged 15 and over |
54.9% | 36.9% | +18.1 percentage points | 2025 | ILOSTAT |
| Employment-to-population ratio % of population aged 15 and over |
60.8% | 40.2% | +20.5 percentage points | 2025 | ILOSTAT |
| Employment in agriculture % of total employment |
16.0% | 1.1% | +14.9 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
| Employment in industry % of total employment |
17.0% | 14.7% | +2.3 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
| Employment in services % of total employment |
67.0% | 84.1% | −17.2 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
Economy and productivity
| Measure | Panama | Puerto Rico (US) | Panama compared with Puerto Rico (US) | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GDP in US dollars current US dollars |
US$90.5 billion | US$129.4 billion | −30.1% | 2025 | World Bank |
| GDP per capita in US dollars current US dollars per person |
US$19,790 per person | US$40,620 per person | −51.3% | 2025 | World Bank |
| GDP per capita, PPP constant 2021 international dollars per person |
Int$37,516 per person | Int$44,603 per person | −15.9% | 2025 | World Bank |
| GNI per capita, Atlas method current US dollars per person |
US$19,140 per person | US$27,320 per person | −29.9% | 2025 | World Bank |
| Real GDP growth annual % change |
4.4% | 0.3% | +4.0 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
| Services share of GDP % of GDP |
70.0% | 51.9% | +18.1 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
| Investment share of GDP % of GDP |
33.5% | 14.2% | +19.4 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
| Household consumption per person constant 2015 US dollars per person |
US$8,494 per person | US$26,723 per person | −68.2% | 2024 | World Bank |
Prices and purchasing power
| Measure | Panama | Puerto Rico (US) | Panama compared with Puerto Rico (US) | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inflation measured by the GDP deflator annual % change |
0.2% | 2.3% | −2.1 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
| Exchange rate to the US dollar local currency units per US dollar, annual average |
1.000 per US$ | 1.000 per US$ | same | 2025 | World Bank |
Education and skills
| Measure | Panama | Puerto Rico (US) | Panama compared with Puerto Rico (US) | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ILO estimate of the youth NEET rate % of youth aged 15 to 24 |
14.8% | 20.5% | −5.7 percentage points | 2025 | ILOSTAT |
| Primary completion (UIS) % of children 3 to 5 years above the final primary grade age |
97.3% | 98.9% | −1.6 percentage points | 2023 | UNESCO UIS |
| Lower secondary completion % of young people 3 to 5 years above the final grade age |
90.3% | 98.8% | −8.5 percentage points | 2023 | UNESCO UIS |
| Upper secondary completion % of young people 3 to 5 years above the final grade age |
74.7% | 96.6% | −21.9 percentage points | 2023 | UNESCO UIS |
| Out-of-school children % of children of primary school age |
7.7% | 13.3% | −5.6 percentage points | 2024 | UNESCO UIS |
| Out-of-school adolescents % of adolescents of lower secondary school age |
20.4% | 14.8% | +5.6 percentage points | 2023 | UNESCO UIS |
| Out-of-school youth % of youth of upper secondary school age |
27.8% | 25.3% | +2.4 percentage points | 2023 | UNESCO UIS |
| Primary net enrolment % of children of primary school age |
92.3% | 86.7% | +5.6 percentage points | 2024 | UNESCO UIS |
| Youth literacy % of people aged 15 to 24 |
99.1% | 92.4% | +6.7 percentage points | 2017 | UNESCO UIS |
| Qualified primary teachers % of primary teachers |
99.2% | 92.6% | +6.7 percentage points | 2016 | UNESCO UIS |
| Education share of public spending % of total government expenditure |
16.3% | 17.1% | −0.9 percentage points | 2024 | UNESCO UIS |
| Education spending % of GDP |
2.5% | 4.3% | −1.8 percentage points | 2023 | World Bank |
| Primary school enrolment (gross) % of the official primary school-age population |
96.9% | 87.9% | +9.0 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
| Tertiary education enrolment (gross) % of the population in the five years after secondary school age |
53.7% | 77.9% | −24.2 percentage points | 2023 | World Bank |
| Adult literacy rate % of people aged 15 and above |
94.1% | 92.0% | +2.1 percentage points | 2010 | World Bank |
| Primary school completion rate % of the relevant age group |
96.2% | 83.1% | +13.1 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
| Secondary school enrolment (gross) % of the official secondary school-age population |
82.6% | 86.8% | −4.2 percentage points | 2016 | World Bank |
Health and healthcare
| Measure | Panama | Puerto Rico (US) | Panama compared with Puerto Rico (US) | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy estimates and projections years |
79.6 years | 81.7 years | −2.6% | 2023 | UN Population Division |
| Life expectancy at 65, estimates and projections years |
20.6 years | 20.9 years | −1.4% | 2023 | UN Population Division |
| Healthy life expectancy years |
67.3 years | 67.5 years | −0.3% | 2023 | WHO |
| Adult obesity % of adults aged 18+ |
37.7% | 42.4% | −4.7 percentage points | 2024 | WHO |
| Hypertension % of adults aged 30 to 79 |
36.1% | 42.6% | −6.5 percentage points | 2019 | WHO |
| Suicide rate deaths per 100,000 people |
4.6 per 100,000 people | 6.5 per 100,000 people | −1.9 per 100,000 people | 2023 | WHO |
| Premature NCD mortality % probability |
10.9% | 10.4% | +0.5 percentage points | 2023 | WHO |
| Physical inactivity % of adults aged 18+ |
58.0% | 45.9% | +12.0 percentage points | 2022 | WHO |
| Poisoning deaths deaths per 100,000 people |
0.4 per 100,000 people | 0.2 per 100,000 people | +0.2 per 100,000 people | 2023 | WHO |
| Life expectancy at birth years |
79.8 years | 81.9 years | −2.6% | 2024 | World Bank |
| Life expectancy at birth, women years |
82.7 years | 85.4 years | −3.1% | 2024 | World Bank |
| Life expectancy at birth, men years |
76.9 years | 78.3 years | −1.8% | 2024 | World Bank |
| Maternal mortality ratio maternal deaths per 100,000 live births |
37 per 100,000 live births | 11 per 100,000 live births | +26 per 100,000 live births | 2023 | World Bank |
| Physicians physicians per 1,000 people |
1.17 per 1,000 people | 1.75 per 1,000 people | −0.58 per 1,000 people | 1995 | World Bank |
| Hospital beds beds per 1,000 people |
2.2 per 1,000 people | 3.3 per 1,000 people | −1.1 per 1,000 people | 1996 | World Bank |
| Diabetes prevalence % of population aged 20 to 79 |
11.1% | 10.9% | +0.2 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
| Tuberculosis incidence new cases per 100,000 people |
63 per 100,000 people | 1 per 100,000 people | +62 per 100,000 people | 2024 | World Bank |
Internet and digital society
| Measure | Panama | Puerto Rico (US) | Panama compared with Puerto Rico (US) | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Internet users % of population |
67.3% | 87.3% | −20.0 percentage points | 2022 | World Bank |
| Mobile subscriptions subscriptions per 100 people |
157 per 100 people | 125 per 100 people | +32 per 100 people | 2023 | World Bank |
| Fixed broadband subscriptions subscriptions per 100 people |
18.1 per 100 people | 23.2 per 100 people | −5.0 per 100 people | 2023 | World Bank |
Business and industry
| Measure | Panama | Puerto Rico (US) | Panama compared with Puerto Rico (US) | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industry share of GDP % of GDP |
24.9% | 47.0% | −22.1 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
| New businesses registered new limited liability companies |
10,136 companies | 11,218 companies | −9.6% | 2020 | World Bank |
| Manufacturing share of GDP % of GDP |
4.8% | 44.0% | −39.2 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
Trade and investment
| Measure | Panama | Puerto Rico (US) | Panama compared with Puerto Rico (US) | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exports share of GDP % of GDP |
44.4% | 51.9% | −7.5 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
| Imports share of GDP % of GDP |
39.3% | 42.7% | −3.4 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
| Trade as a share of GDP % of GDP |
83.7% | 94.6% | −10.9 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
Energy and electricity
| Measure | Panama | Puerto Rico (US) | Panama compared with Puerto Rico (US) | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Access to electricity % of population |
96.0% | 100.0% | −4.0 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
| Renewable energy share % of total final energy consumption |
28.0% | 2.6% | +25.4 percentage points | 2021 | World Bank |
| Fossil electricity share % of total electricity production |
31.7% | 95.4% | −63.8 percentage points | 2021 | World Bank |
Climate and emissions
| Measure | Panama | Puerto Rico (US) | Panama compared with Puerto Rico (US) | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temperature change °C difference from the 1951 to 1980 average |
1.87 °Ce (Estimated value) | 1.16 °Ce (Estimated value) | +0.71 °C | 2025 | FAOSTAT |
| Total greenhouse gas emissions million tonnes of CO2 equivalent |
19.2 Mt CO2e | 17.6 Mt CO2e | +9.1% | 2024 | World Bank |
| Greenhouse gas emissions per person tonnes of CO2 equivalent per person |
4.3 t CO2e per person | 5.5 t CO2e per person | −22.6% | 2024 | World Bank |
| CO2 emissions per person tonnes of CO2 per person |
2.74 t CO2 per person | 4.82 t CO2 per person | −43.2% | 2024 | World Bank |
| Methane emissions million tonnes of CO2 equivalent |
4.8 Mt CO2e | 1.5 Mt CO2e | +211.7% | 2024 | World Bank |
| Nitrous oxide emissions million tonnes of CO2 equivalent |
1.05 Mt CO2e | 0.64 Mt CO2e | +63.1% | 2024 | World Bank |
Air quality and ecosystems
| Measure | Panama | Puerto Rico (US) | Panama compared with Puerto Rico (US) | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 air pollution micrograms per cubic metre |
11.9 µg/m³ | 10.3 µg/m³ | +15.5% | 2023 | WHO |
| Forest area % of land area |
62.2% | 49.7% | +12.5 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
| Protected areas % of total territorial area |
27.2% | 2.3% | +24.9 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
| PM2.5 air pollution exposure micrograms per cubic metre |
15.1 µg/m³ | 7.8 µg/m³ | +92.9% | 2023 | World Bank |
| Terrestrial protected areas % of land area |
31.4% | 6.6% | +24.8 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
Water, sanitation and waste
| Measure | Panama | Puerto Rico (US) | Panama compared with Puerto Rico (US) | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic drinking water access % of population |
95.3% | 100.0% | −4.7 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
| Basic sanitation access % of population |
89.1% | 100.0% | −10.9 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
| Level of water stress % of available freshwater resources |
0.9% | 19.5% | −18.6 percentage points | 2022 | World Bank |
| Renewable internal freshwater per person cubic metres per person |
31,040 m³ per person | 2,205 m³ per person | +1,307.8% | 2022 | World Bank |
Agriculture, food and fisheries
| Measure | Panama | Puerto Rico (US) | Panama compared with Puerto Rico (US) | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen fertiliser use kg of nitrogen (N) per hectare of cropland |
37.7 kg/hae (Estimated value) | 17.9 kg/hae (Estimated value) | +110.4% | 2024 | FAOSTAT |
| Agriculture share of GDP % of GDP |
2.6% | 0.7% | +1.9 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
| Cereal yield kilograms per hectare |
4,226 kg per hectare | 3,747 kg per hectare | +12.8% | 2024 | World Bank |
| Agricultural land % of land area |
23.1% | 18.5% | +4.5 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
| Capture fisheries production metric tonnes |
276,799 tonnes | 2,130 tonnes | +12,895.3% | 2024 | World Bank |
| Food production index index, 2014 to 2016 = 100 |
105.4 (2014-16 = 100) | 92.2 (2014-16 = 100) | +14.3% | 2024 | World Bank |
| Fertiliser use kilograms per hectare of arable land |
95.6 kg per hectare | 31.3 kg per hectare | +204.8% | 2024 | World Bank |
| Land area square kilometres |
74,180 km² | 8,870 km² | +736.3% | 2024 | World Bank |
Science and innovation
| Measure | Panama | Puerto Rico (US) | Panama compared with Puerto Rico (US) | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R&D spending share of GDP % of GDP |
0.10% | 0.43% | −0.32 percentage points | 2015 | World Bank |
| Researchers per million people researchers per million people |
91 per million people | 332 per million people | −242 per million people | 2015 | World Bank |
| Scientific and technical journal articles articles, fractional count |
282 articles | 605 articles | −53.4% | 2023 | World Bank |
Crime, justice and public safety
| Measure | Panama | Puerto Rico (US) | Panama compared with Puerto Rico (US) | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intentional homicides victims per 100,000 people |
11.7 per 100,000 people | 14.6 per 100,000 people | −2.9 per 100,000 people | 2023 | World Bank |
The difference column shows Panama compared with Puerto Rico (US): in percentage points for percentages, in the same unit for rates per population and index values, and in percent for other measures.
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