Employment rate in Panama
Panama: Employment rate was 60.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment rate in Panama, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment rate in Panama is 60.8%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.1% on the previous year and down 3.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment rate in Panama peaked at 64.2% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 54.1%, in 1991.
That places Panama 67th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment rate in Panama, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 54.1% | — |
| 1992 | 55.3% | +2.2% |
| 1993 | 56.3% | +1.9% |
| 1994 | 56.6% | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 57.3% | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 57.3% | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 57.6% | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 58.8% | +2.2% |
| 1999 | 58.8% | -0.0% |
| 2000 | 59.1% | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 59.3% | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 59.6% | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 59.8% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 60.5% | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 60.7% | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 60.0% | -1.1% |
| 2007 | 60.5% | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 62.0% | +2.5% |
| 2009 | 59.8% | -3.5% |
| 2010 | 61.1% | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 60.5% | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 62.6% | +3.5% |
| 2013 | 63.3% | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 62.8% | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 62.8% | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 63.1% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 62.4% | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 64.1% | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 64.2% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 56.7% | -11.8% |
| 2021 | 56.4% | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 61.0% | +8.1% |
| 2023 | 60.9% | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 60.7% | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 60.8% | +0.1% |
Panama compared with similar countries
- Panama's 60.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 58.9%, 1.0× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Panama's 60.8% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 58.1%, 1.0× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 56.9% | 54.1% | 58.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 60.1% | 59.1% | 62.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 62.7% | 60.5% | 64.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 59.4% | 56.4% | 61.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Panama
More work & labour data for Panama
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.192 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.1956 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.1888 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.03 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.09 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 4,652 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1,175 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 2,950 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 2,955 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 5,905 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment rate in Panama?
- Employment rate in Panama was 60.8% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment rate recorded in Panama?
- The highest recorded value was 64.2% in 2019.
- What is the lowest employment rate recorded in Panama?
- The lowest recorded value was 54.1% in 1991.
- How does Panama rank for employment rate?
- Panama ranks 67th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rate rising or falling in Panama?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Panama data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Employment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and older) who are employed.