Labor force participation rate by age in Panama
Panama: Labor force participation rate by age was 44.9% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate by age in Panama, 1990–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, labor force participation rate by age in Panama stood at 44.9%.
The figure is up 5.3% on the previous year and down 0.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in Panama peaked at 51.9% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 40.6%, in 2021.
Panama ranks 68th of 188 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate by age in Panama, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 43.8% | — |
| 1991 | 48.4% | +10.5% |
| 1992 | 50.1% | +3.6% |
| 1993 | 51.9% | +3.4% |
| 1994 | 50.8% | -2.0% |
| 1995 | 51.1% | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 50.8% | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 50.6% | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 50.6% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 50.8% | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 50.1% | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 49.4% | -1.4% |
| 2002 | 48.7% | -1.4% |
| 2003 | 49.4% | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 49.3% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 49.0% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 47.2% | -3.7% |
| 2007 | 47.2% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 49.6% | +5.1% |
| 2009 | 50.0% | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 47.4% | -5.2% |
| 2011 | 43.8% | -7.4% |
| 2012 | 46.2% | +5.4% |
| 2013 | 46.5% | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 45.1% | -3.0% |
| 2015 | 43.2% | -4.2% |
| 2016 | 43.6% | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 43.7% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 45.6% | +4.4% |
| 2019 | 46.3% | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 50.2% | +8.5% |
| 2021 | 40.6% | -19.3% |
| 2022 | 45.6% | +12.5% |
| 2023 | 42.7% | -6.5% |
| 2024 | 44.9% | +5.3% |
Panama compared with similar countries
- Panama's 44.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 40.6%, 1.1× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Panama's 44.9% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 45.1%, 100% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 49.9% | 43.8% | 51.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 49.0% | 47.2% | 50.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 45.2% | 43.2% | 47.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 44.8% | 40.6% | 50.2% | 5 |
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 labor force participation rate by age in Panama?
- Labor force participation rate by age in Panama was 44.9% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Panama?
- The highest recorded value was 51.9% in 1993.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Panama?
- The lowest recorded value was 40.6% in 2021.
- How does Panama rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- Panama ranks 68th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in Panama?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Panama data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the working-age population aged 15-24 who are economically active (employed or unemployed).