Labor force participation rate in Panama
Panama: Labor force participation rate was 66.3% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate in Panama, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate in Panama stood at 66.3%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Panama peaked at 68.5% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 54.5%, in 1990.
That places Panama 51st 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 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate in Panama, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 54.5% | — |
| 1991 | 57.8% | +6.2% |
| 1992 | 59.0% | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 60.1% | +1.9% |
| 1994 | 60.5% | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 61.3% | +1.3% |
| 1996 | 61.5% | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 61.6% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 62.8% | +2.0% |
| 1999 | 62.7% | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 63.0% | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 63.3% | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 63.6% | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 63.8% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 64.4% | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 64.5% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 63.7% | -1.3% |
| 2007 | 64.1% | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 65.7% | +2.5% |
| 2009 | 63.5% | -3.3% |
| 2010 | 64.9% | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 63.0% | -2.9% |
| 2012 | 65.0% | +3.1% |
| 2013 | 65.7% | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 65.7% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 65.7% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 66.2% | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 65.9% | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 67.6% | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 68.5% | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 66.4% | -3.1% |
| 2021 | 62.8% | -5.4% |
| 2022 | 66.3% | +5.6% |
| 2023 | 65.1% | -1.8% |
| 2024 | 66.3% | +1.8% |
| 2025 | 66.3% | -0.0% |
Panama compared with similar countries
- Panama's 66.3% is above the median for high income countries, which is 62.3%, 1.1× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Panama's 66.3% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 63.1%, 1.1× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 60.2% | 54.5% | 62.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 64.0% | 63.0% | 65.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 65.8% | 63.0% | 68.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 65.5% | 62.8% | 66.4% | 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 labor force participation rate in Panama?
- Labor force participation rate in Panama was 66.3% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate recorded in Panama?
- The highest recorded value was 68.5% in 2019.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Panama?
- The lowest recorded value was 54.5% in 1990.
- How does Panama rank for labor force participation rate?
- Panama ranks 51st out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Panama?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.0%. 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 Labor force participation 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 over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).