Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Panama

Panama: Public sector employment as a share of total employment was 17.98 in 2021. ▬ Flat

Latest (2021)
17.98
Change on year
up 12.3%
World rank
43rd
of 79 countries
All-time high
18.06
in 2000
All-time low
14.67
in 2006
Years of data
19
2000–2021

Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Panama, 2000–2021

051015202000201020212000: 18.12001: 17.22002: 16.22003: 16.32004: 15.92005: 14.92006: 14.72007: 152008: 14.82009: 14.82010: 15.82011: 162012: 15.42015: 15.72016: 15.82017: 16.42018: 15.72019: 162021: 18

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

In 2021, public sector employment as a share of total employment in Panama stood at 17.98.

The figure is up 12.3% on the previous year and up 12.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, public sector employment as a share of total employment in Panama peaked at 18.06 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 14.67, in 2006.

That places Panama 43rd out of 79 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.

Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Panama, year by year

Annual values for Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Panama, 2000 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2000 18.06 —
2001 17.17 -4.9%
2002 16.2 -5.6%
2003 16.32 +0.7%
2004 15.86 -2.8%
2005 14.86 -6.3%
2006 14.67 -1.3%
2007 14.96 +1.9%
2008 14.8 -1.0%
2009 14.85 +0.3%
2010 15.76 +6.1%
2011 16.03 +1.8%
2012 15.41 -3.9%
2015 15.74 +2.2%
2016 15.75 +0.1%
2017 16.44 +4.4%
2018 15.71 -4.5%
2019 16.01 +1.9%
2021 17.98 +12.3%

Panama compared with similar countries

  • Panama's 17.98 is below the median for high income countries, which is 23.54, 76% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
  • Panama's 17.98 is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 12.51, 1.4× the median. (17 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 15.78 14.67 18.06 10
2010s 15.86 15.41 16.44 8
2020s 17.98 17.98 17.98 1

Countries ranked near Panama

  1. 40 South Africa 19.46 compare
  2. 41 Argentina 18.88 compare
  3. 42 Mauritius 18.29 compare
  4. 44 Bulgaria 17.75 compare
  5. 45 Serbia 17.67 compare
  6. 46 Uruguay 16.99 compare

See the full ranking of 79 places →

More work & labour data for Panama

All data for Panama →

Frequently asked questions

What is public sector employment as a share of total employment in Panama?
Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Panama was 17.98 in 2021, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest public sector employment as a share of total employment recorded in Panama?
The highest recorded value was 18.06 in 2000.
What is the lowest public sector employment as a share of total employment recorded in Panama?
The lowest recorded value was 14.67 in 2006.
How does Panama rank for public sector employment as a share of total employment?
Panama ranks 43rd out of 79 countries with data for 2021.
Is public sector employment as a share of total employment rising or falling in Panama?
Over the last ten years it is up 12.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Panama data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Public sector employment as a share of total employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Panama. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 11 November 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/public-sector-employment-as-a-share-of-total-employment/panama/

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About this data

Indicator
Public sector employment as a share of total employment
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
79 places, 1,004 data points, 2000–2022
Last refreshed