Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Panama
Panama: Public sector employment as a share of total employment was 18.0% in 2021. ▬ Flat
Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Panama, 2000–2021
Source: World Bank (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2021, public sector employment as a share of total employment in Panama stood at 18.0%.
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 18.1% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 14.7%, 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
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 18.1% | — |
| 2001 | 17.2% | -4.9% |
| 2002 | 16.2% | -5.6% |
| 2003 | 16.3% | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 15.9% | -2.8% |
| 2005 | 14.9% | -6.3% |
| 2006 | 14.7% | -1.3% |
| 2007 | 15.0% | +1.9% |
| 2008 | 14.8% | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 14.8% | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 15.8% | +6.1% |
| 2011 | 16.0% | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 15.4% | -3.9% |
| 2015 | 15.7% | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 15.8% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 16.4% | +4.4% |
| 2018 | 15.7% | -4.5% |
| 2019 | 16.0% | +1.9% |
| 2021 | 18.0% | +12.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 15.8% | 14.7% | 18.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.9% | 15.4% | 16.4% | 8 |
| 2020s | 18.0% | 18.0% | 18.0% | 1 |
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 public sector employment as a share of total employment in Panama?
- Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Panama was 18.0% in 2021, according to World Bank (2025) – with minor processing by 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 18.1% in 2000.
- What is the lowest public sector employment as a share of total employment recorded in Panama?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.7% 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 World Bank (2025) – with minor processing by 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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CSV · JSON — 19 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of all employed people who are paid employees of the public sector, including government, the armed forces, public services, and state-owned enterprises.