Share of workers in informal employment in Panama
Panama: Share of workers in informal employment was 58.7% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Share of workers in informal employment in Panama, 2003–2024
Source: International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of workers in informal employment in Panama is 58.7%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 19 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.6% on the previous year and up 22.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in informal employment in Panama peaked at 58.7% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 46.5%, in 2011.
Panama ranks 27th of 82 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Share of workers in informal employment in Panama, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 58.1% | — |
| 2006 | 56.0% | -3.7% |
| 2007 | 54.1% | -3.4% |
| 2008 | 51.0% | -5.7% |
| 2009 | 52.4% | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 49.8% | -4.9% |
| 2011 | 46.5% | -6.5% |
| 2012 | 47.0% | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 47.9% | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 48.0% | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 47.9% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 48.5% | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 49.4% | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 51.4% | +4.0% |
| 2019 | 52.8% | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 56.1% | +6.3% |
| 2021 | 55.7% | -0.8% |
| 2023 | 56.1% | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 58.7% | +4.6% |
Panama compared with similar countries
- Panama's 58.7% is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.4%, 24.5× the median. (35 countries reporting)
- Panama's 58.7% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 56.0%, 1.0× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 54.3% | 51.0% | 58.1% | 5 |
| 2010s | 48.9% | 46.5% | 52.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 56.7% | 55.7% | 58.7% | 4 |
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 share of workers in informal employment in Panama?
- Share of workers in informal employment in Panama was 58.7% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of workers in informal employment recorded in Panama?
- The highest recorded value was 58.7% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of workers in informal employment recorded in Panama?
- The lowest recorded value was 46.5% in 2011.
- How does Panama rank for share of workers in informal employment?
- Panama ranks 27th out of 82 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of workers in informal employment rising or falling in Panama?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Panama data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of workers in informal employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 19 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of employed people working in jobs that lack basic social or legal protection and employment benefits. Does not include illegal and illicit activities. Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.