Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Panama
Panama: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 37.9% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Panama, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of workers in vulnerable employment in Panama is 37.9%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 16.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Panama peaked at 42.1% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 27.3%, in 2008.
That places Panama 72nd 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 35 years of available data.
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Panama, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 34.3% | — |
| 1992 | 34.1% | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 33.9% | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 33.7% | -0.5% |
| 1995 | 33.5% | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 33.4% | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 33.3% | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 33.6% | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 34.0% | +1.0% |
| 2000 | 34.4% | +1.3% |
| 2001 | 34.9% | +1.4% |
| 2002 | 35.3% | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 35.7% | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 35.4% | -0.9% |
| 2005 | 35.1% | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 34.7% | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 32.4% | -6.8% |
| 2008 | 27.3% | -15.8% |
| 2009 | 33.0% | +21.0% |
| 2010 | 32.7% | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 30.8% | -5.9% |
| 2012 | 31.0% | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 31.6% | +2.1% |
| 2014 | 31.7% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 32.5% | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 34.0% | +4.8% |
| 2017 | 34.2% | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 36.1% | +5.3% |
| 2019 | 38.1% | +5.6% |
| 2020 | 38.2% | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 37.8% | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 42.1% | +11.5% |
| 2023 | 36.1% | -14.4% |
| 2024 | 37.9% | +5.1% |
| 2025 | 37.9% | -0.1% |
Panama compared with similar countries
- Panama's 37.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 9.5%, 4.0× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Panama's 37.9% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 26.1%, 1.5× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 33.7% | 33.3% | 34.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 33.8% | 27.3% | 35.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 33.3% | 30.8% | 38.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.3% | 36.1% | 42.1% | 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 share of workers in vulnerable employment in Panama?
- Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Panama was 37.9% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Panama?
- The highest recorded value was 42.1% in 2022.
- What is the lowest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Panama?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.3% in 2008.
- How does Panama rank for share of workers in vulnerable employment?
- Panama ranks 72nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in vulnerable employment rising or falling in Panama?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Panama data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of workers in vulnerable employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of employed population who are working as independent own-account workers (self-employed without staff), or contributing family workers (self-employed in a household business or farm).