Share of workers in informal employment vs. GDP per capita in Panama

Panama: Share of workers in informal employment vs. GDP per capita was 58.7% in 2024. ▬ Flat

Latest (2024)
58.7%
Change on year
up 4.6%
World rank
27th
of 82 countries
All-time high
58.7%
in 2024
All-time low
46.5%
in 2011
Years of data
19
2003–2024

Share of workers in informal employment vs. GDP per capita in Panama, 2003–2024

02040602003201320242003: 58.1 %2006: 56 %2007: 54.1 %2008: 51 %2009: 52.4 %2010: 49.8 %2011: 46.5 %2012: 47 %2013: 47.9 %2014: 48 %2015: 47.9 %2016: 48.5 %2017: 49.4 %2018: 51.4 %2019: 52.8 %2020: 56.1 %2021: 55.7 %2023: 56.1 %2024: 58.7 %

Source: International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2024, share of workers in informal employment vs. gdp per capita in Panama stood at 58.7%. That is the highest value across all 19 years on record.

The figure 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 vs. gdp per capita in Panama peaked at 58.7% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 46.5%, in 2011.

That places Panama 27th out of 82 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

Share of workers in informal employment vs. GDP per capita in Panama, year by year

Annual values for Share of workers in informal employment vs. GDP per capita in Panama, 2003 to 2024.
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%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 24 Paraguay 64.5% compare
  2. 25 El Salvador 64.0% compare
  3. 26 Thailand 63.2% compare
  4. 28 Kyrgyzstan 57.5% compare
  5. 29 Mexico 56.4% compare
  6. 30 Colombia 56.0% compare

See the full ranking of 82 places →

More work & labour data for Panama

All data for Panama →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of workers in informal employment vs. gdp per capita in Panama?
Share of workers in informal employment vs. gdp per capita 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 vs. gdp per capita recorded in Panama?
The highest recorded value was 58.7% in 2024.
What is the lowest share of workers in informal employment vs. gdp per capita recorded in Panama?
The lowest recorded value was 46.5% in 2011.
How does Panama rank for share of workers in informal employment vs. gdp per capita?
Panama ranks 27th out of 82 countries with data for 2024.
Is share of workers in informal employment vs. gdp per capita 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 vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Share of workers in informal employment vs. GDP per capita in Panama. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/share-of-workers-in-informal-employment-vs-gdp-per-capita/panama/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of workers in informal employment vs. GDP per capita
Unit
%
Source
International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
82 places, 1,190 data points, 2000–2025
Last refreshed

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.