Unemployment rate in Panama
Panama: Unemployment rate was 8.4% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment rate in Panama, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rate in Panama is 8.4%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 1.1% on the previous year and up 92.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Panama peaked at 14.7% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 3.7%, in 2013.
Panama ranks 51st of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.4% | 6.2% | 6.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 6.0% | 5.6% | 6.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.7% | 3.7% | 6.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.4% | 6.5% | 14.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Panama
More work & labour data for Panama
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 66.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 77.9% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 70.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 54.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 71.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 82.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 61.1% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate in Panama?
- Unemployment rate in Panama was 8.4% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate recorded in Panama?
- The highest recorded value was 14.7% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Panama?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.7% in 2013.
- How does Panama rank for unemployment rate?
- Panama ranks 51st out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Panama?
- Over the last ten years it is up 92.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Panama data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.