Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Panama
Panama: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 8.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Panama, 1970–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Panama recorded 8.3% for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in 2025.
The figure is down 3.5% on the previous year and up 88.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Panama peaked at 18.5% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 3.7%, in 2012.
Panama ranks 50th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 53 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Panama, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 7.1% | — |
| 1971 | 7.6% | +7.0% |
| 1972 | 6.8% | -10.6% |
| 1973 | 7.0% | +2.9% |
| 1974 | 5.8% | -17.1% |
| 1975 | 6.4% | +10.6% |
| 1976 | 6.7% | +4.0% |
| 1977 | 8.7% | +30.9% |
| 1978 | 8.1% | -7.7% |
| 1979 | 8.8% | +8.9% |
| 1982 | 8.4% | -4.2% |
| 1983 | 9.7% | +15.5% |
| 1984 | 10.1% | +3.8% |
| 1985 | 12.3% | +22.5% |
| 1986 | 10.5% | -14.7% |
| 1987 | 11.8% | +12.5% |
| 1988 | 16.3% | +37.9% |
| 1989 | 16.3% | -0.2% |
| 1990 | 11.6% | -28.9% |
| 1991 | 16.1% | +39.0% |
| 1992 | 14.7% | -9.0% |
| 1993 | 13.3% | -9.6% |
| 1994 | 14.0% | +5.6% |
| 1995 | 14.0% | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 14.3% | +2.2% |
| 1997 | 13.4% | -6.6% |
| 1998 | 14.0% | +4.9% |
| 1999 | 11.8% | -16.2% |
| 2000 | 13.5% | +15.1% |
| 2001 | 14.7% | +8.7% |
| 2002 | 14.1% | -4.1% |
| 2003 | 13.6% | -3.5% |
| 2004 | 12.4% | -8.6% |
| 2005 | 10.3% | -17.0% |
| 2006 | 9.1% | -11.8% |
| 2007 | 6.8% | -25.6% |
| 2009 | 5.1% | -24.7% |
| 2010 | 5.8% | +14.2% |
| 2011 | 3.9% | -32.8% |
| 2012 | 3.7% | -5.3% |
| 2013 | 3.7% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 4.4% | +19.1% |
| 2015 | 4.4% | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 4.8% | +10.0% |
| 2017 | 5.5% | +12.8% |
| 2018 | 5.3% | -2.7% |
| 2019 | 6.4% | +20.6% |
| 2020 | 18.5% | +189.4% |
| 2021 | 10.3% | -44.5% |
| 2022 | 8.3% | -19.5% |
| 2023 | 6.7% | -19.4% |
| 2024 | 8.6% | +28.9% |
| 2025 | 8.3% | -3.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 7.3% | 5.8% | 8.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 11.9% | 8.4% | 16.3% | 8 |
| 1990s | 13.7% | 11.6% | 16.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.1% | 5.1% | 14.7% | 9 |
| 2010s | 4.8% | 3.7% | 6.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.1% | 6.7% | 18.5% | 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 unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Panama?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Panama was 8.3% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Panama?
- The highest recorded value was 18.5% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Panama?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.7% in 2012.
- How does Panama rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Panama ranks 50th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Panama?
- Over the last ten years it is up 88.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Panama data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.