Panama: official statistics and sources
17 official bodies for Panama, from National Institute of Statistics and Census to Panama Open Data, with key figures from the World Bank and IMF. Official language: Spanish. Capital: Panama City.
Who holds power in Panama
- Head of state: José Raúl Mulino Quintero (Presidente de la República de Panamá)
- Head of government: The head of state leads the government (no prime minister listed)
- Foreign minister: Javier Martínez Acha Vásquez (Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores de la República de Panamá)
Source: UN Protocol and Liaison Service list, dated 15 October 2026. All world leaders.
Unitary presidential republic. How local power works in Panama: 4 tiers of government below the nation, who is elected and who they answer to.
Part of level 6 of the 10 levels of power.
Government, regions and cities
- Government and power in Panama: leaders, governance scores, women in parliament, spending and the bodies that hold power to account
- All 12 provinces: Panama, Chiriqui, Colon, Cocle, Veraguas…
- Ciudad de Panamá (capital)
- San Miguelito
Key figures
What the figures show
The World Bank puts Panama's population at 4.6 million in 2025, up from 4.0 million in 2015. It ranks 19th of 33 in the World Bank's Latin America and Caribbean region and 126th of 193 worldwide.
GDP for 2025 was $90.5 billion at current dollar prices, according to the World Bank. Divided by population it comes to $19,790, where the middle country in the region has $10,989.
Output rose 4.4% after inflation in 2025 (World Bank). The IMF's October 2026 outlook projects 5.0% for 2026.
For 2025 as a whole the World Bank records -0.2%. IMF projections put 2026 at 1.8%.
Unemployment stood at 8.4% in 2025 on the ILO's modelled estimate, which can differ from the national survey.
Government debt was 56.6% of GDP in 2025, the IMF estimates, heading to 56.4% in 2026. The regional median is 65.6%.
A baby born in 2024 could expect to live 79.8 years.
- Annual inflation since 2015: highest 2.9% (2022), lowest -1.6% (2020).
- Debt ratio 2015: 34.1%; 2025: 56.6%.
- GDP per person in dollars, 2015 to 2025: +41%.
Figures checked 2026-10-13; how they are compiled.
Official sources in Panama
Statistics office prices, jobs, people, output
- National Institute of Statistics and Census (Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censo)
Census results, consumer price index, GDP, employment and vital statistics for Panama; it is part of the Comptroller General's Office. Not in English.
Parliament debates, votes, bills
- National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional)
Bills, laws approved, session records and deputy information. Not in English.
Government
- Presidency of the Republic (Presidencia de la República de Panamá)
Presidential announcements, executive decrees and government news. Not in English.
Laws and the official gazette the text of laws
- Official Gazette (Gaceta Oficial)
Digital official gazette with laws, decrees and resolutions. Not in English.
Courts judgments
- Judicial Branch (Supreme Court of Justice) (Órgano Judicial – Corte Suprema de Justicia)
Supreme Court rulings, case search and judiciary statistics. Not in English.
Public audit how public money was spent
- Comptroller General of the Republic (Contraloría General de la República)
Fiscal control reports, public spending data and audit results. Not in English.
Elections results and rules
- Electoral Tribunal (Tribunal Electoral)
Official election results, civil registry and electoral regulations. Not in English.
Regulators
- Superintendency of Banks (Superintendencia de Bancos de Panamá)
Banking supervision rules, banking centre statistics and lists of licensed banks. Not in English.
- Superintendency of the Securities Market (Superintendencia del Mercado de Valores)
Securities registrations, regulations and enforcement actions. Not in English.
- Consumer Protection and Competition Authority (Autoridad de Protección al Consumidor y Defensa de la Competencia)
Competition and consumer protection decisions and price monitoring reports. Not in English.
- National Public Services Authority (Autoridad Nacional de los Servicios Públicos)
Regulation of electricity, telecommunications and water services, including tariffs. Not in English.
- National Authority for Transparency and Access to Information (Autoridad Nacional de Transparencia y Acceso a la Información)
Transparency and personal data protection oversight, guidance and resolutions. Not in English.
Ombudsman
- Ombudsman's Office (Defensoría del Pueblo)
Human rights reports and complaint handling information. Not in English.
Public registers companies, land, charities
- Public Registry of Panama (companies) (Registro Público de Panamá)
Registers companies, foundations and other legal entities, with online searches and certificates. Not in English.
- Public Registry of Panama (property) (Registro Público de Panamá)
Registers real property, ownership and mortgages. Not in English.
Public contracts government tenders and awards
- PanamaCompra (PanamaCompra)
Public procurement portal with tenders, contracts and awards. Not in English.
Open data
- Panama Open Data (Datos Abiertos de Panamá)
Open datasets from Panamanian public bodies. Not in English.
Notes
Panama has no central bank; the US dollar is legal tender alongside the balboa. Bank supervision is carried out by the Superintendency of Banks (listed as a regulator).
Freedom of information in Panama
| Law | Ley 6 de 22 de enero de 2002 (2002) |
|---|
Published in Gaceta Oficial No. 24476 of 23 January 2002. The gazette scan could not be read as text, so procedure fields are left empty; ANTAI (antai.gob.pa) did not respond on 2026-10-13.
What Panama does not have
- The land administration authority site (anati.gob.pa) returned HTTP 520 on 2026-10-13, so it is not listed.
Also: World Bank country data · IMF country page · UN Sustainable Development Goals country profile · IPU Parline parliament profile.
Panama by subject
- Economy GDP, growth, trade and investment
- Jobs and pay unemployment, jobs and work
- Cost of living inflation, poverty and inequality
- Public finances debt, deficit, tax and spending
- Health and care life expectancy, doctors and spending
- Housing homes, cities, water and power
- Crime and justice murder rate, courts and crime
- Immigration migrants, refugees and remittances
- Education schools, universities and literacy
- Environment emissions, air, forests and water
Power in Panama, from local government up to the G20
The global bodies above national governments, and the levels of power inside Panama. How the ten levels work.
Level 3: Local councils
- Local government in Panama how councils, regions and municipalities work
Level 5: Devolved and state governments
- Regions of Panama 12 regions, states or provinces
Level 6: National government
- Panama: national government this page
- Government and power in Panama who leads, the parliament and the courts
- World leaders every country's head of state and government
Level 10: G7, G20, Davos and global forums
Common questions
What is the population of Panama?
4.6 million (2025, World Bank). National figures: National Institute of Statistics and Census.
What is the inflation rate in Panama?
minus 0.2% (2025, World Bank). Official index: National Institute of Statistics and Census.
What is Panama's GDP?
$90.5 billion (2025, World Bank).
How much government debt does Panama have?
56.6% of GDP (2025, International Monetary Fund).
Who publishes official statistics in Panama?
National Institute of Statistics and Census (Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censo): https://www.inec.gob.pa/
Is there a freedom of information law in Panama?
Ley 6 de 22 de enero de 2002 (2002).
Link moved? Tell us.