GeoRealityMatch
View of Panama City's skyline through lush trees, featuring tall skyscrapers under a blue sky.Aerial view of Panama City's bustling skyline featuring modern skyscrapers and urban architecture.

Panama

North America · Central America

High safetyAffordable cost of livingVery high development

Human development is high. Few locals speak English well.

Digital NomadOffers a digital nomad visa and home internet at 220 Mbps.ExpatCombines very high development, high safety and affordable cost of living.RetireeCombines high life expectancy, high safety and affordable cost of living.
vs Costa Ricavs Mexicovs Colombia
Safety

80th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
1.976lower is more peacefulHigh safety
#80 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
11.7per 100,000 people a yearVery highUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Safety index
57.2Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferModerateNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes above the median country

GNI per person
$19,140national income per person, US dollarsHigh
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
23.2New York = 100ExpensiveNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
14.3years of median income to buy a median flatExpensiveNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 258% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 106% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$25K$50K$43,902 PPP$19,790Inflation, % a year10%0200620102015202020252006, $5,529 a person, $11,685 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2007, $6,318 a person, $13,333 at PPP, inflation 4.2%2008, $7,348 a person, $14,705 at PPP, inflation 8.8%2009, $7,797 a person, $14,766 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2010, $8,331 a person, $15,573 at PPP, inflation 3.5%2011, $9,662 a person, $17,474 at PPP, inflation 5.9%2012, $11,065 a person, $19,473 at PPP, inflation 5.7%2013, $12,273 a person, $21,924 at PPP, inflation 4%2014, $13,213 a person, $24,376 at PPP, inflation 2.6%2015, $14,083 a person, $27,245 at PPP, inflation 0.1%2016, $14,832 a person, $30,277 at PPP, inflation 0.7%2017, $15,695 a person, $33,533 at PPP, inflation 0.9%2018, $16,151 a person, $32,464 at PPP, inflation 0.8%2019, $16,478 a person, $33,240 at PPP, inflation -0.4%2020, $13,291 a person, $27,017 at PPP, inflation -1.6%2021, $15,510 a person, $30,933 at PPP, inflation 1.6%2022, $17,379 a person, $36,327 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2023, $18,797 a person, $39,846 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2024, $19,161 a person, $41,430 at PPP, inflation 0.7%2025, $19,790 a person, $43,902 at PPP, inflation -0.2%$0$25K$50KInflation, % a year10%0200620102015202020252006, $5,529 a person, $11,685 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2007, $6,318 a person, $13,333 at PPP, inflation 4.2%2008, $7,348 a person, $14,705 at PPP, inflation 8.8%2009, $7,797 a person, $14,766 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2010, $8,331 a person, $15,573 at PPP, inflation 3.5%2011, $9,662 a person, $17,474 at PPP, inflation 5.9%2012, $11,065 a person, $19,473 at PPP, inflation 5.7%2013, $12,273 a person, $21,924 at PPP, inflation 4%2014, $13,213 a person, $24,376 at PPP, inflation 2.6%2015, $14,083 a person, $27,245 at PPP, inflation 0.1%2016, $14,832 a person, $30,277 at PPP, inflation 0.7%2017, $15,695 a person, $33,533 at PPP, inflation 0.9%2018, $16,151 a person, $32,464 at PPP, inflation 0.8%2019, $16,478 a person, $33,240 at PPP, inflation -0.4%2020, $13,291 a person, $27,017 at PPP, inflation -1.6%2021, $15,510 a person, $30,933 at PPP, inflation 1.6%2022, $17,379 a person, $36,327 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2023, $18,797 a person, $39,846 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2024, $19,161 a person, $41,430 at PPP, inflation 0.7%2025, $19,790 a person, $43,902 at PPP, inflation -0.2%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Above-average life expectancy

Life expectancy
79.8years, at birthHigh
#43 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
82WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100HighWHO · 2023
Air pollution
11.9PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageLowWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Very fast home internet

Unemployment rate
8.4%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
220 Mbpsmedian download speedVery fastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
491EF English Proficiency Index scoreLowEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet220 MbpsVery fast
Mobile34 MbpsVery slow

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Visas and moving

Digital nomad visaMedium

Minimum income
$3,000 a month
Duration
9 months
Renewable
Yes
Application fee
$300
  • Tax treatmentForeign income exempt
  • Processing timeAbout 30 days
  • Health insuranceRequired
  • DependantsAllowed
  • Apply onlineIn person or at a consulate
  • Path to residencyNo
  • NationalitiesOpen to all
Official page
Aerial view of Panama City's bustling skyline featuring modern skyscrapers and urban architecture.
How it changed

Panama's Human Development Index

0.839Very high human development

59th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 5th of 23 in North America.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #57Georgia0.844
  2. #58Saint Kitts and Nevis0.840
  3. #59Panama0.839
  4. #60Brunei0.837
  5. #60Kazakhstan0.837
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.672 in 1990 to 0.839 in 2023.

0.650.780.900.83919902000201020231990: 0.6721991: 0.6741992: 0.6801993: 0.6861994: 0.6881995: 0.6901996: 0.6941997: 0.7011998: 0.7071999: 0.7122000: 0.7182001: 0.7232002: 0.7302003: 0.7352004: 0.7412005: 0.7462006: 0.7532007: 0.7632008: 0.7672009: 0.7702010: 0.7752011: 0.7812012: 0.7982013: 0.7992014: 0.7982015: 0.8032016: 0.8102017: 0.8152018: 0.8202019: 0.8242020: 0.8082021: 0.8192022: 0.8352023: 0.8390.650.780.9019902000201020231990: 0.6721991: 0.6741992: 0.6801993: 0.6861994: 0.6881995: 0.6901996: 0.6941997: 0.7011998: 0.7071999: 0.7122000: 0.7182001: 0.7232002: 0.7302003: 0.7352004: 0.7412005: 0.7462006: 0.7532007: 0.7632008: 0.7672009: 0.7702010: 0.7752011: 0.7812012: 0.7982013: 0.7992014: 0.7982015: 0.8032016: 0.8102017: 0.8152018: 0.8202019: 0.8242020: 0.8082021: 0.8192022: 0.8352023: 0.839

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
79.8 years2024at birthUp 4.6 years from 75.2 years in 2005
Internet users
73%2024of people onlineUp 55 points from 17% in 2006
Urban population
66%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 2 points from 64% in 2006
Births per woman
2.112024births per womanDown 0.53 from 2.64 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
28%2021of energy usedLevel with 2004
Access to electricity
96%2024of people with electricityUp 12 points from 84% in 2005
Infant mortality
122024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 5 from 17 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
2.7 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.6 t from 2.1 t in 2005
Forest area
56%2023of land under forestDown 3 points from 59% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Dollar economy and a generous pensionado visa; a strategic hub for Latin America. The case for living here is very high human development. The case against is little English among locals.

About Panama

Panama is a Central American country whose significance has always been tied to its position as the bridge between continents, and the canal that links two oceans remains one of the great engineering feats of the modern world. Beyond Panama City, which has a vibrant old quarter and a surprising skyline, the country has Caribbean and Pacific coastlines, indigenous Guna Yala islands, and cloud forest reserves. Those who look beyond the transit will find a compact and varied destination.

Practical facts

  • CapitalPanama City
  • LanguagesSpanish
  • CurrencyPanamanian balboa (PAB)
  • Area74,180 km²
  • Plug typeType A/B
  • Drives on theright
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Quick answers

What is Panama's Human Development Index?

Panama's Human Development Index is 0.839 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #59 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Panama safe?

Panama scores 1.98 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #80 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Panama?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Panama at 45.5 (New York = 100); that is #83 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Panama?

Life expectancy at birth in Panama is 79.8 yrs (World Bank), ranked #43 of 195 countries.

What is the quality of life in Panama?

Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Panama at 120.4, ranked #63 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.