Air passengers in Panama
Panama: Air passengers was 15.75 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Air passengers in Panama, 1970–2023
Source: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for air passengers in Panama is 15.75 million, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 54 years on record.
That represents a change of up 14.1% on the previous year and up 35.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, air passengers in Panama peaked at 15.75 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 217,500, in 1973.
That places Panama 41st out of 183 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Air passengers in Panama, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 307,400 | — |
| 1971 | 337,200 | +9.7% |
| 1972 | 316,200 | -6.2% |
| 1973 | 217,500 | -31.2% |
| 1974 | 275,700 | +26.8% |
| 1975 | 357,100 | +29.5% |
| 1976 | 374,100 | +4.8% |
| 1977 | 347,400 | -7.1% |
| 1978 | 365,700 | +5.3% |
| 1979 | 381,300 | +4.3% |
| 1980 | 355,200 | -6.8% |
| 1981 | 309,200 | -13.0% |
| 1982 | 332,200 | +7.4% |
| 1983 | 323,400 | -2.6% |
| 1984 | 371,600 | +14.9% |
| 1985 | 390,300 | +5.0% |
| 1986 | 364,200 | -6.7% |
| 1987 | 370,800 | +1.8% |
| 1988 | 382,000 | +3.0% |
| 1989 | 372,500 | -2.5% |
| 1990 | 265,800 | -28.6% |
| 1991 | 342,700 | +28.9% |
| 1992 | 282,700 | -17.5% |
| 1993 | 320,500 | +13.4% |
| 1994 | 519,900 | +62.2% |
| 1995 | 661,200 | +27.2% |
| 1996 | 688,800 | +4.2% |
| 1997 | 772,200 | +12.1% |
| 1998 | 859,900 | +11.4% |
| 1999 | 932,500 | +8.4% |
| 2000 | 1.12 million | +19.8% |
| 2001 | 1.11 million | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 1.05 million | -6.0% |
| 2003 | 1.42 million | +35.1% |
| 2004 | 1.50 million | +6.0% |
| 2005 | 1.80 million | +19.7% |
| 2006 | 2.03 million | +13.0% |
| 2007 | 2.47 million | +21.9% |
| 2008 | 2.76 million | +11.7% |
| 2009 | 6.35 million | +129.8% |
| 2010 | 5.52 million | -13.0% |
| 2011 | 6.38 million | +15.5% |
| 2012 | 7.52 million | +17.8% |
| 2013 | 11.66 million | +55.1% |
| 2014 | 11.81 million | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 12.19 million | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 13.29 million | +9.0% |
| 2017 | 11.98 million | -9.9% |
| 2018 | 12.63 million | +5.5% |
| 2019 | 12.50 million | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 3.07 million | -75.4% |
| 2021 | 8.21 million | +167.0% |
| 2022 | 13.81 million | +68.2% |
| 2023 | 15.75 million | +14.1% |
Panama compared with similar countries
- Panama's 15.75 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 9.14 million, 1.7× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Panama's 15.75 million is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 1.23 million, 12.8× the median. (28 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Air passengers in Panama changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +167.0% | 3.07 million | 8.21 million |
| 2009 | +129.8% | 2.76 million | 6.35 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 327,960 | 217,500 | 381,300 | 10 |
| 1980s | 357,140 | 309,200 | 390,300 | 10 |
| 1990s | 564,620 | 265,800 | 932,500 | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.16 million | 1.05 million | 6.35 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.55 million | 5.52 million | 13.29 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.21 million | 3.07 million | 15.75 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Panama
More reference data data for Panama
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1446 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.6179 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.9793 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0285 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.9793 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.4849 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.2267 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.44 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 5.08 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1553 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is air passengers in Panama?
- Air passengers in Panama was 15.75 million in 2023, according to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest air passengers recorded in Panama?
- The highest recorded value was 15.75 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest air passengers recorded in Panama?
- The lowest recorded value was 217,500 in 1973.
- How does Panama rank for air passengers?
- Panama ranks 41st out of 183 countries with data for 2023.
- Is air passengers rising or falling in Panama?
- Over the last ten years it is up 35.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Panama data come from?
- The figures come from International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Air passengers. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Domestic and international passengers of airlines registered in the country. Passengers counted each time they travel.