Refugees by country of asylum in Panama
Panama: Refugees by country of asylum was 2,658 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Panama, 1972–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugees by country of asylum in Panama is 2,658 people, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.4% on the previous year and down 84.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Panama peaked at 17,650 people in 2013 and was at its lowest, 130 people, in 1972.
That places Panama 114th out of 183 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugees by country of asylum in Panama, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 130 people | — |
| 1974 | 1,150 people | +784.6% |
| 1977 | 500 people | -56.5% |
| 1978 | 1,050 people | +110.0% |
| 1979 | 1,070 people | +1.9% |
| 1980 | 3,320 people | +210.3% |
| 1981 | 1,500 people | -54.8% |
| 1982 | 1,820 people | +21.3% |
| 1983 | 1,500 people | -17.6% |
| 1984 | 1,500 people | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 1,200 people | -20.0% |
| 1986 | 1,270 people | +5.8% |
| 1987 | 1,600 people | +26.0% |
| 1988 | 1,992 people | +24.5% |
| 1989 | 1,451 people | -27.2% |
| 1990 | 1,350 people | -7.0% |
| 1991 | 914 people | -32.3% |
| 1992 | 1,007 people | +10.2% |
| 1993 | 964 people | -4.3% |
| 1994 | 972 people | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 867 people | -10.8% |
| 1996 | 864 people | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 618 people | -28.5% |
| 1998 | 1,179 people | +90.8% |
| 1999 | 1,315 people | +11.5% |
| 2000 | 1,307 people | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 1,471 people | +12.5% |
| 2002 | 1,565 people | +6.4% |
| 2003 | 1,436 people | -8.2% |
| 2004 | 1,596 people | +11.1% |
| 2005 | 1,717 people | +7.6% |
| 2006 | 1,835 people | +6.9% |
| 2007 | 16,877 people | +819.7% |
| 2008 | 16,906 people | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 16,917 people | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 17,066 people | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 17,249 people | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 17,414 people | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 17,650 people | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 17,256 people | -2.2% |
| 2015 | 17,304 people | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 17,332 people | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 2,417 people | -86.1% |
| 2018 | 2,501 people | +3.5% |
| 2019 | 2,536 people | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 2,562 people | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 2,542 people | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 2,576 people | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 2,724 people | +5.7% |
| 2024 | 2,658 people | -2.4% |
Panama compared with similar countries
- Panama's 2,658 people is below the median for high income countries, which is 10,077 people, 26% of the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Panama's 2,658 people is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 166 people, 16.0× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country of asylum 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | +819.7% | 1,835 people | 16,877 people |
| 1974 | +784.6% | 130 people | 1,150 people |
| 1980 | +210.3% | 1,070 people | 3,320 people |
| 1978 | +110.0% | 500 people | 1,050 people |
| 1998 | +90.8% | 618 people | 1,179 people |
| 2017 | -86.1% | 17,332 people | 2,417 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 780 people | 130 people | 1,150 people | 5 |
| 1980s | 1,715 people | 1,200 people | 3,320 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 1,005 people | 618 people | 1,350 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 6,163 people | 1,307 people | 16,917 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 12,872 people | 2,417 people | 17,650 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,612 people | 2,542 people | 2,724 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Panama
- 111 Turkmenistan 3,409 people compare
- 112 Trinidad and Tobago 3,328 people compare
- 113 Tunisia 2,955 people compare
- 115 Chile 2,443 people compare
- 116 Ukraine 2,389 people compare
- 117 Cote d'Ivoire 2,377 people compare
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 refugees by country of asylum in Panama?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Panama was 2,658 people in 2024, according to UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Panama?
- The highest recorded value was 17,650 people in 2013.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Panama?
- The lowest recorded value was 130 people in 1972.
- How does Panama rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Panama ranks 114th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Panama?
- Over the last ten years it is down 84.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Panama data come from?
- The figures come from UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Refugees by country of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 50 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
People who fled their country of origin and are in need of international protection. Refugees are those who have already been granted asylum status in the country they moved to. This includes all refugees who live in this country, not just those who arrived that year.