Poverty: Share of population living on less than $4.20 a day in Panama
Panama: Poverty: Share of population living on less than $4.20 a day was 6.8% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Poverty: Share of population living on less than $4.20 a day in Panama, 1979–2024
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, poverty: share of population living on less than $4.20 a day in Panama stood at 6.8%.
The figure is down 5.4% on the previous year and down 34.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, poverty: share of population living on less than $4.20 a day in Panama peaked at 38.6% in 1989 and was at its lowest, 6.4%, in 2019.
That places Panama 51st out of 120 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.
Poverty: Share of population living on less than $4.20 a day in Panama, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 25.5% | — |
| 1989 | 38.6% | +51.1% |
| 1991 | 35.2% | -8.7% |
| 1995 | 27.9% | -20.7% |
| 1997 | 26.8% | -4.0% |
| 1998 | 27.1% | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 24.8% | -8.6% |
| 2000 | 23.5% | -5.2% |
| 2001 | 28.2% | +20.2% |
| 2002 | 25.3% | -10.2% |
| 2003 | 23.9% | -5.8% |
| 2004 | 22.8% | -4.3% |
| 2005 | 22.2% | -2.6% |
| 2006 | 22.1% | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 19.3% | -12.9% |
| 2008 | 14.2% | -26.1% |
| 2009 | 12.3% | -13.6% |
| 2010 | 13.3% | +7.7% |
| 2011 | 10.7% | -19.0% |
| 2012 | 11.9% | +10.6% |
| 2013 | 10.1% | -15.3% |
| 2014 | 10.4% | +3.4% |
| 2015 | 8.9% | -14.9% |
| 2016 | 8.6% | -2.4% |
| 2017 | 7.8% | -9.6% |
| 2018 | 6.7% | -14.8% |
| 2019 | 6.4% | -4.5% |
| 2021 | 6.7% | +5.3% |
| 2023 | 7.2% | +7.4% |
| 2024 | 6.8% | -5.4% |
Panama compared with similar countries
- Panama's 6.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.6%, 11.8× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Panama's 6.8% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 6.5%, 1.0× the median. (18 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 25.5% | 25.5% | 25.5% | 1 |
| 1980s | 38.6% | 38.6% | 38.6% | 1 |
| 1990s | 28.4% | 24.8% | 35.2% | 5 |
| 2000s | 21.4% | 12.3% | 28.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.5% | 6.4% | 13.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.9% | 6.7% | 7.2% | 3 |
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 poverty: share of population living on less than $4.20 a day in Panama?
- Poverty: share of population living on less than $4.20 a day in Panama was 6.8% in 2024, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest poverty: share of population living on less than $4.20 a day recorded in Panama?
- The highest recorded value was 38.6% in 1989.
- What is the lowest poverty: share of population living on less than $4.20 a day recorded in Panama?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.4% in 2019.
- How does Panama rank for poverty: share of population living on less than $4.20 a day?
- Panama ranks 51st out of 120 countries with data for 2024.
- Is poverty: share of population living on less than $4.20 a day rising or falling in Panama?
- Over the last ten years it is down 34.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Panama data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Poverty: Share of population living on less than $4.20 a day. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of population living in households with an income or consumption below $4.20 per day.