The Human Truth Foundation

Panama (Republic of Panama)

https://www.humantruth.info/panama.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2025

#panama

Panama
Republic of Panama
Flag
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index65th best
CapitalPanama
Land Area 74 340km21
LocationNorth America, The Americas, Central America
Population4.2m2
Life Expectancy76.22yrs (2017)3
GNI$26 957 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesPA, PAN, 5915
Internet Domain.pa6
CurrencyBalboa (PAB)7
Telephone+5078

Panama is infamous as a Tax Haven, wherein rich individuals, corporations, and criminal syndicates, hide vast sums of money from authorities9.


1. Overview

#panama #venezuela

Explored and settled by the Spanish in the 16th century, Panama broke with Spain in 1821 and joined a union of Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela - named the Republic of Gran Colombia. When the latter dissolved in 1830, Panama remained part of Colombia. With US backing, Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903 and promptly signed a treaty with the US allowing for the construction of a canal and US sovereignty over a strip of land on either side of the structure (the Panama Canal Zone). The Panama Canal was built by the US Army Corps of Engineers between 1904 and 1914. In 1977, an agreement was signed for the complete transfer of the Canal from the US to Panama by the end of the century. Certain portions of the Zone and increasing responsibility over the Canal were turned over in the subsequent decades. With US help, dictator Manuel NORIEGA was deposed in 1989. The entire Panama Canal, the area supporting the Canal, and remaining US military bases were transferred to Panama by the end of 1999. In October 2006, Panamanians approved an ambitious plan (estimated to cost $5.3 billion) to expand the Canal. The project, which began in 2007 and could double the Canal's capacity, is expected to be completed in 2015.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)10

Book CoverFrom deserted islands and clear turquoise seas to the coffee farms and cloud forests of Chiriquí, Panama can be as chilled out or as thrilling as you wish. Consider Panama a place of discovery: explore the ruins of Spanish forts on the Caribbean coast or boat deep into indigenous territories in a dugout canoe. There are plenty of beaches to choose from, too, from relaxed Caribbean hang-outs to Pacific surf.

For an urban turn, Panama City - culturally diverse, driven, rough-edged yet sophisticated - is one of Latin America´s most vibrant and outward-looking capitals. The dazzling blue coastline and shimmering skyscrapers say Miami, though many joke that you hear more English spoken in Panama. Pedal the coastal green space, explore the historic Casco or attend an avant-garde performance and you will realize this tropical city isn´t just about salsa - that´s just the backbeat.

In the last century, Panama was defined by the canal; what lies just beyond may define it for the next. The canal expansion spells growth and even more glitz, but for now you can still pick an empty islet, live out your castaway fantasies and play Survivor for a day. Panama is as urbane or as wild as you want it to be.

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)11

Along with 11 others, Panama signed the Lima Declaration in 2017, condemning "the assault on democratic order and the systematic violation of human rights in Venezuela"12.

2. Panama National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)13
Pos.Higher is better
Value13
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
...
58=Costa Rica0.809
58=Uruguay0.809
60Belarus0.808
61Panama0.805
62Malaysia0.803
63=Mauritius0.802
63=Georgia0.802
63=Serbia0.802
The Americas Avg0.75
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)13
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $13
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
...
50Greece$29 002
51Russia$27 166
52Oman$27 054
53Panama$26 957
54Malaysia$26 658
55Seychelles$25 831
56Chile$24 563
57Kazakhstan$23 943
The Americas Avg$16 628
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
14
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank14
1Denmark28.1
2Norway29.9
3Sweden31.0
...
62Seychelles78.6
63Northern Cyprus79.1
64Cuba79.2
65Panama79.8
66Moldova80.4
67Ukraine80.6
68Colombia80.9
69China81.1
The Americas Avg82.6
World Avg89.4
q=200.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Panama's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population Datasets:

Panama's population is predicted to rise to 4.502 million by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 2.30. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1, once you take mortality into account15. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.16

Population2
Pos.2018
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
...
124New Zealand4.7m
125Central African Rep.4.7m
126Mauritania4.4m
127Panama4.2m
128Croatia4.2m
129Kuwait4.1m
130Moldova4.1m
131Georgia4.0m
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy
Higher is better
13
Pos.2021
Years13
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
52Sri Lanka76.4
53Algeria76.4
54Montenegro76.3
55Panama76.2
56Turkey76.0
57Uruguay75.4
58Argentina75.4
59Bosnia & Herzegovina75.3
World Avg71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
17
Pos.202217
1US Virgin Islands2.00
2Ecuador2.00
3Nepal2.01
...
37Brunei1.76
38Dominican Rep.2.25
39Nicaragua2.28
40Panama2.30
41Morocco2.30
42Ireland1.70
43Colombia1.69
44French Polynesia1.69
World Avg2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio
Lower is better
18
Pos.2016
Per 10018
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3=Chad04.7
...
106=Grenada16.2
106=Brunei16.2
108El Salvador17.3
109Panama17.7
110N. Korea17.8
111Turkey18.0
112Vietnam18.3
113Tunisia18.6
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration Datasets:

Immigrants19
Pos.2017
%19
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
...
83Hungary5.2%
84Palestine5.2%
85Argentina4.9%
86Panama4.7%
87Tonga4.6%
88Venezuela4.5%
89Lithuania4.3%
90St Vincent & Grenadines4.2%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants20
Pos.2010
%20
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
...
123Belgium4.2%
124Syria4.2%
125Burundi4.2%
126Panama4.0%
127Norway3.8%
128Bahrain3.7%
129Gambia3.7%
130Chile3.7%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. Panama's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance

Compared to The Americas (2025)21
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank21
1Canada16.7
2Uruguay31.2
3Costa Rica38.8
...
12Trinidad & Tobago69.3
13El Salvador69.8
14Barbados73.2
15Panama75.3
16Ecuador75.4
17Suriname75.5
18Guatemala77.1
19Jamaica78.8
20Honduras79.4
The Americas Avg75.96
q=35.
Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)21
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank21
1Sweden7.8
2Netherlands8.7
3Denmark8.8
...
60Mauritius74.9
61Romania75.0
62Ukraine75.3
63Panama75.3
64Ecuador75.4
65Suriname75.5
66Guatemala77.1
67Macedonia77.4
World Avg89.80
q=199.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, The Netherlands and Denmark22. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are Somalia, Eritrea and Saudi Arabia22.

31 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on supporting press freedom, combatting modern slavery, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms, its average Freedom in the World rating, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe22, whereas the worst are The Middle East, Africa and Asia22.

For more, see:

4.1. Human Rights & Tolerance Datasets

#freedom #human_rights #international_law #mass_media #politics #slavery

Press Freedom
Higher is better
23
Pos.202523
1Norway92.31
2Estonia89.46
3Netherlands88.64
...
49Mauritania67.52
50Mauritius67.31
51Ghana67.13
52Panama66.75
53Liberia66.61
54Romania66.42
55Sierra Leone66.36
56USA65.49
The Americas Avg55.99
World Avg54.65
q=179. Also scored for 2000s-2010s.
Slavery in the 2020s
Lower is better
24
Pos.Slavery in the 2020s
Per 100024
1=Switzerland0.50
1=Norway0.50
3=Germany0.60
...
65=Madagascar4.60
65=Niger4.60
67=Trinidad & Tobago4.70
67=Panama4.70
69Malawi4.90
70=Zimbabwe5.00
70=Cambodia5.00
70=Kenya5.00
The Americas Avg5.84
World Avg7.15
q=160. Also scored for 2010s-2020s.
Personal, Civil & Economic Freedom
Lower is better
25
Pos.2014
Rank25
1Hong Kong1
2Switzerland2
3New Zealand3
...
43Georgia43
44=Croatia44
44=Montenegro44
46Panama46
47Mongolia47
48=Bahamas48
48=Greece48
50Albania50
The Americas Avg72.4
World Avg79.7
q=159.
Freedom in the World
Lower is better
Pos.2024
Score
1=Norway1.0
1=Canada1.0
1=Cape Verde1.0
...
64=S. Korea2.0
64=Malta2.0
64=Croatia2.0
64=Panama2.0
64=Tonga2.0
64=Samoa2.0
64=Botswana2.0
64=Romania2.0
The Americas Avg2.7
World Avg3.7
q=205. Also scored for 1970s-2010s.
Human Rights Watch Comments
Higher is better
26
Pos.2017
Score26
1=UK9
1=France9
1=Germany9
...
36=Paraguay1
36=Costa Rica1
36=Norway1
36=Panama1
40=Ukraine0
40=Nepal0
40=S. Korea0
43=Guatemala-1
The Americas Avg-0.8
World Avg-1.9
q=123.
Nominal Commitment to HR
Higher is better
27
Pos.2009
Treaties27
1Argentina24
2=Chile23
2=Costa Rica23
...
46=Portugal20
46=Poland20
46=S. Korea20
46=Panama20
46=New Zealand20
51=Uganda19
51=Colombia19
51=Switzerland19
The Americas Avg16.5
World Avg15.1
q=194.
HR Treaties Lag
Lower is better
28
Pos.2019
Avg Yrs/Treaty28
1Ecuador2.15
2Uruguay2.25
3Tunisia3.65
...
7Chile4.12
8Philippines4.19
9Bulgaria4.24
10Panama4.26
11Senegal4.32
12Namibia4.36
13Egypt4.52
14Spain4.60
The Americas Avg8.45
World Avg10.02
q=195.

4.2. Gender Equality Datasets

#gender #gender_equality #human_rights #misogyny #politics #women

Panama has made some steps towards ending gender inequality but much more needs to be done.

See:

Gender Inequality
Lower is better
29
Pos.202229
1Denmark0.01
2Norway0.01
3Switzerland0.02
...
90Lebanon0.38
91Vietnam0.38
92Philippines0.39
93Panama0.39
94Egypt0.39
95Rwanda0.40
96Nicaragua0.40
97=Brazil0.40
The Americas Avg0.36
World Avg0.34
q=166. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.
Year Women Can Vote
Lower is better
Pos.Year Women Can Vote
Year
1New Zealand1893
2Australia1902
3Finland1906
...
58=N. Korea1946
58=Liberia1946
58=Romania1946
58=Panama1946
58=Cameroon1946
58=Macedonia1946
58=Venezuela1946
58=Guatemala1946
The Americas Avg1947
World Avg1930
q=189.

4.3. Prejudice Datasets

#2020s #antisemitism #freethought #homosexuality #religious_tolerance

Anti-Semite Opinions
Lower is better
30
Pos.2014
%30
1Laos0
2Philippines3
3Sweden4
...
76=Mauritius44
77Poland45
78Indonesia48
79Panama52
80=Senegal53
80=S. Korea53
82Iran56
83Armenia58
The Americas Avg29.7
World Avg36.8
q=101.
LGBT Equality in the 2020s
Higher is better
31
Pos.LGBT Equality in the 2020s
Score31
1=Germany4.88
1=Spain4.88
3Portugal4.81
...
77Sao Tome & Principe0.81
78=Micronesia0.80
78=El Salvador0.80
80Panama0.74
81Monaco0.72
82Thailand0.49
83Kazakhstan0.41
84Suriname0.34
The Americas Avg0.41
World Avg-1.21
q=215. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.
Historically in Panama, the Guna people recognized a third gender, known as omeggid, and homosexuality was accepted in traditional contexts. But Spanish colonial rule (1500s-1821CE) brought prejudice, and being homosexual was made illegal, punishable by death. Strong Catholic influence kept this in place for a long time, although a 1949 law imposed only fines and imprisonment. This immoral period of homophobia was ended in 2008 with Executive Decree No. 332. Panama was the last Spanish-speaking country in the Americas to decriminalize homosexuality. Same-sex marriage remains banned, and there are only limited anti-discrimination protections. ILGA researchers in 2017 found that Panama had some legal protections against anti-LGBT discrimination.

Actions taken at the United Nations:

Freedom of Thought
Lower is better
32
Pos.202132
1=Belgium1.0
1=Taiwan1.0
1=Netherlands1.0
...
105=India3.0
105=Cambodia3.0
105=Finland3.0
105=Panama3.0
109=Philippines3.3
109=Paraguay3.3
109=Singapore3.3
109=Vanuatu3.3
The Americas Avg2.7
World Avg3.0
q=196.

5. Panama's Health

#health

Compared to The Americas (2025)33
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank33
1Antigua & Barbuda62.3
2Canada63.9
3Cuba64.7
...
19Colombia89.1
20St Kitts & Nevis89.9
21St Lucia91.0
22Panama92.1
23Trinidad & Tobago92.2
24Argentina96.5
25El Salvador98.3
26Ecuador98.4
27Mexico100.4
The Americas Avg91.99
q=41.
Health (2025)33
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank33
1Monaco10.3
2Liechtenstein30.1
3Japan40.8
...
91Bosnia & Herzegovina90.7
92Kazakhstan90.8
93St Lucia91.0
94Panama92.1
95Lebanon92.1
96Trinidad & Tobago92.2
97Uzbekistan92.2
98French Polynesia93.1
World Avg97.39
q=207.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and Japan34. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are Angola, Somalia and S. Sudan34.

42 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate, delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations, delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 and childhood mortality. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Mediterranean34, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Africa and Melanesia34.

For more, see:

5.1. Health Datasets

#2010s #alcohol #birth_control #demographics #ghana #health #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #nigeria #obesity #overpopulation #panama #smoking #suicide

Panama does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. Panama comes in the best 20 for its smoking rate35. It does better than average in its suicide rate36, its fertility rate17, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance37, its average life expectancy13 and in childhood mortality in the 2020s38. Panama does not succeed in everything, however. Panama does worse than average in terms of the prevalence of overweight adults39, its alcohol consumption rate40, delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-201541, its adolescent birth rate42 and in delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations in the 2020s43. The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% during the last 40 years. Life expectancy in Panama improved by +6.7yrs in the 30 years from 1990, less than the global average of +7.9yrs. Panama's peak fertility rate was 5.87 in 1962.

Life Expectancy
Higher is better
13
Pos.2021
Years13
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
52Sri Lanka76.4
53Algeria76.4
54Montenegro76.3
55Panama76.2
56Turkey76.0
57Uruguay75.4
58Argentina75.4
59Bosnia & Herzegovina75.3
The Americas Avg72.58
World Avg71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.
Alcohol Consumption
Lower is better
40
Pos.2016
Per Capita40
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
...
114Kazakhstan7.7
115=Congo, (Brazzaville)7.8
115=Brazil7.8
117Panama7.9
118=Japan8.0
118=Montenegro8.0
120=Malta8.1
120=Macedonia8.1
The Americas Avg6.9
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
17
Pos.202217
1US Virgin Islands2.00
2Ecuador2.00
3Nepal2.01
...
37Brunei1.76
38Dominican Rep.2.25
39Nicaragua2.28
40Panama2.30
41Morocco2.30
42Ireland1.70
43Colombia1.69
44French Polynesia1.69
The Americas Avg1.80
World Avg2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Smoking in the 2020s
Lower is better
35
Pos.Smoking in the 2020s
%35
1Nigeria3.3%
2Ghana3.4%
3Panama5.2%
4Ethiopia5.2%
5Turkmenistan5.6%
6Benin6.3%
7Togo6.4%
8=Cameroon6.5%
8=Senegal6.5%
10Barbados7.0%
11Peru7.2%
12Chad7.4%
The Americas Avg12.7%
World Avg20.0%
q=165. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.
After a steadily declining smoking rate, Panama on average in the 2020s has had the 3rd lowest rate in the world (after Nigeria and Ghana).

Suicide Rate in the 2010s
Lower is better
36
Pos.Suicide Rate in the 2010s
Per 100k36
1=Jordan1.00
1=Sao Tome & Principe1.00
1=Antigua & Barbuda1.00
...
26Myanmar3.13
27Bangladesh3.14
28Turkey3.26
29Panama3.33
30Iraq3.40
31Sudan3.54
32Afghanistan3.57
33Bahamas3.61
The Americas Avg8.02
World Avg9.24
q=185. Also scored for 2000s-2010s.
Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance
Lower is better
37
Pos.2017
Rank37
1Sweden1
2Ireland2
3Denmark3
...
51Israel51
52Slovakia52
53Bulgaria53
54Panama54
55Ukraine55
56S. Africa56
57Slovenia57
58Morocco58
The Americas Avg94.3
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Overweight Adults
Lower is better
39
Pos.1976
%39
1Bangladesh4.7
2Vietnam5.1
3Nepal5.4
...
104Suriname31.0
105=Switzerland31.1
105=Iran31.1
107Panama31.2
108Georgia31.4
109Portugal31.5
110Kazakhstan31.9
111=Montenegro32.1
The Americas Avg30.7
World Avg27.1
q=191.
Adult Obesity
Lower is better
44
Pos.2022
%44
1Vietnam2.1%
2Timor-Leste (E. Timor)2.2%
3Ethiopia2.4%
...
165Jordan35.6%
166Croatia35.7%
167Argentina36.0%
168Panama36.1%
169Mexico36.1%
170Libya36.2%
171Hungary36.4%
172Bahrain37.2%
The Americas Avg32.0%
World Avg24.7%
q=199. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

5.2. Children's Health Datasets

#children's_health #health #parenting #population #vaccines

Adolescent Birth Rate
Lower is better
42
Pos.2022
Per 100042
1Hong Kong1.6
2Denmark1.8
3S. Korea2.1
...
152Guyana64.6
153Ethiopia66.5
154Swaziland68.4
155Panama68.5
156Paraguay69.9
157Nauru71.1
158Honduras71.3
159Laos71.8
The Americas Avg48.1
World Avg43.8
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.
Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s)
Higher is better
43
Pos.Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s)
Avg %43
1=Luxembourg99.0
1=Oman99.0
1=Niue99.0
...
153Moldova87.0
154Timor-Leste (E. Timor)86.1
155Micronesia85.8
156Panama85.7
157Ukraine85.3
158Peru85.1
159Romania84.7
160Belize84.6
The Americas Avg87.5
World Avg88.5
q=211. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.
7x Infant Immunizations (2011-2015)
Higher is better
41
Pos.2015
Avg %41
1=Hungary99.0
1=China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
...
137Cambodia86.5
138Namibia86.5
139Dominican Rep.86.3
140Panama86.1
141Belarus85.3
142=Canada85.2
142=Guatemala85.2
144Togo84.3
The Americas Avg91.3
World Avg88.3
q=194.
Infant Mortality (2020s)
Lower is better38
Pos.Infant Mortality (2020s)
Per 100038
1San Marino2.11
2Finland2.59
3Luxembourg2.60
...
90Mexico16.56
91Jordan16.74
92Grenada17.24
93Panama17.26
94St Vincent & Grenadines17.32
95St Lucia17.37
96Tunisia18.08
97Peru18.09
The Americas Avg18.99
World Avg32.19
q=195. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

6. Panama's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #environmentalism #food #internationalism #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to The Americas (2025)45
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank45
1Uruguay43.2
2Puerto Rico47.1
3Costa Rica49.7
...
15Cuba79.4
16Nicaragua80.5
17Bolivia81.8
18Panama82.5
19Honduras84.6
20Venezuela86.1
21Canada87.2
22Guyana87.4
23Jamaica88.6
The Americas Avg82.39
q=36.
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)45
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank45
1Sri Lanka34.9
2Uruguay43.2
3Switzerland45.0
...
95UAE81.8
96Bolivia81.8
97Slovenia82.1
98Panama82.5
99Singapore83.3
100Georgia83.6
101Sierra Leone83.6
102Guinea-Bissau83.7
World Avg84.93
q=199.

We have known for a long term that we must protect the environment from habitation destruction, over-exploitation, pollution, and the emissions that cause climate change. In 1998, Greenpeace wrote that "Environment can no longer be meaningfully separated from health, quality of life, democracy, education, economy or trade"46. What countries have been doing the right thing, via legislation and national culture? All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

Regarding its responsibility towards the environment, Panama comes 98th in the world. This rank is calculated from 21 data sets. Panama comes in the best 20 for its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment and in the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population47. It does better than average when it comes to its environmental performance48. But, there's bad news too. Panama does worse than average in terms of energy to GDP efficiency49, reducing annual meat consumption per person50 and in its forested percent change 2000-202051.

Forest Area Change 2000-2020
Higher is better
51
Pos.Total51
1Guernsey82.6%
2Bahrain75.2%
3Iceland64.7%
...
172Zambia-4.8%
173Laos-4.8%
174Zimbabwe-5.1%
175Panama-5.2%
176Samoa-5.7%
177Eritrea-5.7%
178Colombia-5.8%
179Cameroon-5.9%
The Americas Avg-2.1%
World Avg-0.1%
q=234.
Environmental Performance
Higher is better
48
Pos.201848
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
...
53Brunei63.6
54Morocco63.5
55Cuba63.4
56Panama62.7
57Tonga62.5
58Tunisia62.4
59Azerbaijan62.3
60S. Korea62.3
The Americas Avg58.8
World Avg56.4
q=180.
Energy to GDP Efficiency
Lower is better
49
Pos.2022
Avg49
1Rwanda0.25
2Chad0.26
3Tanzania0.31
...
119Finland1.44
120Qatar1.46
121Belgium1.49
122Panama1.49
123Uzbekistan1.52
124Malaysia1.53
125Vietnam1.55
126Estonia1.56
The Americas Avg1.42
World Avg1.23
q=165. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.
International Accords on the Environment
Higher is better
Pos.International Accords on the Environment
Avg Rate
1Sweden83%
2Canada82%
3Norway81%
...
14Australia74%
15Uruguay74%
16Macedonia74%
17Panama74%
18Denmark73%
19Ecuador72%
20Armenia72%
21Montenegro72%
The Americas Avg60.7%
World Avg57.5%
q=197. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.
Panama was one of the 19 countries that signed the Basel Convention on its very first day and one of the early adopters of the Kyoto Protocol in 1999. It also enacted the Rotterdam Convention on obtaining prior consent for transporting certain hazardous chemicals in 2000, whilst most others delayed it until subsequent years.
Rational Beliefs on the Environment
Higher is better
47
Pos.2011
%47
1Argentina78.3%
2Greece77.6%
3Brazil77.1%
...
15El Salvador66.8%
16Indonesia66.5%
17Japan64.7%
18Panama64.6%
19Peru63.9%
20Chile63.8%
21Ivory Coast63.7%
22Madagascar62.8%
The Americas Avg58.6%
World Avg39.9%
q=145.
Meat Consumption
Lower is better
50
Pos.2021
kg50
1Congo, DR03.0
2Burundi03.5
3Bangladesh04.3
...
154=Iceland83.6
154=Lithuania83.6
156UAE84.3
157Panama85.0
158Luxembourg85.8
159Antigua & Barbuda85.8
160France86.1
161Barbados86.4
The Americas Avg70.3
World Avg52.5
q=185. Also scored for 2010s.

7. Panama's Modernity and Learning

#education #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to The Americas (2025)52
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank52
1Canada28.7
2Argentina39.3
3Chile43.4
...
9Cuba64.5
10Ecuador65.3
11Colombia65.4
12Panama68.0
13=Bolivia68.3
13=Dominican Rep.68.3
15Venezuela68.8
16USA72.0
17Suriname74.9
The Americas Avg79.58
q=36.
Modernity & Learning (2025)52
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank52
1Finland6.1
2Iceland8.1
3Denmark8.8
...
70Azerbaijan65.5
71Kyrgyzstan65.5
72Armenia65.6
73Panama68.0
74=Dominican Rep.68.3
74=Bolivia68.3
76Thailand68.4
77Uzbekistan68.5
World Avg84.96
q=197.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Iceland and Denmark53. The worst countries are S. Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia53. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots54.

Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.

Bill Emmott (2017)55

27 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Intellectual Endeavours, metric system adoption rate, Religiosity, IQ, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Maths, Science & Reading, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe53, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia53.

For more, see:

7.1. Modernity Datasets

#intelligence #metric #religion #religiosity #research #science #secularisation

Research & Development
Higher is better
Pos.2016
% RDP PPP
1S. Korea4.2956
2Israel4.1156
3Japan3.5856
...
91Azerbaijan0.2157
92Burkina Faso0.2058
93Vietnam0.1959
94=Panama0.1859
94=Mauritius0.1860
96=Oman0.1757
96=Kazakhstan0.1757
98=Bolivia0.1658
The Americas Avg0.47
World Avg0.84
q=126.
Intellectual Endeavours
Lower is better
37
Pos.2017
Rank37
1Ukraine1
2Czechia2
3Hungary3
...
96Guinea96
97St Vincent & Grenadines97
98Zimbabwe98
99Panama99
100Laos100
101Cameroon101
102Peru102
103Cape Verde103
The Americas Avg99.8
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Metric System Adoption Rate
Higher is better
61
Pos.2025
%61
1=Slovakia100
1=Poland100
1=Portugal100
...
75=Slovenia95
75=Peru95
75=N. Korea95
75=Panama95
75=Lithuania95
75=Macedonia95
75=Nicaragua95
75=Malaysia95
The Americas Avg90
World Avg92
q=187. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

Panama officially adopted metric in 191562. Progression:

Religiosity
Lower is better
63
Pos.2018
%63
1China3
2Estonia6
3Czechia7
...
53=Greece56
53=Paraguay56
55Lebanon57
56Panama61
57Venezuela67
58Turkey68
59=Bolivia71
59=Botswana71
The Americas Avg65.4
World Avg54.3
q=106.
IQ
Higher is better64
Pos.200664
1=Hong Kong108
1=Singapore108
3S. Korea106
...
80=UAE84
80=Iran84
80=Pakistan84
80=Panama84
80=Paraguay84
80=Morocco84
80=Saudi Arabia84
87=Algeria83
The Americas Avg85.3
World Avg85.6
q=138.

7.2. Education Datasets

#education

Secondary Education
Higher is better
65
Pos.201865
1=Luxembourg100.0%
1=Estonia100.0%
1=Austria100.0%
...
72Philippines73.2%
73Saudi Arabia72.8%
74Andorra72.3%
75Panama72.2%
76UAE70.7%
77Brunei70.1%
78Iran69.8%
79Vietnam69.4%
The Americas Avg63.0%
World Avg63.0%
q=169.
Length of Schooling
Higher is better
66
Pos.2021
Years66
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
...
105Philippines13.1
106Armenia13.1
107Cameroon13.1
108Panama13.1
109Suriname13.0
110Belize13.0
111Paraguay13.0
112Gabon13.0
The Americas Avg14.2
World Avg13.5
q=193. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

7.3. Technology and Information Datasets

#modernity #technology #the_internet

Internet Users (2020s)
Higher is better
Pos.Internet Users (2020s)
1=Iceland99%
1=Kuwait99%
1=UAE99%
...
102St Kitts & Nevis74%
103Guyana74%
104Mauritius74%
105Panama73%
106Colombia73%
107Moldova72%
108Egypt72%
109Ecuador72%
The Americas Avg75.7%
World Avg67.8%
q=188. Also scored for 1990s-2020s.
IPv6 Uptake
Higher is better
67
Pos.2017
Ratio67
1Belgium55.4
2Germany41.8
3Switzerland35.1
...
73Vanuatu0.1
74=Iran0.1
74=Zambia0.1
76=Panama0.1
76=Croatia0.1
76=Costa Rica0.1
76=Serbia0.1
80=Liechtenstein0.0
The Americas Avg3.36
World Avg3.82
q=176.
Digital Quality of Life
Higher is better
68
Pos.202468
1Germany77.9%
2Finland76.9%
3France73.9%
...
77Mauritius42.9%
78Jordan42.6%
79Egypt42.5%
80Panama41.6%
81Paraguay41.2%
82Tunisia40.4%
83Bangladesh40.3%
84Kyrgyzstan39.5%
The Americas Avg44.7%
World Avg48.4%
q=121.

8. Panama's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#charitability #culture #equality #human_development #inequality #peace

Compared to The Americas (2025)69
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank69
1Canada22.8
2USA46.5
3Uruguay48.4
...
8Argentina66.4
9Jamaica68.9
10Bahamas69.4
11Panama75.7
12Belize77.1
13Dominica77.1
14Brazil77.9
15=St Lucia80.1
16Mexico80.2
The Americas Avg77.02
q=33.
Culture, Peace & Inequality (2025)69
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank69
1Denmark11.6
2Finland13.4
3Netherlands13.6
...
67Bhutan73.1
68Kazakhstan74.1
69Macedonia74.8
70Panama75.7
71Ukraine75.8
72Tunisia76.2
73Belarus77.0
74Belize77.1
World Avg81.27
q=187.

This is the final pillar of the Social and Moral Development Index; it has 32 datasets, including multiple decades of data on World Giving Index, resisting corruption, overall happiness, Creativity and Culture, passport utility (so far), Open Trading, Aid and Development, its Global Peace Index rating, Peacekeeping and Security, Refugees and UN Treaties, the impact of terrorism, poverty (so far), life expectancy inequality, Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) and Multidimensional Poverty.

For more, see:

8.1. National Culture Datasets

#charity #corruption #happiness #internationalism #morals #politics

World Giving Index
Higher is better
70
Pos.2022
%70
1Indonesia68.0
2Kenya61.0
3USA59.0
...
83=Israel37.0
83=Mauritius37.0
83=Lithuania37.0
86=Panama36.0
86=El Salvador36.0
86=Saudi Arabia36.0
89=S. Africa35.0
89=Ivory Coast35.0
The Americas Avg43.7
World Avg39.6
q=125. Also scored for 2010s.
Corruption
Higher is better
71
Pos.2022
Points71
1Denmark90.0
2=Finland87.0
2=New Zealand87.0
...
102=Peru36.0
102=Turkey36.0
102=Sri Lanka36.0
102=Panama36.0
102=Albania36.0
102=Ecuador36.0
102=Kazakhstan36.0
102=Thailand36.0
The Americas Avg42.97
World Avg42.98
q=180. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.
Happiness
Higher is better
72
Pos.2024
Score72
1Finland7.7
2Denmark7.5
3Iceland7.5
...
38Spain6.5
39Estonia6.4
40Italy6.4
41Panama6.4
42Argentina6.4
43Kazakhstan6.4
44Guatemala6.4
45Chile6.4
The Americas Avg6.31
World Avg5.58
q=147. Also scored for 2010s.
Creativity & Culture
Lower is better
37
Pos.2017
Rank37
1Belgium1
2Netherlands2
3Estonia3
...
114Qatar114
115Afghanistan115
116Ivory Coast116
117Panama117
118Colombia118
119Brazil119
120Honduras120
121Tanzania121
The Americas Avg80.2
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Passport Reach (2020s)
Higher is better73
Pos.Passport Reach (2020s)
Q73
1Singapore192.2
2Japan192.0
3S. Korea190.7
...
61Mauritius147.8
62St Lucia146.5
63Grenada145.5
64Panama144.2
65Macau144.0
66Dominica143.3
67Paraguay142.5
68Ukraine140.8
The Americas Avg132.4
World Avg108.8
q=195. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.
Open Trading, Aid & Development
Lower is better
37
Pos.2017
Rank37
1Ireland1
2Denmark2
3Sweden3
...
65S. Korea65
66Benin66
67Lesotho67
68Panama68
69New Zealand69
70Tunisia70
71Montenegro71
72Ukraine72
The Americas Avg100.5
World Avg82.0
q=163.

8.2. Peace Versus Instability Datasets

#extremism #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism

Global Peace Index
Lower is better
74
Pos.2023
Score74
1Iceland1.12
2Denmark1.31
3Ireland1.31
...
65Serbia1.92
66Armenia1.93
67France1.94
68Panama1.94
69Paraguay1.94
70=Liberia1.95
70=Trinidad & Tobago1.95
70=Kosovo1.95
The Americas Avg2.13
World Avg2.07
q=163. Also scored for 2010s.
Peacekeeping & Security
Lower is better
37
Pos.2017
Rank37
1Samoa1
2S. Africa2
3Tunisia3
...
107Poland107
108Ukraine108
109Belgium109
110Panama110
111Equatorial Guinea111
112Botswana112
113Slovakia113
114Suriname114
The Americas Avg82.3
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Refugees & UN Treaties
Lower is better
37
Pos.2017
Rank37
1Austria1
2Germany2
3Netherlands3
...
24Poland24
25S. Africa25
26Chile26
27Panama27
28Portugal28
29USA29
30Singapore30
31Greece31
The Americas Avg91.5
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Impact of Terrorism
Lower is better
75
Pos.2019
Score75
1Togo0.00
2Mongolia0.00
3Swaziland0.00
...
16=Uzbekistan0.02
17=Qatar0.03
17=Iceland0.03
19=Panama0.04
19=Guyana0.04
21UAE0.05
22Slovakia0.06
23Norway0.08
The Americas Avg2.16
World Avg2.78
q=150.

8.3. Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets

#brazil #capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #panama #poverty #social_development

Poverty (2020s)
Lower is better
76
Pos.Poverty (2020s)
%76
1Malaysia0.01%
2Bhutan0.01%
3Cyprus0.02%
...
62Nepal2.44%
63Mexico3.29%
64Bolivia3.35%
65Panama3.39%
66Iran3.41%
67Uzbekistan3.89%
68Brazil4.73%
69El Salvador4.99%
The Americas Avg4.07%
World Avg11.40%
q=106. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.
Inequality in Life Expectancy
Lower is better
77
Pos.201977
1Iceland2.40
2=Singapore2.50
2=Hong Kong2.50
...
92=Ecuador11.50
92=N. Korea11.50
94Egypt11.60
95=Panama12.00
95=Palestine12.00
97Solomon Islands12.10
98Cape Verde12.20
99El Salvador12.50
The Americas Avg12.03
World Avg14.59
q=184.
Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient)
Lower is better
78
Pos.2023
%78
1Slovakia24.1%79
2Slovenia24.3%79
3Belarus24.4%80
...
152Costa Rica46.7%81
153Honduras48.2%82
154Guatemala48.3%83
155=Panama48.9%81
155=Congo, (Brazzaville)48.9%84
157=Mozambique50.3%82
157=Zimbabwe50.3%82
159Angola51.3%85
The Americas Avg44.0%
World Avg36.5%
q=167. Also scored for 1980s-2010s.

Of the 63 countries measured in the 1980s, Panama's income inequality was on average the worst throughout that decade, except for Brazil. In addition, it has long maintained a status as a tax haven1,86, depriving countries around the world of billions in tax income9.

9. Religion and Beliefs

#belief #buddhism #christianity #god #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion #religiosity #secularisation

Religiosity (2018)63
Pos.Lower is better
%63
1China3
2Estonia6
3Czechia7
...
53=Greece56
53=Paraguay56
55Lebanon57
56Panama61
57Venezuela67
58Turkey68
59=Bolivia71
59=Botswana71
61=Brazil72
61=Egypt72
63=Algeria73
63=Peru73
65S. Africa75
66=Ecuador76
66=Costa Rica76
68=Puerto Rico77
World Avg54.3
q=106.
Disbelief In God (2007)87
Pos.Higher is better
%87
1Vietnam81
2Japan65
3Sweden64
...
83=Peru1
83=Guatemala1
83=El Salvador1
83=Panama1
87=Somalia0
87=Sri Lanka0
87=Burundi0
87=Burkina Faso0
87=Brunei0
87=Botswana0
87=Syria0
87=Sierra Leone0
87=Thailand0
87=Togo0
87=Benin0
87=Tunisia0
World Avg9.9
q=137.

Pew Forum polling over the decades has found the following adherency rates:88:

20102020
Christian93.1%91.2%
Unaffiliated6.02%6.21%
Other0.387%2.08%
Jewish0.22%0.233%
Buddhist0.14%0.171%
Hindu<0.1%<0.1%
Muslim<0.1%<0.1%

It appears that when asked "What religion are you" many give pollsters the 'correct' answer despite how they actually feel, and despite what they actually believe. Although 93.8% of the populace say they belong to a religion, only 61% say that they are religious when the question is phrased as "Is religion an important part of your daily life?".

For more on this phenomenon, see:

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states simply: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%89.

Links: