Population and Demographics of Panama
Population changed +1.27% in 2024 · median age 30 years
Older adults account for 9.35% of the population in Panama, and the current annual rate is +1.27% rather than a static population. The 2000-to-2024 series records a 50.0% increase, which is more informative than a single annual rate alone. By 2050, the medium path points to 5.63 million, equivalent to a +24.7% change from the 2024 estimate.
Population Over Time in Panama
Over the 24 years from 2000 to 2024, Panama added roughly 1.51 million people, leaving the 2024 total at 4.516M. By 2050, the medium path reaches 5.631M, which would make the population larger than in 2024. The chart connects dated reference points only and should not be read as an annual interpolated series.
Age Structure and Sex Balance
Panama's demographic structure is mixed when the 2024 population is divided into the three broad age groups. The youngest broad age group represents 24.89% of residents, against 9.35% in the 65+ group; the working-age band is 65.76%. The age balance is weighted toward younger residents.
Population by broad age group
The 2024 World Bank sex-share indicator gives Panama a female share of 50.0% and a male share of 50.0%. The split is close to even.
Female and male population share
The World Bank's 2024 series shows a nearly even sex balance: 50% female and 50% male.
What Is Shaping Population Change
Annual change of +1.27% is one part of Panama's 2024 profile; fertility of 2.1 is another, and 65.76% of residents fall in the broad 15-to-64 age group.
Panama is 50.0% larger than its 2000 population in the 2024 reference year, while the 2050 medium projection is 24.7% above 2024; this profile does not infer unobserved migration or natural-change components.
2024 estimate for Panama. The world comparison value is 2.25 children per woman.
Panama vs. World
Three same-year indicators show where Panama differs from the world in 2024: population change is higher than the global rate, fertility is below the global figure, and median age is close in age to the world benchmark.
| Indicator | Panama | World | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual population change | +1.27% | +0.87% | 2024 |
| Total fertility rate | 2.1 | 2.25 | 2024 |
| Median age | 30 | 30.6 | 2024 |
Same-year comparability takes priority here. Growth, fertility and median age are all taken from the 2024 harmonized table for both Panama and the world.
Key Takeaways
The 2024 total is 4,515,577 people. Annual change in the same harmonized table is +1.27%.
The 2024 age structure is 24.89% under 15, 65.76% aged 15 to 64 and 9.35% aged 65 or older.
Females make up 50.0% of the 2024 population in the World Bank indicator, with males at 50.0%.
On the medium path, 2050 reaches 5.631M, a +24.7% shift from the 2024 level.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Panama?
The 2024 harmonized population estimate for Panama is 4,515,577 people.
Is the population of Panama growing or declining?
In the 2024 estimate, Panama's population is growing, with annual change of +1.27%.
What percentage of the population of Panama is aged 65 or older?
People aged 65 or older account for 9.35% of Panama's 2024 population in the UN WPP-based broad age data.
What is the projected population of Panama in 2050?
The UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium projection puts Panama's 2050 population at 5,630,680.
What is the fertility rate in Panama?
The 2024 harmonized fertility estimate for Panama is 2.1 children per woman.
Sources & methodology
This profile uses United Nations World Population Prospects 2024 as the primary framework for globally comparable population, age, fertility and projection data. The World Bank is the primary source for the female population share. Some country values were accessed through secondary retrieval interfaces that republish or organize UN data; those interfaces are identified below as secondary and are not treated as the original statistical publishers.
View sources used for this page
Primary global framework for the population estimates and projections.
Harmonized 2024 country table based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Harmonized broad age shares based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Harmonized reference for the 2000 population point.
Harmonized 2050 country projection based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Used for the 2024 female share; the male share is calculated as the remainder to 100%.