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Guatemala vs Panama
Side-by-side comparison of Guatemala and Panama from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Guatemala
Latin America & Caribbean · nation age 205 years
Panama
Latin America & Caribbean · nation age 123 years
In short
Panama scores 45.5 in the NationsTree Index (106th in the world) and Guatemala scores 35.4 (145th), a gap of 10.1 points. Their trees are 9.2 m and 8.2 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Guatemala has 4.1 times the population of Panama. Guatemala has 45% more land area than Panama. The economy of Guatemala is 42% larger than that of Panama (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Guatemala 18.7 million and Panama 4.6 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $43,902 in Panama and $15,197 in Guatemala (2025, international dollars). People in Panama live on average 7.0 years longer (79.8 vs 72.7 years).
Of 36 indicators reported by both countries, Guatemala ranks higher in the world on 8 and Panama on 28. Guatemala is clearly stronger in main industries. Panama is clearly stronger in infrastructure & digital, society & health and institutions & safety.
As a nation, Guatemala is the older of the two (statehood since 1821, 205 years), compared with Panama (since 1903). Over the last five years Guatemala improved faster (direction score 44 vs 43 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Guatemala and Panama.
Guatemalabetter
2.6%
26th of 187
Panama
8.4%
137th of 187
General government gross debtEconomy
Guatemalabetter
26.7%
26th of 189
Panama
56.6%
105th of 189
Human Development IndexSociety & health
Guatemala
0.662
137th of 193
Panamabetter
0.839
59th of 193
Government effectivenessInstitutions & safety
Guatemala
36.5
163rd of 205
Panamabetter
56.8
86th of 205
Hospital bedsSociety & health
Guatemala
0.5
138th of 145
Panamabetter
2.0
88th of 145
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Panama has been ahead of Guatemala in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1993.
Panama has been ahead of Guatemala in GDP per person (PPP) and life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Guatemala has been ahead of Panama in GDP (PPP) and population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
GuatemalaPanama All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Guatemala | Panama |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 108,889107th/216 · 2024 | 75,320119th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 107,160103rd/216 · 2024 | 74,180116th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 18.7 m69th/217 · 2025 | 4.6 m128th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 1.52%70th/217 · 2025 | 1.22%84th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 171.870th/216 · 2024 | 60.9144th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 56.3%137th/217 · 2025 | 66.2%102nd/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 31.0%67th/217 · 2025 | 24.5%97th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 5.0%148th/217 · 2025 | 9.7%102nd/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $123.31 bn68th/210 · 2025 | $90.46 bn82nd/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $284.00 bn71st/199 · 2025 | $200.69 bn79th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $242.69 bn70th/199 · 2025 | $171.49 bn79th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $6,598124th/210 · 2025 | $19,79077th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $15,197122nd/199 · 2025 | $43,90262nd/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $6,360114th/201 · 2025 | $19,14070th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 4.3%72nd/210 · 2025 | 4.4%70th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 1.5%48th/180 · 2025 | -0.2%10th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 2.6%26th/187 · 2025 | 8.4%137th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 25.2%2013 | — |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 26.7%26th/189 · 2025 | 56.6%105th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -1.9%75th/192 · 2025 | -3.7%123rd/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 9.6%72nd/197 · 2025 | 2.6%135th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 21.8%116th/200 · 2025 | 24.9%88th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 13.2%61st/192 · 2025 | 4.8%155th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 62.1%71st/200 · 2025 | 70.0%35th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $19.19 bn91st/182 · 2025 | $38.38 bn75th/182 · 2024 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $38.19 bn71st/182 · 2025 | $34.02 bn77th/182 · 2024 |
| Exports % of GDP | 15.6%160th/183 · 2025 | 44.4%65th/183 · 2024 |
| Imports % of GDP | 31.0%130th/183 · 2025 | 39.3%104th/183 · 2024 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 46.5%150th/183 · 2025 | 83.7%88th/183 · 2024 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 2.5%93rd/170 · 2025 | 0.9%123rd/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 45.2%70th/171 · 2025 | 12.6%126th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 46.8%33rd/171 · 2025 | 49.6%30th/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 1.0%134th/171 · 2025 | 32.6%16th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 5.4%94th/168 · 2024 | 1.8%135th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 4.7%40th/191 · 2025 | -0.2%78th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 1.4%125th/196 · 2025 | 1.0%139th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 1.9%96th/209 · 2021 | 3.7%83rd/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.12%74th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%98th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 1.12%45th/209 · 2021 | 3.58%29th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.69%63rd/209 · 2021 | 0.09%116th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 17.5%62nd/206 · 2024 | 6.7%122nd/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 6,11862nd/183 · 2022 | 31,04019th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 594,000115th/194 · 2020 | 647,000113th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $298.5 m108th/175 · 2020 | $1.84 bn52nd/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 2.3%121st/168 · 2020 | 9.3%61st/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 507,80078th/107 · 2020 | 401,00083rd/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 72.7128th/217 · 2024 | 79.855th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 20.5124th/196 · 2024 | 15.3100th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 1.28100th/174 · 2020 | 1.6390th/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 0.5138th/145 · 2023 | 2.088th/145 · 2023 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 81%142nd/193 · 2024 | 72%165th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 33.9%126th/153 · 2024 | 64.7%92nd/153 · 2024 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 49.6%156th/173 · 2024 | 76.6%2017 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 63.3%2014 | 76.8%13th/55 · 2023 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 7.8%146th/217 · 2025 | 14.7%99th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 6.8%90th/193 · 2023 | 8.3%56th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 82.1%64th/98 · 2024 | 96.2%31st/98 · 2024 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 27.3%108th/150 · 2023 | 53.7%74th/150 · 2023 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.662137th/193 · 2023 | 0.83959th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 45.299th/108 · 2023 | 49.7104th/108 · 2024 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 9.7%84th/108 · 2023 | 3.1%70th/108 · 2024 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 90.9%160th/215 · 2024 | 96.0%149th/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 48.8%108th/150 · 2024 | — |
| Internet users % of population | 60.2%138th/186 · 2024 | 72.8%118th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 113115th/210 · 2024 | 15726th/210 · 2023 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 5.3138th/208 · 2024 | 18.192nd/208 · 2023 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.4096th/164 · 2022 | 3.3043rd/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 8852004 | 4852000 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 221,478128th/161 · 2023 | 15.8 m41st/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 1.1166th/203 · 2024 | 2.74107th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 62.1%35th/212 · 2021 | 28.0%84th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 29.7151st/200 · 2023 | 15.184th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 33.1%104th/214 · 2024 | 62.2%26th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 94093rd/149 · 2024 | 1,00290th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 36.5163rd/205 · 2025 | 56.886th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 29.4161st/207 · 2025 | 36.8138th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 41.6166th/207 · 2025 | 53.6116th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 61.9133rd/207 · 2025 | 69.995th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 49.7121st/205 · 2025 | 53.4105th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 51.5122nd/205 · 2025 | 66.572nd/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 23.4130th/145 · 2023 | 11.7121st/145 · 2023 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $632.9 m94th/156 · 2025 | $0.00154th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 0.5%144th/156 · 2025 | 0.0%154th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 3.5%122nd/154 · 2025 | 0.0%152nd/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 43,00076th/170 · 2020 | 28,00089th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.64%100th/168 · 2020 | 1.33%48th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 6.0 m125th/163 · 2023 | — |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | — | 1.0 m2019 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.01%110th/110 · 2023 | 0.20%86th/110 · 2024 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 8109th/137 · 2024 | 11101st/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 109138th/197 · 2023 | 282116th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Guatemala or Panama?
Guatemala has the larger population: 18.7 m (2025) compared with 4.6 m for Panama (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Guatemala or Panama?
Guatemala is larger: 108,889 km² (2024) compared with 75,320 km² for Panama (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Guatemala or Panama?
Guatemala has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $284.00 bn intl. (2025) compared with $200.69 bn intl. for Panama (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Guatemala or Panama?
Panama has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $43,902 intl. (2025) compared with $15,197 intl. for Guatemala (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Guatemala or Panama?
Panama has the higher life expectancy at birth: 79.8 years (2024) compared with 72.7 years for Guatemala (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Guatemala or Panama?
Guatemala spends more on the military: $632.9 m (2025) compared with $0.00 for Panama (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Guatemala or Panama?
Panama: 45.5 points (106th in the world); Guatemala: 35.4 points (145th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Bolivia
Puerto Rico (US)Sources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Guatemala vs Panama — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/guatemala-vs-panama. Data as of 26 October 2026.