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Panama vs Puerto Rico (US)
Side-by-side comparison of Panama and Puerto Rico (US) from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Panama
Latin America & Caribbean · nation age 123 years
Puerto Rico (US)
Latin America & Caribbean · nation age 128 years
In short
Puerto Rico (US) scores 55.9 in the NationsTree Index (66th in the world) and Panama scores 45.5 (106th), a gap of 10.5 points. Their trees are 8.2 m and 7.9 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Panama has 44% more people than Puerto Rico (US). Panama is 8.5 times larger than Puerto Rico (US) by land area. The economy of Panama is 21% larger than that of Puerto Rico (US) (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Panama 4.6 million and Puerto Rico (US) 3.2 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $52,196 in Puerto Rico (US) and $43,902 in Panama (2025, international dollars). People in Puerto Rico (US) live on average 2.1 years longer (81.9 vs 79.8 years).
Of 24 indicators reported by both countries, Panama ranks higher in the world on 7 and Puerto Rico (US) on 17. Panama is clearly stronger in natural resources and environment & energy. Puerto Rico (US) is clearly stronger in science & innovation, society & health and tourism.
As a nation, Puerto Rico (US) is the older of the two (statehood since 1898, 128 years), compared with Panama (since 1903). Over the last five years Panama improved faster (direction score 43 vs 39 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Panama and Puerto Rico (US).
Panama
96.0%
149th of 215
Puerto Rico (US)better
100.0%
1st of 215
GDP growthEconomy
Panamabetter
4.4%
70th of 210
Puerto Rico (US)
0.3%
191st of 210
General government gross debtEconomy
Panama
56.6%
105th of 189
Puerto Rico (US)better
17.6%
16th of 189
Renewable freshwater per personNatural resources
Panamabetter
31,040
19th of 183
Puerto Rico (US)
2,205
100th of 183
Renewable energyEnvironment & energy
Panamabetter
28.0%
84th of 212
Puerto Rico (US)
2.5%
177th of 212
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Panama overtook Puerto Rico (US) in GDP (PPP) in 2021 and has stayed ahead since.
Puerto Rico (US) overtook Panama in the NationsTree Index and GDP per person (PPP) in 2018 and has stayed ahead since.
Panama overtook Puerto Rico (US) in population in 2011 and has stayed ahead since.
Puerto Rico (US) has been ahead of Panama in life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
PanamaPuerto Rico (US) 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 | Panama | Puerto Rico (US) |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 75,320119th/216 · 2024 | 8,870166th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 74,180116th/216 · 2024 | 8,870165th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 4.6 m128th/217 · 2025 | 3.2 m134th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 1.22%84th/217 · 2025 | -0.55%201st/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 60.9144th/216 · 2024 | 361.132nd/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 66.2%102nd/217 · 2025 | 94.3%21st/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 24.5%97th/217 · 2025 | 11.2%214th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 9.7%102nd/217 · 2025 | 25.3%3rd/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $90.46 bn82nd/210 · 2025 | $129.37 bn65th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $200.69 bn79th/199 · 2025 | $166.23 bn87th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $171.49 bn79th/199 · 2025 | $142.05 bn87th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $19,79077th/210 · 2025 | $40,62041st/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $43,90262nd/199 · 2025 | $52,19648th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $19,14070th/201 · 2025 | $27,32052nd/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 4.4%70th/210 · 2025 | 0.3%191st/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | -0.2%10th/180 · 2025 | — |
| Unemployment % | 8.4%137th/187 · 2025 | 6.0%111th/187 · 2025 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 56.6%105th/189 · 2025 | 17.6%16th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -3.7%123rd/192 · 2025 | -0.4%46th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 2.6%135th/197 · 2025 | 0.7%177th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 24.9%88th/200 · 2025 | 47.0%8th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 4.8%155th/192 · 2025 | 44.0%1st/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 70.0%35th/200 · 2025 | 51.9%137th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $38.38 bn75th/182 · 2024 | $60.65 bn61st/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $34.02 bn77th/182 · 2024 | $56.37 bn65th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 44.4%65th/183 · 2024 | 46.9%59th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 39.3%104th/183 · 2024 | 43.6%93rd/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 83.7%88th/183 · 2024 | 90.5%81st/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 0.9%123rd/170 · 2025 | — |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 12.6%126th/171 · 2025 | — |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 49.6%30th/171 · 2025 | — |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 32.6%16th/171 · 2025 | — |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 1.8%135th/168 · 2024 | — |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -0.2%78th/191 · 2025 | — |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 1.0%139th/196 · 2025 | — |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 3.7%83rd/209 · 2021 | 0.0%187th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%100th/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 | 3.58%29th/209 · 2021 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.09%116th/209 · 2021 | 0.00%183rd/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 6.7%122nd/206 · 2024 | 6.6%125th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 31,04019th/183 · 2022 | 2,205100th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 647,000113th/194 · 2020 | 3.9 m46th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $1.84 bn52nd/175 · 2020 | $2.92 bn41st/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 9.3%61st/168 · 2020 | — |
| Outbound trips departures | 401,00083rd/107 · 2020 | 792,00065th/107 · 2017 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 79.855th/217 · 2024 | 81.938th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 15.3100th/196 · 2024 | — |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 1.6390th/174 · 2022 | 1.751995 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 2.088th/145 · 2023 | 3.31996 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 72%165th/193 · 2024 | — |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 64.7%92nd/153 · 2024 | 88.8%52nd/153 · 2024 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 76.6%2017 | 81.5%126th/173 · 2024 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 76.8%13th/55 · 2023 | — |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 14.7%99th/217 · 2025 | 39.8%4th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 8.3%56th/193 · 2023 | — |
| Adult literacy % | 96.2%31st/98 · 2024 | 92.4%2017 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 53.7%74th/150 · 2023 | 77.9%31st/150 · 2023 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.83959th/193 · 2023 | — |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 49.7104th/108 · 2024 | — |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 3.1%70th/108 · 2024 | — |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 96.0%149th/215 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | — | 98.9%31st/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | — | 32.5%107th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 72.8%118th/186 · 2024 | 87.3%74th/186 · 2022 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 15726th/210 · 2023 | 12671st/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 18.192nd/208 · 2023 | 28.066th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 3.3043rd/164 · 2022 | — |
| Rail lines route-km | 4852000 | — |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 15.8 m41st/161 · 2023 | — |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 2.74107th/203 · 2024 | 4.82147th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 28.0%84th/212 · 2021 | 2.5%177th/212 · 2022 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 15.184th/200 · 2023 | 7.831st/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 62.2%26th/214 · 2024 | 49.7%59th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 1,00290th/149 · 2024 | — |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 56.886th/205 · 2025 | 43.7139th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 36.8138th/207 · 2025 | 59.064th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 53.6116th/207 · 2025 | 68.068th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 69.995th/207 · 2025 | 72.087th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 53.4105th/205 · 2025 | 60.373rd/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 66.572nd/205 · 2025 | 64.979th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 11.7121st/145 · 2023 | 14.6125th/145 · 2023 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $0.00154th/156 · 2025 | — |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 0.0%154th/156 · 2025 | — |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 0.0%152nd/154 · 2025 | — |
| Armed forces personnel people | 28,00089th/170 · 2020 | — |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 1.33%48th/168 · 2020 | — |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 1.0 m2019 | — |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.20%86th/110 · 2024 | 0.43%2015 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 11101st/137 · 2024 | — |
| Scientific articles articles | 282116th/197 · 2023 | 60595th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Panama or Puerto Rico (US)?
Panama has the larger population: 4.6 m (2025) compared with 3.2 m for Puerto Rico (US) (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Panama or Puerto Rico (US)?
Panama is larger: 75,320 km² (2024) compared with 8,870 km² for Puerto Rico (US) (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Panama or Puerto Rico (US)?
Panama has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $200.69 bn intl. (2025) compared with $166.23 bn intl. for Puerto Rico (US) (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Panama or Puerto Rico (US)?
Puerto Rico (US) has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $52,196 intl. (2025) compared with $43,902 intl. for Panama (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Panama or Puerto Rico (US)?
Puerto Rico (US) has the higher life expectancy at birth: 81.9 years (2024) compared with 79.8 years for Panama (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Panama or Puerto Rico (US)?
Puerto Rico (US): 55.9 points (66th in the world); Panama: 45.5 points (106th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Bolivia
Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Guatemala
Paraguay
UruguaySources
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). Panama vs Puerto Rico (US) — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/panama-vs-puerto-rico-us. Data as of 26 October 2026.