Unemployment rate — all countries

Unemployment rate — Panama

Unemployment rate in Panama in 2025 — 8.36%. Ranked 136 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 1.92 pp.

2025 8.36% −0.09 pp vs 2024
World rank 136of 182
Period maximum 14.66%2020
Period minimum 3.67%2013

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of labor force

Unemployment rate — Panama, 1991–202505101519911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 6.44%1992: 6.32%1993: 6.37%1994: 6.43%1995: 6.51%1996: 6.73%1997: 6.59%1998: 6.4%1999: 6.17%2000: 6.19%2001: 6.29%2002: 6.3%2003: 6.3%2004: 6.1%2005: 5.97%2006: 5.79%2007: 5.67%2008: 5.64%2009: 5.86%2010: 5.85%2011: 4.03%2012: 3.69%2013: 3.67%2014: 4.39%2015: 4.34%2016: 4.72%2017: 5.34%2018: 5.16%2019: 6.26%2020: 14.66%2021: 10.18%2022: 8.09%2023: 6.54%2024: 8.45%2025: 8.36%
Change over the period: +1.92 pp Annual average: 0.06 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Panama

Panama 8.36%
World 4.79%
Central America computed 3.18%
High-income countries computed 4.42%
Unemployment rate — Panama, by year Panama All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 8.36 −0.09 pp
2024 8.45 +1.91 pp
2023 6.54 −1.54 pp
2022 8.09 −2.09 pp
2021 10.18 −4.49 pp
2020 14.66 +8.41 pp
2019 6.26 +1.1 pp
2018 5.16 −0.18 pp
2017 5.34 +0.62 pp
2016 4.72 +0.38 pp
2015 4.34 −0.06 pp
2014 4.39 +0.72 pp
2013 3.67 −0.02 pp
2012 3.69 −0.34 pp
2011 4.03 −1.82 pp
2010 5.85 −0.01 pp
2009 5.86 +0.22 pp
2008 5.64 −0.03 pp
2007 5.67 −0.13 pp
2006 5.79 −0.18 pp
2005 5.97 −0.13 pp
2004 6.1 −0.21 pp
2003 6.3 +0 pp
2002 6.3 +0.01 pp
2001 6.29 +0.11 pp
2000 6.19 +0.02 pp
1999 6.17 −0.23 pp
1998 6.4 −0.19 pp
1997 6.59 −0.14 pp
1996 6.73 +0.22 pp
1995 6.51 +0.08 pp
1994 6.43 +0.05 pp
1993 6.37 +0.06 pp
1992 6.32 −0.13 pp
1991 6.44

Central America, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

About the indicator

The share of the labor force that is unemployed, on the ILO definition: a person counts as unemployed if they held no job in the reference period, actively looked for one and were available to start work. People who are not looking for work are not part of the labor force, so in countries with mass withdrawal from the labor force low unemployment does not mean high employment; the employment ratio and labor force participation fill in the rest of the picture.

Important: The data are ILO modeled estimates harmonized to a common definition; they can differ from the national figures of employment services.

Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.