GDP per Capita: Panama

Analysis# Panama GDP per Capita Panama's GDP per capita reached $20,754.21 USD in 2026, matching its all-time peak and representing a remarkable 866.6% increase since 1980, when it stood at just $2,147.18 USD. The country has transformed from a lower-middle-income economy into an upper-middle-income nation over nearly five decades, though the trajectory has not been linear. The 2020 pandemic triggered a sharp contraction, dropping GDP per capita to $13,336.40 USD—the lowest point in recent history. Recovery began immediately in 2021 and accelerated substantially thereafter, with consecutive annual gains averaging roughly $1,000 USD from 2022 onward. This sustained upward momentum through 2026 suggests Panama's economy has successfully weathered external shocks and returned to robust growth, positioning the country for continued prosperity in the near term.