Infant Mortality Rate: Panama

Analysis# Panama Infant Mortality Rate Panama's infant mortality rate stands at 12 per 1,000 births in 2024, representing a dramatic improvement from the 1960 peak of 65.1 deaths per 1,000 births. Over six decades, the country has achieved an 81.6% reduction in infant mortality, reflecting substantial gains in public health infrastructure and maternal care. The current figure remains slightly above Panama's all-time low of 11.9 per 1,000 births, recorded in both 2022 and 2023. The most significant progress occurred between 1960 and the early 2000s, when mortality rates declined steeply. Recent trends from 2015 onward show continued improvement, with the rate falling from 13.6 to a low of 11.9 over eight years. Though the rate ticked up marginally to 12.0 in 2024, the long-term trajectory indicates Panama has successfully addressed major drivers of infant mortality, positioning the country among middle-income nations with strong child health outcomes.