Prison population rate in Panama
Panama: Prison population rate was 533 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025. ▲ Rising
Prison population rate in Panama, 2000–2025
Source: Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in prisoners per 100,000 people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prison population rate in Panama is 533 prisoners per 100,000 people, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 12 years on record.
The figure is up 33.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in Panama peaked at 533 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 272 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2008.
That places Panama 6th out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 12 years of available data.
Prison population rate in Panama, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 283 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2002 | 328 prisoners per 100,000 people | +15.9% |
| 2004 | 345 prisoners per 100,000 people | +5.2% |
| 2006 | 338 prisoners per 100,000 people | -2.0% |
| 2008 | 272 prisoners per 100,000 people | -19.5% |
| 2010 | 341 prisoners per 100,000 people | +25.4% |
| 2012 | 380 prisoners per 100,000 people | +11.4% |
| 2014 | 398 prisoners per 100,000 people | +4.7% |
| 2016 | 407 prisoners per 100,000 people | +2.3% |
| 2018 | 395 prisoners per 100,000 people | -2.9% |
| 2020 | 416 prisoners per 100,000 people | +5.3% |
| 2025 | 533 prisoners per 100,000 people | +28.1% |
Panama compared with similar countries
- Panama's 533 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 172.5 prisoners per 100,000 people, 3.1× the median. (80 countries reporting)
- Panama's 533 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 280 prisoners per 100,000 people, 1.9× the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 313.2 prisoners per 100,000 people | 272 prisoners per 100,000 people | 345 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2010s | 384.2 prisoners per 100,000 people | 341 prisoners per 100,000 people | 407 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2020s | 474.5 prisoners per 100,000 people | 416 prisoners per 100,000 people | 533 prisoners per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Panama
- 3 Turkmenistan 576 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 4 United States 542 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 5 American Samoa 538 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 7 Guam 530 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 8 Tonga 516 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 9 Turkey 468 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for Panama
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1369 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.192 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -2.53 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.192 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.2% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 267,694 people (2100)
- Population density 79.6 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.2% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.4333 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.11 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in Panama?
- Prison population rate in Panama was 533 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025, according to Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest prison population rate recorded in Panama?
- The highest recorded value was 533 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Panama?
- The lowest recorded value was 272 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2008.
- How does Panama rank for prison population rate?
- Panama ranks 6th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in Panama?
- Over the last ten years it is up 33.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Panama data come from?
- The figures come from Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Prison population rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Prison population (including pre-trial detainees and remand prisoners), per 100,000 population.