Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Panama
Panama: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 2,694 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Panama, 1972–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Panama recorded 2,694 for refugee population by country or territory of asylum in 2025.
That represents a change of up 1.4% on the previous year and down 84.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Panama peaked at 17,650 in 2013 and was at its lowest, 130, in 1972.
Panama ranks 110th of 183 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Panama, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 130 | — |
| 1974 | 1,150 | +784.6% |
| 1977 | 500 | -56.5% |
| 1978 | 1,050 | +110.0% |
| 1979 | 1,070 | +1.9% |
| 1980 | 3,320 | +210.3% |
| 1981 | 1,500 | -54.8% |
| 1982 | 1,820 | +21.3% |
| 1983 | 1,500 | -17.6% |
| 1984 | 1,500 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 1,200 | -20.0% |
| 1986 | 1,270 | +5.8% |
| 1987 | 1,600 | +26.0% |
| 1988 | 1,992 | +24.5% |
| 1989 | 1,451 | -27.2% |
| 1990 | 1,350 | -7.0% |
| 1991 | 914 | -32.3% |
| 1992 | 1,007 | +10.2% |
| 1993 | 964 | -4.3% |
| 1994 | 972 | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 867 | -10.8% |
| 1996 | 864 | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 618 | -28.5% |
| 1998 | 1,179 | +90.8% |
| 1999 | 1,315 | +11.5% |
| 2000 | 1,307 | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 1,471 | +12.5% |
| 2002 | 1,565 | +6.4% |
| 2003 | 1,436 | -8.2% |
| 2004 | 1,596 | +11.1% |
| 2005 | 1,717 | +7.6% |
| 2006 | 1,835 | +6.9% |
| 2007 | 16,877 | +819.7% |
| 2008 | 16,906 | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 16,917 | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 17,066 | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 17,249 | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 17,414 | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 17,650 | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 17,256 | -2.2% |
| 2015 | 17,304 | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 17,332 | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 2,417 | -86.1% |
| 2018 | 2,501 | +3.5% |
| 2019 | 2,536 | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 2,562 | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 2,542 | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 2,576 | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 2,724 | +5.7% |
| 2024 | 2,658 | -2.4% |
| 2025 | 2,694 | +1.4% |
Panama compared with similar countries
- Panama's 2,694 is below the median for high income countries, which is 11,811, 23% of the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Panama's 2,694 is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 226, 11.9× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Panama changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | +819.7% | 1,835 | 16,877 |
| 1974 | +784.6% | 130 | 1,150 |
| 1980 | +210.3% | 1,070 | 3,320 |
| 1978 | +110.0% | 500 | 1,050 |
| 1998 | +90.8% | 618 | 1,179 |
| 2017 | -86.1% | 17,332 | 2,417 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 780 | 130 | 1,150 | 5 |
| 1980s | 1,715 | 1,200 | 3,320 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1,005 | 618 | 1,350 | 10 |
| 2000s | 6,163 | 1,307 | 16,917 | 10 |
| 2010s | 12,872 | 2,417 | 17,650 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,626 | 2,542 | 2,724 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Panama
More population data for Panama
- Population regions 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 long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.192 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1369 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 5,736 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.11 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.4333 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.197 (2100)
- Population density 79.6 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 267,694 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Panama?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Panama was 2,694 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Panama?
- The highest recorded value was 17,650 in 2013.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Panama?
- The lowest recorded value was 130 in 1972.
- How does Panama rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- Panama ranks 110th out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Panama?
- Over the last ten years it is down 84.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Panama data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Refugee population by country or territory of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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