Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Panama
Panama: Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation was 96.9% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Panama, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Panama recorded 96.9% for share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.1% on the previous year and up 11.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Panama peaked at 96.9% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 73.9%, in 2000.
That places Panama 79th out of 186 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Panama, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 73.9% | — |
| 2001 | 74.4% | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 75.3% | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 76.2% | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 77.1% | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 78.1% | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 79.0% | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 80.0% | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 80.9% | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 81.9% | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 82.8% | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 83.8% | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 84.8% | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 85.8% | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 86.8% | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 87.8% | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 88.7% | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 89.8% | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 90.8% | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 91.8% | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 92.8% | +1.1% |
| 2021 | 93.8% | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 94.9% | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 95.9% | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 96.9% | +1.1% |
Panama compared with similar countries
- Panama's 96.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 99.0%, 98% of the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Panama's 96.9% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 93.8%, 1.0× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 77.7% | 73.9% | 81.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 87.3% | 82.8% | 91.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 94.9% | 92.8% | 96.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Panama
- 76 Netherlands 97.5% compare
- 77 Luxembourg 97.5% compare
- 78 Kazakhstan 97.1% compare
- 80 Sri Lanka 96.9% compare
- 81 Anguilla 96.7% compare
- 82 Kyrgyzstan 96.6% compare
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)
- World population growth -0.2% (2100)
- Population density 79.6 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 267,694 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Panama?
- Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Panama was 96.9% in 2024, according to WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation recorded in Panama?
- The highest recorded value was 96.9% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation recorded in Panama?
- The lowest recorded value was 73.9% in 2000.
- How does Panama rank for share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation?
- Panama ranks 79th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation rising or falling in Panama?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Panama data come from?
- The figures come from WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Proportion of people using improved sanitation facilities, such as toilets or latrines, that are not shared with other households.