Population of Panama

As of May 2026, the population of Panama is 4.6 million. The number of inhabitants has increased by 57 thousand in the last year, representing a growth of 1.25%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 27.5 years in 2016 to 30.2 years in 2026. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 79.1 years and population density is 62.6 inhabitants per square kilometer.

Population Growth

The population growth rate of Panama peaked in 1963, reaching around 3.06% annually, but has since declined to approximately 1.23% in 2026. The annual increase in the number of people has also decreased from a peak of around 69.85 thousand in 2017 to nearly 56.98 thousand in 2026.

Life Expectancy

In Panama, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 76 years in 2006 to 79.1 years in 2026, representing an increase of more than 3 years over the past 2 decades.

Most populous cities in Panama

The cities of Panama are mostly small, but 3 stand out with more than 100 thousand inhabitants. The most populous city is Panama City, Panamá, with approximately 408.2 thousand inhabitants. It is followed by San Miguelito, Panamá with 321.5 thousand and Juan Díaz, Panamá with 100.6 thousand.

These are the 20 most populous cities in Panama: