Rural population growth in Panama
Panama: Rural population growth was 0.8% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Rural population growth in Panama, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rural population growth in Panama is 0.8%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 11.4% on the previous year and down 49.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population growth in Panama peaked at 2.3% in 1973 and was at its lowest, -0.4%, in 1996.
That places Panama 68th out of 209 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Rural population growth in Panama, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 2.2% | — |
| 1962 | 2.0% | -7.8% |
| 1963 | 1.8% | -8.3% |
| 1964 | 1.7% | -7.3% |
| 1965 | 1.6% | -5.8% |
| 1966 | 1.6% | -2.5% |
| 1967 | 1.6% | +1.3% |
| 1968 | 1.7% | +5.4% |
| 1969 | 1.8% | +9.7% |
| 1970 | 2.1% | +13.2% |
| 1971 | 2.2% | +7.8% |
| 1972 | 2.3% | +1.9% |
| 1973 | 2.3% | +0.4% |
| 1974 | 2.3% | -0.5% |
| 1975 | 2.3% | -1.4% |
| 1976 | 2.2% | -2.5% |
| 1977 | 2.1% | -3.4% |
| 1978 | 2.0% | -4.2% |
| 1979 | 1.9% | -4.5% |
| 1980 | 1.9% | -5.0% |
| 1981 | 1.8% | -4.1% |
| 1982 | 1.7% | -3.1% |
| 1983 | 1.7% | -3.5% |
| 1984 | 1.6% | -4.2% |
| 1985 | 1.5% | -5.7% |
| 1986 | 1.4% | -6.8% |
| 1987 | 1.3% | -7.5% |
| 1988 | 1.2% | -8.3% |
| 1989 | 1.1% | -9.8% |
| 1990 | 1.0% | -9.5% |
| 1991 | 0.7% | -28.6% |
| 1992 | 0.3% | -57.0% |
| 1993 | 0.0% | -99.7% |
| 1994 | -0.2% | -22423.8% |
| 1995 | -0.3% | +62.1% |
| 1996 | -0.4% | +9.9% |
| 1997 | -0.3% | -19.6% |
| 1998 | -0.1% | -61.1% |
| 1999 | 0.2% | -257.7% |
| 2000 | 0.6% | +223.4% |
| 2001 | 0.8% | +37.1% |
| 2002 | 0.9% | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 0.9% | +4.6% |
| 2004 | 1.0% | +6.4% |
| 2005 | 1.0% | +5.9% |
| 2006 | 1.1% | +5.5% |
| 2007 | 1.1% | +7.3% |
| 2008 | 1.2% | +8.3% |
| 2009 | 1.3% | +8.3% |
| 2010 | 1.4% | +7.9% |
| 2011 | 1.5% | +3.8% |
| 2012 | 1.5% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 1.5% | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 1.5% | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 1.5% | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 1.5% | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 1.5% | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 1.5% | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 1.5% | -3.7% |
| 2020 | 1.3% | -12.9% |
| 2021 | 1.1% | -10.6% |
| 2022 | 1.2% | +8.0% |
| 2023 | 1.2% | -3.0% |
| 2024 | 0.9% | -27.4% |
| 2025 | 0.8% | -11.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.8% | 1.6% | 2.2% | 9 |
| 1970s | 2.2% | 1.9% | 2.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.5% | 1.1% | 1.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.1% | -0.4% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.0% | 0.6% | 1.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.5% | 1.4% | 1.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.1% | 0.8% | 1.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Panama
More agriculture & rural data for Panama
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 2.06 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0262 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 518.14 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.7724 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3385 units per person (2025)
- Agriculture share gdp 2.62 (2025)
- Value added in the agricultural sector as of gdp vs gdp per capita 2.62 (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 4.7% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.4% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population growth in Panama?
- Rural population growth in Panama was 0.8% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population growth recorded in Panama?
- The highest recorded value was 2.3% in 1973.
- What is the lowest rural population growth recorded in Panama?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.4% in 1996.
- How does Panama rank for rural population growth?
- Panama ranks 68th out of 209 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population growth rising or falling in Panama?
- Over the last ten years it is down 49.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Panama data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Rural population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Annual rural population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear rural population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.