MigrantoPanamanian Diaspora
194.8K Panamanians live abroad — 4% of the population of Panama
Panamanian diaspora by country
The top 3 countries are home to 93% of the diaspora
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| USA | 161903 |
| Costa Rica | 16546 |
| Colombia | 3506 |
| Mexico | 2241 |
| Italy | 1170 |
| Peru | 878 |
| Chile | 874 |
| Dominican Republic | 851 |
| China | 800 |
| Venezuela | 790 |
| Argentina | 598 |
| Brazil | 592 |
| Puerto Rico | 532 |
| El Salvador | 464 |
| Nicaragua | 439 |
| Ecuador | 422 |
| Honduras | 413 |
| Guatemala | 353 |
| Australia | 344 |
| Denmark | 184 |
| Greece | 168 |
| Cayman Islands | 165 |
| Bolivia | 135 |
| Norway | 95 |
| Jamaica | 75 |
| Bahamas | 57 |
| Portugal | 43 |
| Hungary | 34 |
| Finland | 34 |
| Luxembourg | 28 |
| Cyprus | 19 |
| Slovakia | 15 |
| Iceland | 11 |
| Bulgaria | 10 |
| Cuba | 8 |
| Estonia | 7 |
| Liechtenstein | 6 |
| Saint Lucia | 5 |
| Slovenia | 1 |
By region
83% of the diaspora lives in North America
Ask Migo
Tap a question — our AI assistant answers it in chat, with real migration data
Key facts
The Panamanian diaspora in numbers
Most Panamanians abroad live in the USA
83% of the diaspora lives in the USA, while the next country accounts for just 8%.
Panamanian diaspora population over time
People living abroad, by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 144087 |
| 1995 | 131983 |
| 2000 | 166111 |
| 2005 | 167840 |
| 2010 | 173244 |
| 2015 | 177743 |
| 2020 | 179794 |
| 2024 | 194816 |
Largest communities over time
Panamanians living in the 5 largest countries, by year
| Year | USA | Costa Rica | Colombia | Mexico | Italy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 122158 | 8692 | 1797 | 1606 | 514 |
| 1995 | 111384 | 7652 | 1813 | 1650 | 608 |
| 2000 | 142983 | 10438 | 1734 | 1645 | 694 |
| 2005 | 149078 | 6205 | 1670 | 1704 | 799 |
| 2010 | 149120 | 11261 | 2055 | 1767 | 947 |
| 2015 | 152154 | 11424 | 2566 | 1842 | 984 |
| 2020 | 151193 | 13711 | 3113 | 1968 | 1127 |
| 2024 | 161903 | 16546 | 3506 | 2241 | 1170 |
Fastest-changing communities
How the number of Panamanians in each country has changed since the selected year
Panamanians among immigrants in other countries
Where Panamanians make up the largest share of a country's immigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many Panamanians live outside Panama?
Around 194.8K Panamanians live abroad, the world's #133 largest diaspora.
Where do most Panamanians abroad live?
Most Panamanians live in USA, Costa Rica and Colombia — these three countries account for about 93% of all Panamanians living abroad.
Which country has the largest Panamanian population outside Panama?
USA is home to the largest Panamanian community abroad — 161.9K people, about 83% of all Panamanians living abroad.
What share of the population of Panama lives abroad?
About 4% of the population of Panama lives abroad — that's 194.8K out of a total population of 4.5M.
Is the Panamanian diaspora growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of Panamanians living abroad has grown from 177.7K to 194.8K, about 10%.
Where does the data on the Panamanian diaspora come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born in Panama who now live in other countries. Descendants of emigrants born abroad are not included.
Where to live?
Score countries, regions and cities by what matters to you
Living in Panama
See the full country overview