MigrantoImmigrants in Panama
476.1K foreign-born residents — the #80 largest immigrant population in the world
Where immigrants come from
The top 3 countries account for 62% of all immigrants
↑↓ — change vs 2020
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| Venezuela | 182386 |
| Colombia | 77349 |
| China | 34214 |
| USA | 25732 |
| Nicaragua | 23672 |
| Dominican Republic | 14815 |
| Costa Rica | 14218 |
| Mexico | 8850 |
| India | 8212 |
| Peru | 7864 |
| Spain | 6784 |
| El Salvador | 6326 |
| Ecuador | 4883 |
| Argentina | 4671 |
| United Kingdom | 3695 |
| Brazil | 3670 |
| Cuba | 3347 |
| Chile | 3323 |
| Canada | 3312 |
| Guatemala | 2937 |
| Philippines | 2934 |
| Honduras | 2741 |
| Italy | 2421 |
| Israel | 2041 |
| Germany | 1951 |
| Russia | 1818 |
| France | 1774 |
| Uruguay | 1394 |
| Puerto Rico | 1320 |
| Jamaica | 1266 |
| Haiti | 993 |
| Lebanon | 964 |
| Ukraine | 920 |
| Netherlands | 883 |
| Bolivia | 828 |
| South Korea | 737 |
| Japan | 680 |
| Switzerland | 670 |
| Greece | 593 |
| Hong Kong | 514 |
| Australia | 511 |
| Syria | 502 |
| Belgium | 494 |
| Portugal | 465 |
| Sweden | 387 |
| Poland | 359 |
| Romania | 328 |
| Palestine | 304 |
| Denmark | 268 |
| Thailand | 261 |
| Indonesia | 246 |
| Paraguay | 221 |
| Jordan | 215 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 215 |
| Turkey | 204 |
| Austria | 197 |
| Croatia | 185 |
| Myanmar | 178 |
| Ireland | 166 |
| Belize | 157 |
| Iran | 151 |
| Pakistan | 151 |
| Morocco | 143 |
| Norway | 139 |
| Egypt | 133 |
| Bulgaria | 133 |
| Vietnam | 105 |
| Hungary | 105 |
| Georgia | 104 |
| Dominica | 104 |
| Saudi Arabia | 90 |
| New Zealand | 90 |
| Guyana | 87 |
| South Africa | 84 |
| Singapore | 84 |
| Finland | 84 |
| Saint Pierre and Miquelon | 84 |
| Lithuania | 82 |
| Bangladesh | 78 |
| Libya | 69 |
| Czech Republic | 69 |
| Nigeria | 66 |
| Slovakia | 66 |
| Barbados | 58 |
| Curaçao | 56 |
| Malaysia | 50 |
| Serbia | 47 |
| Grenada | 47 |
By region of origin
Latin America is the leading region of origin at 77%
367.8K
48.6K
29.1K
25.1K
4.4K
601
495
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about immigration in Panama.
Immigration has accelerated notably since 2020
The immigrant population grew 53% from 312.1K to 476.1K, indicating an acceleration in migration flows following COVID and recent geopolitical shifts.
Venezuela is the leading source of immigration by a wide margin
Venezuela accounts for 38% of all immigrants, far ahead of the second-largest source at just 16%.
Panama is a primary destination for emigrants from Costa Rica
Panama attracts 28% of all emigrants from Costa Rica, making it the leading destination for those leaving the country.
Immigration has become more concentrated over time
The top source's share rose from 22% to 38%, with Venezuela increasingly the primary origin.
How immigration changed over time
Total immigrant population by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 62485 |
| 1995 | 70440 |
| 2000 | 82912 |
| 2005 | 108969 |
| 2010 | 157254 |
| 2015 | 184061 |
| 2020 | 312100 |
| 2024 | 476124 |
Top sources over time
Immigration from the 5 largest source countries
| Year | Venezuela | Colombia | China | USA | Nicaragua |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 487 | 13968 | 10235 | 3318 | 4553 |
| 1995 | 715 | 17179 | 10439 | 4134 | 4593 |
| 2000 | 989 | 21473 | 11300 | 5212 | 4923 |
| 2005 | 4276 | 31157 | 12365 | 7807 | 7240 |
| 2010 | 8441 | 47190 | 15942 | 11993 | 11032 |
| 2015 | 9883 | 55251 | 18665 | 14040 | 12915 |
| 2020 | 119553 | 50702 | 22427 | 16867 | 15517 |
| 2024 | 182386 | 77349 | 34214 | 25732 | 23672 |
Fastest-changing origins
How immigration from each country has changed since the selected year
Panama as a destination, by diaspora
Share of each country's emigrants who settled in Panama
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many immigrants live in Panama?
Around 476.1K foreign-born residents live in Panama, making it the #80-largest immigrant population in the world.
Where do most immigrants in Panama come from?
Most immigrants in Panama come from Venezuela, Colombia and China — these three countries account for about 62% of all foreign-born residents.
What share of the population of Panama are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 11% of the population of Panama — that's 476.1K out of a total population of 4.5M.
How has immigration to Panama changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the immigrant population in Panama has grown from 184.1K to 476.1K people, a growth of about 159%.
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