Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Colombia instead of Panama, you would:

Health

live 2.7 years less

In Panama, the average life expectancy is 78 years (75 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2022. In Colombia, that number is 75 years (71 years for men, 79 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

make 47.5% less money

Panama has a GDP per capita of $35,800 as of 2023, while in Colombia, the GDP per capita is $18,800 as of 2023.

be 42.8% more likely to be unemployed

In Panama, 6.7% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Colombia, that number is 9.6% as of 2023.

be 70.2% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Panama, 21.5% live below the poverty line as of 2019. In Colombia, however, that number is 36.6% as of 2022.

pay a 32.0% higher top tax rate

Panama has a top tax rate of 25.0% as of 2016. In Colombia, the top tax rate is 33.0% as of 2016.

Life

be 29.1% less likely to die during infancy

In Panama, approximately 16.4 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Colombia, on the other hand, 11.7 children do as of 2022.

be 50.0% more likely to die during childbirth

In Panama, approximately 50.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Colombia, 75.0 women do as of 2020.

have 14.4% fewer children

In Panama, there are approximately 17.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Colombia, there are 14.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Expenditures

spend 25.6% more on education

Panama spends 3.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Colombia spends 4.9% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

Geography

see 28.8% more coastline

Panama has a total of 2,490 km of coastline. In Colombia, that number is 3,208 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, General Directorate of Revenues, Panama, Directorate of National Taxes and Customs (DIAN).

Colombia: At a glance

Colombia is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 1,038,700 sq km. Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others are Ecuador and Venezuela). A nearly five-decade long conflict between government forces and anti-government insurgent groups, principally the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) heavily funded by the drug trade, escalated during the 1990s. More than 31,000 former paramilitaries had demobilized by the end of 2006 and the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia as a formal organization had ceased to function. In the wake of the paramilitary demobilization, emerging criminal groups arose, whose members include some former paramilitaries. The insurgents lack the military or popular support necessary to overthrow the government, but continue attacks against civilians. Large areas of the countryside are under guerrilla influence or are contested by security forces. In November 2012, the Colombian Government started formal peace negotiations with the FARC aimed at reaching a definitive bilateral ceasefire and incorporating demobilized FARC members into mainstream society and politics. The Colombian Government has stepped up efforts to reassert government control throughout the country, and now has a presence in every one of its administrative departments. Despite decades of internal conflict and drug related security challenges, Colombia maintains relatively strong democratic institutions characterized by peaceful, transparent elections and the protection of civil liberties.
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How big is Colombia compared to Panama? See an in-depth size comparison.

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