Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 91.0% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Zambia, 11.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Panama, that number is 1.0% of people as of 2020.

live 11.4 years longer

In Zambia, the average life expectancy is 66 years (65 years for men, 68 years for women) as of 2022. In Panama, that number is 78 years (75 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2022.

be 2.8 times more likely to be obese

In Zambia, 8.1% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Panama, that number is 22.7% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 9.7 times more money

Zambia has a GDP per capita of $3,700 as of 2023, while in Panama, the GDP per capita is $35,800 as of 2023.

be 64.2% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Zambia, 60.0% live below the poverty line as of 2022. In Panama, however, that number is 21.5% as of 2019.

pay a 28.6% lower top tax rate

Zambia has a top tax rate of 35.0% as of 2016. In Panama, the top tax rate is 25.0% as of 2016.

be 13.4% more likely to be unemployed

In Zambia, 5.9% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Panama, that number is 6.7% as of 2023.

Life

be 63.0% less likely to die during childbirth

In Zambia, approximately 135.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Panama, 50.0 women do as of 2020.

be 10.4% more likely to be literate

In Zambia, the literacy rate is 86.7% as of 2018. In Panama, it is 95.7% as of 2019.

be 55.7% less likely to die during infancy

In Zambia, approximately 37.1 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Panama, on the other hand, 16.4 children do as of 2022.

have 49.0% fewer children

In Zambia, there are approximately 34.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Panama, there are 17.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 98.7% more likely to have access to electricity

In Zambia, approximately 48% of people have electricity access (86% in urban areas, and 14% in rural areas) as of 2022. In Panama, that number is 95% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 86% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 3.2 times more likely to have internet access

In Zambia, approximately 21.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Panama, about 68.0% do as of 2021.

be 34.4% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Zambia, approximately 72% of people have improved drinking water access (90% in urban areas, and 57% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Panama, that number is 96% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 88% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 73.2% more on healthcare

Zambia spends 5.6% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Panama, that number is 9.7% of GDP as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, General Directorate of Revenues, Panama, Zambia Revenue Authority.

Panama: At a glance

Panama is a sovereign country in Central America/Caribbean, with a total land area of approximately 74,340 sq km. Explored and settled by the Spanish in the 16th century, Panama broke with Spain in 1821 and joined a union of Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela - named the Republic of Gran Colombia. When the latter dissolved in 1830, Panama remained part of Colombia. With US backing, Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903 and promptly signed a treaty with the US allowing for the construction of a canal and US sovereignty over a strip of land on either side of the structure (the Panama Canal Zone). The Panama Canal was built by the US Army Corps of Engineers between 1904 and 1914. In 1977, an agreement was signed for the complete transfer of the Canal from the US to Panama by the end of the century. Certain portions of the Zone and increasing responsibility over the Canal were turned over in the subsequent decades. With US help, dictator Manuel NORIEGA was deposed in 1989. The entire Panama Canal, the area supporting the Canal, and remaining US military bases were transferred to Panama by the end of 1999. In October 2006, Panamanians approved an ambitious plan (estimated to cost $5.3 billion) to expand the Canal. The project, which began in 2007 and could double the Canal's capacity, is expected to be completed in 2015.
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How big is Panama compared to Zambia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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