Panama

Name: World Residence Index 2026 scores for Panama
Published: 2026

Region: Central America
Capital: Panama City
Currency: Balboa / US Dollar (PAB/USD)
Density: 58 / km²

WRI Score 2026

73.94

scale 1–100 · higher is better

Global rank: 47th
In Americas: 11th
Ranked: 211

Parameter Breakdown · 2026

The nine components behind the score.

Every parameter is scored 1–100, higher is better, equally weighted; their sum normalises to the 0–100 WRI Score.

Personal Income Tax · 100 = no income tax Territorial system · top rate 25%· KPMG / EY
91.0
Territorial system taxes only locally sourced income.
Population Density · 100 = uncrowded 58 / km²· UN WPP
77.1
Moderate population density.
GDP per Capita · 100 = highest output per resident $20,754· IMF WEO 2026
60.2
Middle-income economy by per-capita output.
Life Expectancy · 100 = longest life expectancy 79.2 years· WHO / UN
77.0
Moderate life expectancy relative to peers.
Tourism & Lifestyle · 100 = strongest lifestyle appeal 0.5 arrivals per capita· UNWTO
64.9
Moderate tourism activity relative to population.
Unemployment · 100 = lowest unemployment 7.5%· ILO / SECO
76.3
Moderate unemployment relative to peers.
Warmongering · 100 = least militarised 1.4% of GDP· SIPRI
90.6
Modest military expenditure relative to GDP.
Safety & Rule of Law · 100 = safest Composite· UNODC · WJP · TI
34.5
Below-average safety and judicial quality.
Ideological Neutrality · 100 = most ideologically neutral WRI rubric composite· WRI rubric
96.0
Among the highest ideological-neutrality scores on this list.

Where it sits

Among the world's elite tier.

Panama holds 47th of 211 with a WRI Score of 73.94 — sits firmly in the upper tier. Its profile is defined by exceptional ideological neutrality (96) and its tax treatment (91), offset by safety and rule of law, a clear structural constraint.