Updated
Overview
Colombia has 12 times the population of Panama: 53.43 million people against 4.57 million (2025).
Colombia's economy is 5.1 times the size of Panama's, at $457.41B versus $90.46B.
Per person, Panama is the wealthier of the two: $19,790 against $8,562 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Colombia | Panama | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $457.41B | $90.46B | 2025 | $418.54B / $86.26B |
| GDP per capita | $8,562 | Higher: $19,790 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 2.6% | Higher: 4.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 5.1% | Lower: -0.2% | 2025 | 6.6% / 0.7% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 8.3% | 8.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 38 | 45 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $499 | Higher: $929 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $319 | Higher: $482 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $8.00 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 53.43 million | 4.57 million | 2025 | 49.84 million / 4.54 million |
| Population growth | 1.0% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 32.5 yrs | 30.3 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.62 | 2.09 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 77.9 yrs | Higher: 79.8 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 79% | 66% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 79% | 73% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,141,748 km² | 75,417 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 46.8/km² | 60.6/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 93 Mt | Lower: 13 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 1.8 t | 2.8 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $15.10B | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 3.4% | 1.0% | 2024 / 1999 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 428,000 | 28,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Panama is growing faster: 4.4% annual GDP growth versus 2.6%.
Colombia runs the hotter price environment: 5.1% inflation versus -0.2%.
Average monthly earnings favour Panama: $929 against $499 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Panama is the younger society: median age 30.3 versus 32.5 years.
Life expectancy is 1.9 years longer in Panama (79.8 vs 77.9).
Colombia is considerably more urbanized: 79% of people live in cities, against 66%.
Geography
By land area, Colombia is 15 times the size of Panama: 1,141,748 km² versus 75,417 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Military
Relative to its economy, Colombia carries the heavier military burden: 3.4% of GDP versus 1.0%.
Colombia fields the larger armed forces: 428,000 personnel against 28,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Colombia bigger than Panama?
- Colombia is larger by land area. Colombia covers 1,141,748 km² while Panama covers 75,417 km², so Colombia is 15 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Colombia or Panama?
- Colombia has the larger population: 53.43 million versus 4.57 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Colombia richer than Panama?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Panama is richer: $19,790 against $8,562. Total GDP tells a different story: $457.41B for Colombia versus $90.46B for Panama.