Panama vs South Korea
A data-driven side-by-side: investment score, economy, business climate, political stability, and tax, to help you decide where to invest, incorporate, or relocate.
Overall: South Korea ranks higher
South Korea scores 80/100 on our composite investment index, ahead of Panama at 65/100. This blends economic strength, political stability, business climate, financial maturity, and growth outlook. Read the breakdown below to see where each country actually leads.
Category breakdown
65
Economic strength
South Korea leads
82
58
Political stability
South Korea leads
78
70
Business climate
South Korea leads
82
68
Financial maturity
South Korea leads
80
58
Growth outlook
South Korea leads
70
Macro snapshot
82
GDP (USD bn)
-1628.0 bn
1,710
3.5%
GDP growth (%)
+1.3 pp
2.2%
$18,500
GDP per capita (USD)
-14500.0
$33,000
2.0%
Inflation (%)
-0.5 pp
2.5%
5.5%
FDI (% of GDP)
+4.3 pp
1.2%
55%
Public debt (% of GDP)
+1.0 pp
54%
4.4
Population (M)
-47.6M
52
Panama: strong sectors
- Logistics & Canal18.0% of GDP78
- Financial Services14.0% of GDP70
- Tourism8.0% of GDP62
- Construction10.0% of GDP58
South Korea: strong sectors
- Semiconductors8.0% of GDP95
- Technology12.0% of GDP90
- Automotive5.0% of GDP82
- Manufacturing25.0% of GDP82
Frequently asked
Which is better for investment: Panama or South Korea?
Our composite investment index gives Panama a score of 65/100 and South Korea a score of 80/100. South Korea ranks higher overall, but the right answer depends on your sector and risk tolerance. See the category breakdown above.
Is Panama a safer market than South Korea?
Risk classification puts Panama as moderate (Growing economy with manageable risks - suitable for diversified portfolios) and South Korea as safe (Strong fundamentals, stable governance, favorable investment climate).
Which has higher GDP growth: Panama or South Korea?
Panama is currently growing at 3.5% per year, vs 2.2% for South Korea. Panama has the faster headline growth rate today.