Panama vs United States
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: United States ranks higher
United States scores 87/100 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
United States leads
88
58
Political stability
United States leads
82
70
Business climate
United States leads
92
68
Financial maturity
United States leads
78
58
Growth outlook
United States leads
85
Macro snapshot
82
GDP (USD bn)
-27278.0 bn
27,360
3.5%
GDP growth (%)
+1.0 pp
2.5%
$18,500
GDP per capita (USD)
-61500.0
$80,000
2.0%
Inflation (%)
-1.1 pp
3.1%
5.5%
FDI (% of GDP)
+4.0 pp
1.5%
55%
Public debt (% of GDP)
-68.0 pp
123%
4.4
Population (M)
-330.6M
335
Panama: strong sectors
- Logistics & Canal18.0% of GDP78
- Financial Services14.0% of GDP70
- Tourism8.0% of GDP62
- Construction10.0% of GDP58
United States: strong sectors
- Technology10.0% of GDP96
- Financial Services8.0% of GDP90
- Healthcare18.0% of GDP85
- Energy6.0% of GDP80
Frequently asked
Which is better for investment: Panama or United States?
Our composite investment index gives Panama a score of 65/100 and United States a score of 87/100. United States 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 United States?
Risk classification puts Panama as moderate (Growing economy with manageable risks - suitable for diversified portfolios) and United States as safe (Strong fundamentals, stable governance, favorable investment climate).
Which has higher GDP growth: Panama or United States?
Panama is currently growing at 3.5% per year, vs 2.5% for United States. Panama has the faster headline growth rate today.