Child mortality rate in Panama
Panama: Child mortality rate was 1.6% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Child mortality rate in Panama, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of children.
Analysis
The most recent figure for child mortality rate in Panama is 1.6%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 2.3% on the previous year and down 8.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality rate in Panama peaked at 12.4% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 1.3%, in 2020.
That places Panama 95th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Child mortality rate in Panama, year by year
| Year | % of children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 12.4% | — |
| 1951 | 12.0% | -2.9% |
| 1952 | 11.6% | -3.0% |
| 1953 | 11.3% | -3.0% |
| 1954 | 11.0% | -2.9% |
| 1955 | 10.7% | -2.8% |
| 1956 | 10.3% | -3.0% |
| 1957 | 10.1% | -2.8% |
| 1958 | 9.8% | -2.8% |
| 1959 | 9.5% | -2.8% |
| 1960 | 9.2% | -2.8% |
| 1961 | 9.0% | -2.8% |
| 1962 | 8.7% | -2.8% |
| 1963 | 8.5% | -2.8% |
| 1964 | 8.2% | -2.8% |
| 1965 | 8.0% | -2.8% |
| 1966 | 7.8% | -2.6% |
| 1967 | 7.5% | -3.4% |
| 1968 | 7.3% | -3.4% |
| 1969 | 7.0% | -3.8% |
| 1970 | 6.8% | -3.5% |
| 1971 | 6.4% | -5.5% |
| 1972 | 6.1% | -5.0% |
| 1973 | 5.8% | -5.0% |
| 1974 | 5.5% | -5.1% |
| 1975 | 5.2% | -4.7% |
| 1976 | 5.0% | -4.3% |
| 1977 | 4.8% | -3.9% |
| 1978 | 4.7% | -3.1% |
| 1979 | 4.5% | -3.7% |
| 1980 | 4.3% | -3.3% |
| 1981 | 4.2% | -3.4% |
| 1982 | 4.0% | -3.5% |
| 1983 | 3.9% | -3.6% |
| 1984 | 3.8% | -3.7% |
| 1985 | 3.6% | -3.7% |
| 1986 | 3.5% | -3.6% |
| 1987 | 3.4% | -3.5% |
| 1988 | 3.3% | -2.8% |
| 1989 | 3.3% | +0.9% |
| 1990 | 3.1% | -7.0% |
| 1991 | 3.0% | -1.5% |
| 1992 | 3.0% | -2.3% |
| 1993 | 2.9% | -2.5% |
| 1994 | 2.8% | -1.6% |
| 1995 | 2.8% | -1.4% |
| 1996 | 2.8% | -1.5% |
| 1997 | 2.7% | -1.6% |
| 1998 | 2.7% | -1.8% |
| 1999 | 2.6% | -2.2% |
| 2000 | 2.5% | -2.5% |
| 2001 | 2.5% | -2.8% |
| 2002 | 2.4% | -2.9% |
| 2003 | 2.3% | -3.3% |
| 2004 | 2.3% | -2.9% |
| 2005 | 2.2% | -3.7% |
| 2006 | 2.1% | -3.1% |
| 2007 | 2.0% | -3.5% |
| 2008 | 2.0% | -2.3% |
| 2009 | 1.9% | -3.6% |
| 2010 | 1.9% | -2.1% |
| 2011 | 1.8% | -2.7% |
| 2012 | 1.8% | -1.7% |
| 2013 | 1.8% | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 1.7% | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 1.7% | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 1.7% | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 1.7% | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 1.7% | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 1.8% | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 1.3% | -27.9% |
| 2021 | 1.4% | +6.8% |
| 2022 | 1.7% | +21.0% |
| 2023 | 1.6% | -2.3% |
Panama compared with similar countries
- Panama's 1.6% is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.6%, 2.9× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Panama's 1.6% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 1.4%, 1.1× the median. (42 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Child mortality rate in Panama changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -27.9% | 1.8% | 1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 10.9% | 9.5% | 12.4% | 10 |
| 1960s | 8.1% | 7.0% | 9.2% | 10 |
| 1970s | 5.5% | 4.5% | 6.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.7% | 3.3% | 4.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.8% | 2.6% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.2% | 1.9% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.8% | 1.7% | 1.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.5% | 1.3% | 1.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Panama
More health data for Panama
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.94 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.5994 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 101 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.2522 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0378 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.3451 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0398 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is child mortality rate in Panama?
- Child mortality rate in Panama was 1.6% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest child mortality rate recorded in Panama?
- The highest recorded value was 12.4% in 1950.
- What is the lowest child mortality rate recorded in Panama?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.3% in 2020.
- How does Panama rank for child mortality rate?
- Panama ranks 95th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is child mortality rate rising or falling in Panama?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Panama data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Child mortality rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of children who die before reaching the age of 5.