Share of adults who are obese vs. GDP per capita in Panama
Panama: Share of adults who are obese vs. GDP per capita was 37.8% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of adults who are obese vs. GDP per capita in Panama, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, share of adults who are obese vs. gdp per capita in Panama stood at 37.8%. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 2.5% on the previous year and up 32.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of adults who are obese vs. gdp per capita in Panama peaked at 37.8% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 6.2%, in 1980.
Panama ranks 28th of 199 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of adults who are obese vs. GDP per capita in Panama, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 6.2% | — |
| 1981 | 6.5% | +4.5% |
| 1982 | 6.8% | +4.6% |
| 1983 | 7.1% | +4.8% |
| 1984 | 7.5% | +4.8% |
| 1985 | 7.8% | +4.9% |
| 1986 | 8.2% | +5.0% |
| 1987 | 8.6% | +5.1% |
| 1988 | 9.1% | +5.1% |
| 1989 | 9.6% | +5.1% |
| 1990 | 10.0% | +5.2% |
| 1991 | 10.6% | +5.2% |
| 1992 | 11.1% | +5.2% |
| 1993 | 11.7% | +5.2% |
| 1994 | 12.3% | +5.2% |
| 1995 | 13.0% | +5.2% |
| 1996 | 13.6% | +5.2% |
| 1997 | 14.3% | +5.1% |
| 1998 | 15.0% | +5.0% |
| 1999 | 15.8% | +4.9% |
| 2000 | 16.5% | +4.8% |
| 2001 | 17.3% | +4.6% |
| 2002 | 18.1% | +4.4% |
| 2003 | 18.9% | +4.3% |
| 2004 | 19.6% | +4.2% |
| 2005 | 20.5% | +4.1% |
| 2006 | 21.3% | +4.0% |
| 2007 | 22.1% | +4.0% |
| 2008 | 23.0% | +3.9% |
| 2009 | 23.9% | +3.9% |
| 2010 | 24.8% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | 25.7% | +3.8% |
| 2012 | 26.7% | +3.7% |
| 2013 | 27.6% | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 28.6% | +3.4% |
| 2015 | 29.5% | +3.3% |
| 2016 | 30.4% | +3.2% |
| 2017 | 31.4% | +3.1% |
| 2018 | 32.3% | +2.9% |
| 2019 | 33.2% | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 34.1% | +2.8% |
| 2021 | 35.0% | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 35.9% | +2.6% |
| 2023 | 36.8% | +2.5% |
| 2024 | 37.8% | +2.5% |
Panama compared with similar countries
- Panama's 37.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 30.0%, 1.3× the median. (66 countries reporting)
- Panama's 37.8% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 33.2%, 1.1× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 7.7% | 6.2% | 9.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 12.7% | 10.0% | 15.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.1% | 16.5% | 23.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 29.0% | 24.8% | 33.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 35.9% | 34.1% | 37.8% | 5 |
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)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,074 deaths per 1,000 people (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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of adults who are obese vs. gdp per capita in Panama?
- Share of adults who are obese vs. gdp per capita in Panama was 37.8% in 2024, according to World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of adults who are obese vs. gdp per capita recorded in Panama?
- The highest recorded value was 37.8% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of adults who are obese vs. gdp per capita recorded in Panama?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.2% in 1980.
- How does Panama rank for share of adults who are obese vs. gdp per capita?
- Panama ranks 28th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of adults who are obese vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in Panama?
- Over the last ten years it is up 32.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Panama data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of adults who are obese vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 45 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Obesity is defined as having a body-mass index (BMI) ≥ 30. BMI is a person's weight (in kilograms) divided by their height (in meters) squared. GDP per capita is adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.