Panama · Americas
How many people die in Panama every day?
In Panama, about 60 people die every day, roughly one death every 24 minutes. That is about 22,000 deaths a year, less than 0.1% of everyone who dies worldwide and the 135th highest total of 194 countries. Life expectancy is 78.5 years and the leading cause of death is cardiovascular disease. See every death on earth as it happens on the live death counter.
Deaths per day
60
Deaths per year
22,000
Life expectancy
78.5 years
Population
4,468,087
Death rate
4.9 per 1,000
Top cause of death
Cardiovascular disease
Compared to the World Average
Life expectancy
Panama
78.5
World avg
72.8
+5.7 yrs
Death rate (per 1,000)
Panama
4.9
World avg
7.7
Deaths in Panama by time period
| Per hour | 2.5 |
| Per day | 60 |
| Per week | 422 |
| Per month | 1,833 |
| Per year | 22,000 |
What people die of in Panama
According to the World Health Organization’s Global Health Estimates, the single biggest cause of death in Panama in 2023 was heart disease (ischaemic), which accounted for 14.5% of all deaths, about 8.6 a day. It was followed by stroke and diabetes.
Deaths from hypertensive heart disease have increased about 3-fold since 2000, from about 167 to 539 a year.
WHO counts single causes, so heart disease and stroke appear as separate rows. Grouped together as cardiovascular disease, the category in the summary above, they are the largest killer.
| # | Cause | Deaths (2023) | Per day | Share | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heart disease (ischaemic) | 3,137 | 8.6 | 14.5% | +100% |
| 2 | Stroke | 2,283 | 6.3 | 10.5% | +72% |
| 3 | Diabetes | 1,249 | 3.4 | 5.8% | +113% |
| 4 | Kidney diseases | 1,169 | 3.2 | 5.4% | +219% |
| 5 | Pneumonia and other lower respiratory infections | 844 | 2.3 | 3.9% | +95% |
| 6 | Homicide (interpersonal violence) | 666 | 1.8 | 3.1% | +108% |
| 7 | COPD | 637 | 1.7 | 2.9% | +36% |
| 8 | Hypertensive heart disease | 539 | 1.5 | 2.5% | +223% |
| 9 | Bowel (colorectal) cancer | 456 | 1.2 | 2.1% | +149% |
| 10 | Cirrhosis of the liver | 434 | 1.2 | 2% | +125% |
Deaths in Panama since 2000
WHO estimates that about 21,689 people died in Panama in 2023, 71% more than in 2000. Totals rise as populations grow and age, even when health improves. WHO’s modelled estimates can differ from the headline figures above, which come from a different source.
| 2000 | 12,712 deaths |
| 2010 | 16,662 deaths |
| 2019 | 19,880 deaths |
| 2023 | 21,689 deaths |
Life expectancy in Panama since 1950
A baby born in Panama in 1950 could expect to live about 55.4 years. By 2023 that had risen to 79.6, a gain of 24.2 years. See how this compares worldwide on our life expectancy by country page.
| 1950 | 55.4 years |
| 1980 | 69.5 years |
| 2000 | 73.4 years |
| 2010 | 76.4 years |
| 2019 | 78.5 years |
| 2023 | 79.6 years |
Panama compared with similar countries in Americas
Among the 24 countries in Americas on this site, Panama ranks 4th for life expectancy. Here is how it compares with the countries closest to it in population.
| Country | Deaths per day | Life expectancy | Top cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panama | 60 | 78.5 | Cardiovascular disease |
| Costa Rica | 71 | 80.3 | Cardiovascular disease |
| Uruguay | 90 | 77.9 | Cardiovascular disease |
| El Salvador | 115 | 73.3 | Cardiovascular disease |
| Paraguay | 99 | 74.3 | Cardiovascular disease |
| Nicaragua | 99 | 74.5 | Cardiovascular disease |
Sources: WHO Global Health Estimates 2023 (deaths by cause and totals); UN World Population Prospects via Our World in Data (life expectancy). Figures are modelled estimates and are rounded.
Frequently asked questions
How many people die in Panama every day?
In Panama, about 60 people die every day, or roughly one death every 24 minutes. That adds up to about 22,000 deaths a year, less than 0.1% of all deaths worldwide.
What is the leading cause of death in Panama?
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Panama. Heart disease and stroke are the biggest killers in most countries, driven largely by high blood pressure, smoking, diet and inactivity. Counting single causes, WHO's estimates put heart disease (ischaemic) first in 2023, with 14.5% of deaths.
What is the life expectancy in Panama?
Life expectancy at birth in Panama is 78.5 years, 5.7 years above the world average of 72.8. That ranks 42nd of 194 countries.
Is the death rate in Panama high?
Panama records about 4.9 deaths per 1,000 people each year, below the world average of 7.7. Crude death rates are higher in countries with older populations, so a high rate does not always mean poor health care.