Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Nicaragua instead of Panama, you would:
Health
live 2.8 years less
In Panama, the average life expectancy is 78 years (75 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2022. In Nicaragua, that number is 75 years (73 years for men, 77 years for women) as of 2022.
Economy
make 79.1% less money
Panama has a GDP per capita of $25,400 as of 2020, while in Nicaragua, the GDP per capita is $5,300 as of 2020.
be 12.7% more likely to live below the poverty line
In Panama, 22.1% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Nicaragua, however, that number is 24.9% as of 2016.
pay a 20.0% higher top tax rate
Panama has a top tax rate of 25.0% as of 2016. In Nicaragua, the top tax rate is 30.0% as of 2016.
Life
be 3.8 times more likely to die during childbirth
In Panama, approximately 52.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2017. In Nicaragua, 198.0 women do as of 2017.
be 13.7% less likely to be literate
In Panama, the literacy rate is 95.7% as of 2019. In Nicaragua, it is 82.6% as of 2015.
be 16.1% more likely to die during infancy
In Panama, approximately 16.4 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Nicaragua, on the other hand, 19.1 children do as of 2022.
Basic Needs
be 29.7% less likely to have internet access
In Panama, approximately 64.0% of the population has internet access as of 2020. In Nicaragua, about 45.0% do as of 2020.
be 13.5% less likely to have access to improved drinking water
In Panama, approximately 96% of people have improved drinking water access (100% in urban areas, and 88% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Nicaragua, that number is 83% of people on average (98% in urban areas, and 63% in rural areas) as of 2020.
Expenditures
spend 10.5% more on healthcare
Panama spends 7.6% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2019. In Nicaragua, that number is 8.4% of GDP as of 2019.
Geography
see 63.5% less coastline
Panama has a total of 2,490 km of coastline. In Nicaragua, that number is 910 km.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: General Directorate of Revenues, The World Factbook, General Directorate of Revenues, Panama.
Nicaragua: At a glance
How big is Nicaragua compared to Panama? See an in-depth size comparison.