If you lived in Panama instead of Russia, you would:

Health

live 6.3 years longer

In Russia, the average life expectancy is 73 years (68 years for men, 79 years for women) as of 2024. In Panama, that number is 80 years (77 years for men, 83 years for women) as of 2024.

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be 84.6% less likely to die by suicide

Russia has a suicide rate of 21.4 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Panama, it is 3.3 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 2.1 times more likely to be obese

In Russia, 17.6% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Panama, that number is 37.7% of people as of 2024.

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have 68.2% fewer doctors per person

Russia has 51.1 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Panama has 16.2 as of 2022.

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Economy

make 12.8% more money

Russia has a GDP per capita of $17,547 as of 2025, while in Panama, the GDP per capita is $19,790 as of 2025.

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be 3.9 times more likely to be unemployed

In Russia, 2.1% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Panama, that number is 8.4% as of 2025.

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be 3.0 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Russia, 7.2% live below the poverty line as of 2024. In Panama, however, that number is 21.7% as of 2023.

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Life

have 88.9% more children

In Russia, there are approximately 8.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Panama, there are 15.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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be 4.1 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Russia, approximately 9.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Panama, 37.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 2.9 times more likely to die during infancy

In Russia, approximately 4.1 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Panama, on the other hand, 12.0 children do as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 22.9% less likely to have internet access

In Russia, approximately 94.4% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Panama, about 72.8% do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 40.6% less on education

Russia spends 4.2% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Panama spends 2.5% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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spend 18.3% more on healthcare

Russia spends 7.0% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Panama, that number is 8.3% of GDP as of 2023.

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Geography

see 93.4% less coastline

Russia has a total of 37,653 km of coastline. In Panama, that number is 2,490 km.

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Safety

be 31.1% less likely to die in a road accident

In Russia, road accidents kill 10.6 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Panama, they kill 7.3 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 73.0% more likely to be murdered

Russia has a homicide rate of 6.8 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Panama, that number is 11.7 per 100,000 as of 2023.

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Infrastructure

live with 78.2% less strain on fresh water

Russia withdraws 4% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Panama withdraws 1% as of 2022.

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find 33.2% less home broadband

Russia has 27.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Panama has 18.1 as of 2023.

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use 62.7% less electricity

Russia uses 7,285 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Panama uses 2,715 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

be 56.4% less likely to die from air pollution

In Russia, air pollution causes 39.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Panama, it causes 17.0 as of 2019.

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emit 80.4% less CO2

Russia emits 14.0 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Panama emits 2.7 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook. How we calculate this

Panama: At a glance

Panama is a sovereign country in Central America/Caribbean, with a total land area of approximately 74,340 sq km. Explored and settled by the Spanish in the 16th century, Panama broke with Spain in 1821 and joined a union of Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela - named the Republic of Gran Colombia. When the latter dissolved in 1830, Panama remained part of Colombia. With US backing, Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903 and promptly signed a treaty with the US allowing for the construction of a canal and US sovereignty over a strip of land on either side of the structure (the Panama Canal Zone). The Panama Canal was built by the US Army Corps of Engineers between 1904 and 1914. In 1977, an agreement was signed for the complete transfer of the Canal from the US to Panama by the end of the century. Certain portions of the Zone and increasing responsibility over the Canal were turned over in the subsequent decades. With US help, dictator Manuel NORIEGA was deposed in 1989. The entire Panama Canal, the area supporting the Canal, and remaining US military bases were transferred to Panama by the end of 1999. In October 2006, Panamanians approved an ambitious plan (estimated to cost $5.3 billion) to expand the Canal. The project, which began in 2007 and could double the Canal's capacity, is expected to be completed in 2015.
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