Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Panama instead of Saudi Arabia, you would:
Health
live 0.8 years longer
In Saudi Arabia, the average life expectancy is 79 years (77 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2024. In Panama, that number is 80 years (77 years for men, 83 years for women) as of 2024.
be 11.0 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS
In Saudi Arabia, 0.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2024. In Panama, that number is 1.1% of people as of 2024.
have 52.3% fewer doctors per person
Saudi Arabia has 34.1 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Panama has 16.2 as of 2022.
be 3.5 times more likely to die by suicide
Saudi Arabia has a suicide rate of 0.9 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Panama, it is 3.3 per 100,000 as of 2021.
Economy
be 2.8 times more likely to be unemployed
In Saudi Arabia, 3.0% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Panama, that number is 8.4% as of 2025.
make 42.7% less money
Saudi Arabia has a GDP per capita of $34,537 as of 2025, while in Panama, the GDP per capita is $19,790 as of 2025.
Life
be 5.3 times more likely to die during childbirth
In Saudi Arabia, approximately 7.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Panama, 37.0 women do as of 2023.
be 2.6 times more likely to die during infancy
In Saudi Arabia, approximately 4.7 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.
Basic Needs
be 27.2% less likely to have internet access
In Saudi Arabia, approximately 100.0% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Panama, about 72.8% do as of 2024.
Expenditures
spend 44.9% less on education
Saudi Arabia spends 4.5% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Panama spends 2.5% of total GDP on education as of 2023.
spend 46.4% more on healthcare
Saudi Arabia spends 5.7% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Panama, that number is 8.3% of GDP as of 2023.
Safety
be 60.5% less likely to die in a road accident
In Saudi Arabia, road accidents kill 18.5 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Panama, they kill 7.3 per 100,000 as of 2021.
Infrastructure
live with 99.9% less strain on fresh water
Saudi Arabia withdraws 974% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Panama withdraws 1% as of 2022.
find 58.9% less home broadband
Saudi Arabia has 44.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Panama has 18.1 as of 2023.
use 77.2% less electricity
Saudi Arabia uses 11,911 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Panama uses 2,715 kWh as of 2023.
Environment
be 81.3% less likely to die from air pollution
In Saudi Arabia, air pollution causes 91.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Panama, it causes 17.0 as of 2019.
emit 85.2% less CO2
Saudi Arabia emits 18.5 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Panama emits 2.7 tonnes as of 2024.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021). How we calculate this
Compare further: Saudi Arabia vs. Panama
Panama: At a glance
How big is Panama compared to Saudi Arabia? See an in-depth size comparison.