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

Health

live 9.6 years longer

In Turkmenistan, the average life expectancy is 70 years (67 years for men, 73 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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see 2.6 times more spent on your healthcare

Turkmenistan spends $1,264 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Panama spends $3,318 as of 2023.

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be 51.8% less likely to die by suicide

Turkmenistan has a suicide rate of 6.8 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Panama, it is 3.3 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 69.8% more likely to be obese

In Turkmenistan, 22.2% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Panama, that number is 37.7% of people as of 2024.

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have 15.8% fewer doctors per person

Turkmenistan has 19.3 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Panama has 16.2 as of 2022.

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Economy

make 3.0 times more money

Turkmenistan has a GDP per capita of $6,540 as of 2025, while in Panama, the GDP per capita is $19,790 as of 2025.

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be 95.8% more likely to be unemployed

In Turkmenistan, 4.3% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Panama, that number is 8.4% as of 2025.

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Life

be 60.5% less likely to die during infancy

In Turkmenistan, approximately 30.4 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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be 7.4 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Turkmenistan, approximately 5.0 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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have 24.1% fewer children

In Turkmenistan, there are approximately 20.9 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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Basic Needs

be 2.9 times more likely to have internet access

In Turkmenistan, approximately 25.3% of the population has internet access as of 2022. In Panama, about 72.8% do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 42.4% less on education

Turkmenistan spends 4.3% of its total GDP on education as of 2024. Panama spends 2.5% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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spend 51.5% more on healthcare

Turkmenistan spends 5.5% 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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Infrastructure

find 3.5 times more home broadband

Turkmenistan has 5.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2022. Panama has 18.1 as of 2023.

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live with 99.3% less strain on fresh water

Turkmenistan withdraws 135% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Panama withdraws 1% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 80.5% less likely to die from air pollution

In Turkmenistan, air pollution causes 87.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Panama, it causes 17.0 as of 2019.

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emit 74.8% less CO2

Turkmenistan emits 10.9 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), World Health Organization (2024), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019), The World Factbook (2022). 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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