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

Health

live 1.5 years longer

In Uruguay, the average life expectancy is 78 years (74 years for men, 82 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 86.7% less likely to die by suicide

Uruguay has a suicide rate of 24.8 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Panama, it is 3.3 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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have 65.2% fewer doctors per person

Uruguay has 46.7 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Panama has 16.2 as of 2022.

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Economy

be 11.2% more likely to be unemployed

In Uruguay, 7.5% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Panama, that number is 8.4% as of 2025.

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be 25.4% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Uruguay, 17.3% live below the poverty line as of 2024. In Panama, however, that number is 21.7% as of 2023.

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make 21.5% less money

Uruguay has a GDP per capita of $25,216 as of 2025, while in Panama, the GDP per capita is $19,790 as of 2025.

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Life

have 61.9% more children

In Uruguay, there are approximately 9.8 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 2.5 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Uruguay, approximately 15.0 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 93.5% more likely to die during infancy

In Uruguay, approximately 6.2 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 20.9% less likely to have internet access

In Uruguay, approximately 92.0% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Panama, about 72.8% do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 48.1% less on education

Uruguay spends 4.8% 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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Geography

see 3.8 times more coastline

Uruguay has a total of 660 km of coastline. In Panama, that number is 2,490 km.

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Safety

be 43.8% less likely to die in a road accident

In Uruguay, road accidents kill 13.0 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Panama, they kill 7.3 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

live with 92.5% less strain on fresh water

Uruguay withdraws 12% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Panama withdraws 1% as of 2022.

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find 45.1% less home broadband

Uruguay has 33.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Panama has 18.1 as of 2023.

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use 28.4% less electricity

Uruguay uses 3,790 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Panama uses 2,715 kWh as of 2023.

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Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators (2021). 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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How big is Panama compared to Uruguay? See an in-depth size comparison.

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