Moving to Panama from Ethiopia

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Ethiopia to Panama? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Ethiopia to Panama, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Panama City averages 93°F vs 74°F in Addis Ababa, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Panama compared to Ethiopia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

ET
8.6
PA
11.3
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

ET
17.7
PA
7.3

Ethiopia generally does better on safety, though Panama leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

ET
$86
PA
$3,318
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

ET
1.1
PA
17.3

Panama generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ethiopia leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

ET
46.0
PA
17.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

ET
0.1t
PA
2.7t

Ethiopia generally does better on environment, though Panama leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

ET
0.5
PA
15.5
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

ET
32.3%
PA
0.9%

Panama performs significantly better than Ethiopia across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

ET
3.5%
PA
6.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

ET
$2,800
PA
$35,800

Panama generally does better on employment & economy, though Ethiopia leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

ET
68.2 yrs
PA
77.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

ET
33.5
PA
16.4

Panama generally does better on family life, though Ethiopia leads in education spending.

Data: Ethiopian Revenues and Customs Authority, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Addis Ababa Rain: 45.9 in/yr (1165 mm)
74° / 49°F

Avg. annual high / low

Panama City Rain: 75.1 in/yr (1907 mm)
93° / 68°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Addis Ababa Panama City
Jan–Mar 76°/48°F (24°/9°C) 94°/65°F (34°/18°C)
Apr–Jun 75°/51°F (24°/11°C) 94°/69°F (35°/21°C)
Jul–Sep 71°/50°F (21°/10°C) 92°/70°F (34°/21°C)
Oct–Dec 73°/46°F (23°/8°C) 91°/68°F (33°/20°C)
View all months
Month Addis Ababa Panama City
Jan 75°/46°F (24.0°/8.0°C) 92°/65°F (33.4°/18.5°C)
Feb 75°/48°F (24.0°/9.0°C) 94°/65°F (34.2°/18.4°C)
Mar 77°/50°F (25.0°/10.0°C) 95°/65°F (34.8°/18.4°C)
Apr 75°/52°F (24.0°/11.0°C) 96°/67°F (35.4°/19.5°C)
May 77°/52°F (25.0°/11.0°C) 94°/70°F (34.5°/21.1°C)
Jun 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.0°C) 93°/70°F (33.8°/21.3°C)
Jul 70°/50°F (21.0°/10.0°C) 93°/70°F (33.9°/21.0°C)
Aug 70°/50°F (21.0°/10.0°C) 93°/70°F (33.9°/20.9°C)
Sep 72°/50°F (22.0°/10.0°C) 91°/70°F (32.9°/21.0°C)
Oct 73°/48°F (23.0°/9.0°C) 91°/69°F (32.6°/20.8°C)
Nov 73°/45°F (23.0°/7.0°C) 91°/69°F (32.9°/20.3°C)
Dec 73°/45°F (23.0°/7.0°C) 92°/67°F (33.3°/19.2°C)

Data: Ethiopian Meteorological Institute (EMI) Ethiopian Meteorological Institute (EMI), IMHPA - Instituto de Meteorología e Hidrología de Panamá IMHPA - Instituto de Meteorología e Hidrología de Panamá

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Ethiopia and Panama. To live, work, or study long-term in Panama, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Panama's immigration authority.

Ethiopia passport

Ethiopia passport holder visiting Panama

Visa Required
Ethiopia passport holders need a visa to enter Panama.
Panama passport

Panama passport holder visiting Ethiopia

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Panama passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Ethiopia.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Panama?

Connectivity is usually fine (Panama: 15.5 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Panama offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Panama safe for expats?

Ethiopia generally does better on safety, though Panama leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Panama is 11.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 8.6 in Ethiopia.

How is healthcare in Panama compared to Ethiopia?

Panama generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ethiopia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 17.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Panama, compared to 1.1 in Ethiopia. Panama scores 78 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Ethiopia: 35).

What's the weather like in Panama compared to Ethiopia?

The average high temperature in Panama City is 93°F, compared to 74°F in Addis Ababa. Panama City receives around 75.1 in of rainfall per year, while Addis Ababa gets 45.9 in.

What language do they speak in Panama?

The official language in Panama is Spanish. In Ethiopia, the official language is Amharic.

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At a Glance

ET PA
Population 113,656,596 4,337,768
Currency Ethiopian Birr (ETB) Panamanian Balboa (PAB)
Languages Amharic Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +251 +507
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911 911