Moving to Panama from Gabon

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What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Gabon to Panama — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Gabon to Panama, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Panama City averages 93°F vs 83°F in Libreville, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

How Gabon and Panama stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

GA
12.5
PA
7.3

Panama performs significantly better than Gabon across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

GA
$673
PA
$3,318
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

GA
4.8
PA
17.3

Panama generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Gabon 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

GA
53.0
PA
17.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

GA
2.0t
PA
2.7t

Gabon 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

GA
3.4
PA
15.5
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

GA
0.5%
PA
0.9%

Panama generally does better on infrastructure, though Gabon leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

GA
20.4%
PA
6.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

GA
$19,800
PA
$35,800

Panama performs significantly better than Gabon across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

GA
69.7 yrs
PA
77.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

GA
28.6
PA
16.4

Panama performs significantly better than Gabon across all family life metrics.

Data: General Direction of Taxes, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Libreville Rain: 111.9 in/yr (2842 mm)
83° / 74°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Libreville Panama City
Jan–Mar 86°/75°F (30°/24°C) 94°/65°F (34°/18°C)
Apr–Jun 84°/74°F (29°/23°C) 94°/69°F (35°/21°C)
Jul–Sep 81°/72°F (27°/22°C) 92°/70°F (34°/21°C)
Oct–Dec 83°/74°F (28°/23°C) 91°/68°F (33°/20°C)
View all months
Month Libreville Panama City
Jan 85°/75°F (29.5°/24.1°C) 92°/65°F (33.4°/18.5°C)
Feb 86°/75°F (30.0°/24.0°C) 94°/65°F (34.2°/18.4°C)
Mar 86°/75°F (30.2°/23.9°C) 95°/65°F (34.8°/18.4°C)
Apr 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.1°C) 96°/67°F (35.4°/19.5°C)
May 85°/75°F (29.4°/24.0°C) 94°/70°F (34.5°/21.1°C)
Jun 82°/74°F (27.6°/23.2°C) 93°/70°F (33.8°/21.3°C)
Jul 80°/72°F (26.4°/22.1°C) 93°/70°F (33.9°/21.0°C)
Aug 80°/71°F (26.8°/21.8°C) 93°/70°F (33.9°/20.9°C)
Sep 82°/74°F (27.5°/23.2°C) 91°/70°F (32.9°/21.0°C)
Oct 82°/74°F (28.0°/23.4°C) 91°/69°F (32.6°/20.8°C)
Nov 83°/74°F (28.4°/23.4°C) 91°/69°F (32.9°/20.3°C)
Dec 84°/74°F (29.0°/23.4°C) 92°/67°F (33.3°/19.2°C)

Data: 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 Gabon 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.

Gabon passport

Gabon passport holder visiting Panama

Visa Free
Gabon passport holders can enter Panama without a visa.
Panama passport

Panama passport holder visiting Gabon

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

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?

With 15.5 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Panama can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Gabon and Panama.

Is Panama safe for expats?

Panama performs significantly better than Gabon across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Panama compared to Gabon?

Panama generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Gabon leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 17.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Panama, compared to 4.8 in Gabon. Panama scores 78 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Gabon: 49).

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

The average high temperature in Panama City is 93°F, compared to 83°F in Libreville. Panama City receives around 75.1 in of rainfall per year, while Libreville gets 111.9 in.

What language do they speak in Panama?

The official language in Panama is Spanish. In Gabon, the official language is French.

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At a Glance

GA PA
Population 2,340,613 4,337,768
Currency CFA Franc BEAC (FCFA) Panamanian Balboa (PAB)
Languages French Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +241 +507
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911