Moving to Panama from Namibia

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Namibia to Panama, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Panama City averages 93°F vs 80°F in Windhoek, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

NA
12.4
PA
11.3
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

NA
22.0
PA
7.3

Panama performs significantly better than Namibia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

NA
$1,068
PA
$3,318
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

NA
5.4
PA
17.3

Panama generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Namibia 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

NA
43.0
PA
17.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

NA
1.2t
PA
2.7t

Namibia 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

NA
3.9
PA
15.5
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

NA
0.9%
PA
0.9%

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

NA
19.4%
PA
6.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

NA
$11,500
PA
$35,800

Panama generally does better on employment & economy, though Namibia leads in poverty rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

NA
66.5 yrs
PA
77.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

NA
29.4
PA
16.4

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

Data: Inland Revenue Department, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Windhoek Rain: 14.5 in/yr (368 mm)
80° / 55°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Windhoek Panama City
Jan–Mar 84°/63°F (29°/17°C) 94°/65°F (34°/18°C)
Apr–Jun 74°/50°F (23°/10°C) 94°/69°F (35°/21°C)
Jul–Sep 76°/49°F (24°/9°C) 92°/70°F (34°/21°C)
Oct–Dec 87°/61°F (30°/16°C) 91°/68°F (33°/20°C)
View all months
Month Windhoek Panama City
Jan 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.7°C) 92°/65°F (33.4°/18.5°C)
Feb 84°/63°F (28.7°/17.0°C) 94°/65°F (34.2°/18.4°C)
Mar 81°/61°F (27.4°/15.9°C) 95°/65°F (34.8°/18.4°C)
Apr 78°/55°F (25.8°/12.9°C) 96°/67°F (35.4°/19.5°C)
May 74°/50°F (23.4°/9.8°C) 94°/70°F (34.5°/21.1°C)
Jun 69°/44°F (20.7°/6.9°C) 93°/70°F (33.8°/21.3°C)
Jul 70°/44°F (21.2°/6.9°C) 93°/70°F (33.9°/21.0°C)
Aug 75°/48°F (23.8°/8.9°C) 93°/70°F (33.9°/20.9°C)
Sep 82°/54°F (27.5°/12.4°C) 91°/70°F (32.9°/21.0°C)
Oct 85°/58°F (29.3°/14.7°C) 91°/69°F (32.6°/20.8°C)
Nov 86°/61°F (30.2°/16.2°C) 91°/69°F (32.9°/20.3°C)
Dec 89°/63°F (31.4°/17.2°C) 92°/67°F (33.3°/19.2°C)

Data: Namibia Meteorological Service Namibia Meteorological Service, 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 Namibia 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.

Namibia passport

Namibia passport holder visiting Panama

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

Panama passport holder visiting Namibia

Visa on Arrival
Panama passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Namibia.

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 Namibia and Panama.

Is Panama safe for expats?

Panama performs significantly better than Namibia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Panama is 11.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 12.4 in Namibia.

How is healthcare in Panama compared to Namibia?

Panama generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Namibia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 17.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Panama, compared to 5.4 in Namibia. Panama scores 78 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Namibia: 63).

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

The average high temperature in Panama City is 93°F, compared to 80°F in Windhoek. Panama City receives around 75.1 in of rainfall per year, while Windhoek gets 14.5 in.

What language do they speak in Panama?

The official language in Panama is Spanish. In Namibia, the official languages are Afrikaans, English, German, Herero, Khoekhoe, Kwangali, Lozi, Ndonga and Tswana.

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At a Glance

NA PA
Population 2,727,409 4,337,768
Currency Namibian Dollar (NAD) Panamanian Balboa (PAB)
Languages Afrikaans, English, German, Herero, Khoekhoe, Kwangali, Lozi, Ndonga, Tswana Spanish
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +264 +507
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 10111 911