Homicides in Panama
Panama: Homicides was 438 deaths in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
438 deaths
Change on year
down 13.1%
World rank
26th
of 113 countries
All-time high
795 deaths
in 2009
All-time low
31 deaths
in 1976
Years of data
61
1955–2022
Homicides in Panama, 1955–2022
Source: WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
The most recent figure for homicides in Panama is 438 deaths, measured in 2022.
The figure is down 13.1% on the previous year and down 38.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, homicides in Panama peaked at 795 deaths in 2009 and was at its lowest, 31 deaths, in 1976.
That places Panama 26th out of 113 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Homicides in Panama, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1955 | 49 deaths | — |
| 1956 | 54 deaths | +10.2% |
| 1957 | 44 deaths | -18.5% |
| 1958 | 50 deaths | +13.6% |
| 1959 | 53 deaths | +6.0% |
| 1960 | 59 deaths | +11.3% |
| 1961 | 39 deaths | -33.9% |
| 1962 | 65 deaths | +66.7% |
| 1963 | 59 deaths | -9.2% |
| 1964 | 62 deaths | +5.1% |
| 1965 | 60 deaths | -3.2% |
| 1966 | 57 deaths | -5.0% |
| 1967 | 64 deaths | +12.3% |
| 1968 | 59 deaths | -7.8% |
| 1969 | 66 deaths | +11.9% |
| 1970 | 49 deaths | -25.8% |
| 1971 | 55 deaths | +12.2% |
| 1972 | 43 deaths | -21.8% |
| 1973 | 47 deaths | +9.3% |
| 1974 | 46 deaths | -2.1% |
| 1975 | 41 deaths | -10.9% |
| 1976 | 31 deaths | -24.4% |
| 1977 | 36 deaths | +16.1% |
| 1978 | 44 deaths | +22.2% |
| 1979 | 40 deaths | -9.1% |
| 1980 | 41 deaths | +2.5% |
| 1981 | 48 deaths | +17.1% |
| 1982 | 54 deaths | +12.5% |
| 1983 | 50 deaths | -7.4% |
| 1984 | 59 deaths | +18.0% |
| 1985 | 115 deaths | +94.9% |
| 1986 | 123 deaths | +7.0% |
| 1987 | 156 deaths | +26.8% |
| 1988 | 160 deaths | +2.6% |
| 1989 | 123 deaths | -23.1% |
| 1996 | 211 deaths | +71.5% |
| 1997 | 293 deaths | +38.9% |
| 1998 | 250 deaths | -14.7% |
| 1999 | 244 deaths | -2.4% |
| 2000 | 289 deaths | +18.4% |
| 2001 | 308 deaths | +6.6% |
| 2002 | 364 deaths | +18.2% |
| 2003 | 356 deaths | -2.2% |
| 2004 | 322 deaths | -9.6% |
| 2005 | 377 deaths | +17.1% |
| 2006 | 380 deaths | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 477 deaths | +25.5% |
| 2008 | 652 deaths | +36.7% |
| 2009 | 795 deaths | +21.9% |
| 2010 | 760 deaths | -4.4% |
| 2011 | 750 deaths | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 712 deaths | -5.1% |
| 2013 | 676 deaths | -5.1% |
| 2014 | 627 deaths | -7.2% |
| 2015 | 468 deaths | -25.4% |
| 2016 | 414 deaths | -11.5% |
| 2017 | 429 deaths | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 434 deaths | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 459 deaths | +5.8% |
| 2021 | 504 deaths | +9.8% |
| 2022 | 438 deaths | -13.1% |
Panama compared with similar countries
- Panama's 438 deaths is above the median for high income countries, which is 63 deaths, 7.0× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Panama's 438 deaths is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 438 deaths, 1.0× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 50 deaths | 44 deaths | 54 deaths | 5 |
| 1960s | 59 deaths | 39 deaths | 66 deaths | 10 |
| 1970s | 43.2 deaths | 31 deaths | 55 deaths | 10 |
| 1980s | 92.9 deaths | 41 deaths | 160 deaths | 10 |
| 1990s | 249.5 deaths | 211 deaths | 293 deaths | 4 |
| 2000s | 432 deaths | 289 deaths | 795 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 572.9 deaths | 414 deaths | 760 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 471 deaths | 438 deaths | 504 deaths | 2 |
Countries ranked near Panama
More social development data for Panama
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 2,694 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 375 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0001 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 375 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0006 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is homicides in Panama?
- Homicides in Panama was 438 deaths in 2022, according to WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest homicides recorded in Panama?
- The highest recorded value was 795 deaths in 2009.
- What is the lowest homicides recorded in Panama?
- The lowest recorded value was 31 deaths in 1976.
- How does Panama rank for homicides?
- Panama ranks 26th out of 113 countries with data for 2022.
- Is homicides rising or falling in Panama?
- Over the last ten years it is down 38.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Panama data come from?
- The figures come from WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Homicides. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Annual number of homicides.