Press Freedom Index in Panama
Panama: Press Freedom Index was 29.94 in 2021. ▼ Falling
Latest (2021)
29.94
Change on year
up 0.5%
World rank
103rd
of 177 countries
All-time high
32.95
in 2013
All-time low
28.98
in 2015
Years of data
9
2013–2021
Press Freedom Index in Panama, 2013–2021
Source: Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2021, press freedom index in Panama stood at 29.94.
The figure is up 0.5% on the previous year and down 9.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, press freedom index in Panama peaked at 32.95 in 2013 and was at its lowest, 28.98, in 2015.
Panama ranks 103rd of 177 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Press Freedom Index in Panama, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 32.95 | — |
| 2014 | 30.2 | -8.3% |
| 2015 | 28.98 | -4.0% |
| 2016 | 30.59 | +5.6% |
| 2017 | 32.12 | +5.0% |
| 2018 | 30.56 | -4.9% |
| 2019 | 29.78 | -2.6% |
| 2020 | 29.78 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 29.94 | +0.5% |
Panama compared with similar countries
- Panama's 29.94 is above the median for high income countries, which is 23.1, 1.3× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Panama's 29.94 is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 31.12, 96% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 30.74 | 28.98 | 32.95 | 7 |
| 2020s | 29.86 | 29.78 | 29.94 | 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 press freedom index in Panama?
- Press freedom index in Panama was 29.94 in 2021, according to Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest press freedom index recorded in Panama?
- The highest recorded value was 32.95 in 2013.
- What is the lowest press freedom index recorded in Panama?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.98 in 2015.
- How does Panama rank for press freedom index?
- Panama ranks 103rd out of 177 countries with data for 2021.
- Is press freedom index rising or falling in Panama?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Panama data come from?
- The figures come from Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Press Freedom Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 9 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The index combines expert estimates with data on violence against journalists. It ranges from 0-100 (no freedom).