Panama

Panama fell 4 places to 83rd, now behind DR Congo and just ahead of Tanzania, even though real growth of +4.3% and a +4.6% rise in US$ GDP lifted output to US$90.5 billion. Services drive the economy at 70.0% of output; industry accounts for 24.9%, manufacturing just 4.8% and agriculture 2.6%. Consumer prices edged down, with inflation at -0.2%, while unemployment stood at 8.4% and government gross debt at 56.6% of GDP.

With 4.6 million people, Panama posts GDP per capita of US$19,790, 63rd of 196, and $43,902 international dollars on a PPP basis, 60th. Its economy is about the size of the Albany, NY metro area. Since 2000, when GDP was US$12.0 billion and Panama ranked 85th, US$ GDP has grown 7.6 times. The IMF projects a +38% rise to US$124.9 billion by 2030, which would place it 82nd.