Government gross debt in Panama

International Monetary Fund · Annual · Importance

IMF forecast (WEO): 2026: 56.4% 2027: 55.9% 2028: 54.9% 2029: 53.5% 2030: 51.6% 2031: 49.6%

60.4 (1999) ANUAL · % of GDP · Annual · CSV

Period	% of GDP
Jan 1999	60.4
Jan 1998	64.3
Jan 1997	67.3
Jan 1996	73.6
Jan 1995	86.7
Jan 1994	88.7

About this indicator

Source

International Monetary Fund

Frequency

Annual

Release

Published annually (with quarterly advance estimates in some economies), subject to revision with the national accounts.

What it is

Measures the total gross debt owed by Panama's government to its domestic and external creditors. Published by the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the national authorities, it is reported in absolute terms and as a share of GDP.

How it's calculated

Calculated by summing domestic and external debt (global bonds and multilateral loans), largely in US dollars, the country's legal tender. Outside the EU's EDP framework, it follows national and IMF standards, with the debt-to-GDP ratio as the reference.

Market implications

The level and path of debt are decisive for Panama's investment-grade rating and its risk premium, closely watched by markets after recent fiscal strains. A deterioration raises the cost of issuing global bonds.

Limitations

It is a low-frequency, revisable series. Dollarisation removes exchange-rate risk but also monetary policy room; the ratio depends on nominal GDP, so it can move with growth without a change in actual debt.