Panama

Panama’s fertility rate (2.12) is precisely at the replacement level, meaning the population is stabilizing without relying on natural growth. While stable, this suggests that without significant immigration, the country will face challenges associated with an aging population in the coming decades, especially given the high life expectancy.

A high percentage of the population (65.86%) lives in urban areas, reflecting significant concentration around economic centers like Panama City. Coupled with a near-universal literacy rate (96.109%), the country demonstrates a high level of human capital development, crucial for sustaining its service-based economy.

Panama maintains an impressive forest cover, with over 56% of its land area classified as forest. This high percentage is significant globally and regionally, indicating successful conservation efforts or limited agricultural expansion into forested areas, potentially linked to its focus on services rather than primary industries.

Panama's life expectancy of 79.59 years is exceptionally high, surpassing the global average and rivaling many high-income OECD countries. This achievement points to strong public health infrastructure and access to healthcare, despite the presence of a notable infant mortality rate.