Photo: Brian Gratwicke derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 16 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Panama: Energy
Where does a country’s electricity come from, and who can get it?
Panama is placed joint 42nd of 165 countries on energy in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics. Readings behind it: Carbon Intensity of Electricity 220.33 (2024); Renewable Share of Electricity Generation 67.98 (2024).
Share
Energy
joint42nd
of 165 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 3 key statistics
01The evidence
The 3 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Panama on energy — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
220.33
Carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated)
Lower is better
Panama: 220.33. Across the 165 countries in this edition, values run from 23.73 (Bhutan) to 1,306 (Turkmenistan); the world median is 433.75.
- World median
- 433.75
- Best in Central America
- 25.82 Costa Rica
- Land neighbours
- Colombia 298.33 · Costa Rica 25.82
67.98
Renewables (% of electricity generated)
Higher is better
Panama: 67.98. Across the 165 countries in this edition, values run from 0 (Gambia) to 100 (Paraguay); the world median is 32.06.
- World median
- 32.06
- Best in Central America
- 99.91 Costa Rica
- Land neighbours
- Colombia 61.34 · Costa Rica 99.91
Key 3 of 3
World Energy Trilemma Index
World Energy Council
2023 edition · data for 2023 · Express reuse grant (no Creative Commons licence named)
67
Trilemma score (0–100)
Higher is better
Ranked 38th of 99 by World Energy Council
Panama: 67. Across the 126 countries in this edition, values run from 27.7 (Niger) to 83.2 (Denmark); the world median is 63.8.
- World median
- 63.8
- Best in Central America
- 69.7 Costa Rica
- Land neighbours
- Colombia 65.7 · Costa Rica 69.7
02Over time
Which way Panama is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Carbon Intensity of Electricity
Carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated) · lower is better
PanamaWorld median
Panama rose from 212.68 in 2000 to 220.33 in 2024; the world median went from 540.34 to 433.75.
Every year’s figures
Year Panama World median 2024 220.3 433.7 2023 265.9 452.7 2022 169.7 476.3 2021 160.8 469.0 2020 180.6 482.0 2019 324.9 488.2 2018 169.9 500.4 2017 205.9 506.3 2016 248.1 521.9 2015 258.3 524.8 2014 320.3 522.3 2013 307.8 508.8 2012 276.1 525.4 2011 336.7 521.4 2010 296.7 515.5 2009 298.7 533.6 2008 265.0 517.2 2007 292.4 535.3 2006 276.8 537.5 2005 251.0 521.4 2004 240.3 523.1 2003 335.4 543.1 2002 248.8 551.3 2001 346.7 559.3 2000 212.7 540.3 Renewable Share of Electricity Generation
Renewables (% of electricity generated) · higher is better
PanamaWorld median
Panama fell from 70.35 in 2000 to 67.98 in 2024; the world median went from 15.61 to 32.06.
Every year’s figures
Year Panama World median 2024 67.98 32.062 2023 60.64 28.000 2022 77.22 28.881 2021 78.37 28.286 2020 75.69 27.125 2019 52.75 26.296 2018 77.77 25.505 2017 71.83 24.023 2016 66.64 22.218 2015 65.34 21.915 2014 55.81 21.151 2013 57.88 21.593 2012 62.95 19.869 2011 52.69 18.584 2010 57.05 18.572 2009 56.73 17.886 2008 62.05 15.923 2007 57.74 15.586 2006 60.20 15.392 2005 64.26 16.438 2004 65.97 16.445 2003 50.99 16.339 2002 64.65 13.826 2001 49.22 14.023 2000 70.35 15.612
03In context
Panama beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 165 countries on energy, never a place within the region.
Panama and the countries it borders
Standing among all 165; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Carbon Intensity of ElectricityCarbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated) | Renewable Share of Electricity GenerationRenewables (% of electricity generated) | World Energy Trilemma IndexTrilemma score (0–100) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Costa Rica | 12th | 25.82 | 99.91 | 69.7 |
| Panama | =42nd | 220.33 | 67.98 | 67 |
 Colombia | 56th | 298.33 | 61.34 | 65.7 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Central America
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 165.
Placed either side on energy
The countries immediately above and below Panama in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Panama is ahead of the world, and behind
25 more statistics filed under energy, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median6
Statistics on which Panama does better than the middle country measured.
Firms Owning or Sharing a GeneratorWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 24.854.6224.85No earlier reading
Panama: 4.62 · world median 24.85 · Firms owning or sharing a generator (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0.158 to 90.51; lower is better.
Wind and Solar Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 5.27914.525.279▲ Improved since 2014
Panama: 14.52 · world median 5.279 · Wind and solar (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 69.12; higher is better.
Low-Carbon Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 37.3267.9837.32No real change since 2014
Panama: 67.98 · world median 37.32 · Low-carbon sources (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Position 52nd of 162 · derived.
Energy Intensity of GDP (PPP)EIA · 2024 · world median 2.7382.1242.738▲ Improved since 2014
Panama: 2.124 · world median 2.738 · Energy use per dollar of GDP (thousand Btu per US$ at PPP). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.666 to 17.45; lower is better.
RISE Energy Efficiency Policy ScoreESMAP · 2023 · world median 48.2357.2548.23▼ Worsened since 2013
Panama: 57.25 · world median 48.23 · Energy efficiency policy score (0–100). World Bank Group (ESMAP), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.975 to 95.93; higher is better.
CO₂ Emissions per CapitaGlobal Carbon Project · 2024 · world median 3.212.8053.21No real change since 2014
Panama: 2.805 · world median 3.21 · Fossil CO₂ (tonnes per person). Global Carbon Project, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.054 to 41.27; lower is better.
Position 114th of 210 · derived, 1st = worst.
Behind the world median6
Statistics on which Panama does worse than the middle country measured.
RISE Renewable Energy Policy ScoreESMAP · 2023 · world median 33.2629.3133.26▼ Worsened since 2013
Panama: 29.31 · world median 33.26 · Renewable energy policy score (0–100). World Bank Group (ESMAP), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.056 to 89.52; higher is better.
Access to ElectricityWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 10096100▼ Worsened since 2014
Panama: 96 · world median 100 · Population with electricity access (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 5.4 to 100; higher is better.
Access to Electricity, RuralWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 10092.1100▲ Improved since 2014
Panama: 92.1 · world median 100 · Rural population with electricity access (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.7 to 100; higher is better.
Coal Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 03.7230▲ Improved since 2014
Panama: 3.723 · world median 0 · Coal (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 98.25; lower is better.
Primary Schools with ElectricityUIS · 2024 · world median 10085.22100▼ Worsened since 2019
Panama: 85.22 · world median 100 · Primary schools with access to electricity (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.246 to 100; higher is better.
Firms Identifying Electricity as a Major ConstraintWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 25.7761.6825.77No earlier reading
Panama: 61.68 · world median 25.77 · Firms rating electricity a major or very severe constraint (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 84.77; lower is better.
Position 12th of 179 · derived, 1st = worst.
No better end13
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Hydro Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 12.8553.0912.85Moved since 2014
Panama: 53.09 · world median 12.85 · Hydropower (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100.
Gas Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 2.58520.852.585Moved since 2014
Panama: 20.85 · world median 2.585 · Natural gas (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 99.97.
Solar Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 3.0497.3723.049No real change since 2014
Panama: 7.372 · world median 3.049 · Solar (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 50.
Solar Electricity Installed CapacityEIA · 2024 · world median 0.1440.7430.144Moved since 2014
Panama: 0.743 · world median 0.144 · Solar generating capacity installed (gigawatts). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 886.66.
Primary Energy Consumption per CapitaEIA · 2024 · world median 49.578.8549.5No real change since 2014
Panama: 78.85 · world median 49.5 · Energy use per person (million Btu). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.95 to 766.07.
Operating Wind Power CapacityGlobal Energy Monitor · 2026 · world median 100336.5100No earlier reading
Panama: 336.5 · world median 100 · Wind farm capacity in operation (megawatts). Global Energy Monitor, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 542,758.
Nuclear Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 000No real change since 2014
Panama: 0 · world median 0 · Nuclear (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 67.4.
Operating Coal Power CapacityGlobal Energy Monitor · 2026 · world median 525306525No earlier reading
Panama: 306 · world median 525 · Coal-fired capacity in operation (megawatts). Global Energy Monitor, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1,263,101.
Primary Energy ProductionEIA · 2024 · world median 0.0770.0310.077No real change since 2014
Panama: 0.031 · world median 0.077 · Primary energy produced (quadrillion Btu). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 130.76.
Photovoltaic Power Potential (PVOUT)World Bank Group (ESMAP), data by Solargis · 2020 · world median 4.2733.9664.273No earlier reading
Panama: 3.966 · world median 4.273 · Practical solar power potential (kWh per kWp per day, long-term average). World Bank Group (ESMAP), data by Solargis, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 2.513 to 5.379.
Natural Gas ProductionEIA · 2024 · world median 000No real change since 2014
Panama: 0 · world median 0 · Dry natural gas produced (billion cubic metres). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1,069.
Crude Oil ProductionEIA · 2025 · world median 000No real change since 2015
Panama: 0 · world median 0 · Crude oil produced (thousand barrels per day). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 13,586.
Net Electricity Imports (share of generation)Ember · 2024 · world median 0-1.0420Moved since 2014
Panama: -1.042 · world median 0 · Net electricity imports (% of domestic generation). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from -70.16 to 707.07.
No current reading for Panama
RISE Clean Cooking Policy Score and RISE Electricity Access Policy Score. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Energy among Panama’s 16 topics
Energy is Panama’s best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Energyjoint 42nd of 1653/3 keys
- Peace & Security50th of 1773/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties60th of 1984/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability58th of 1863/4 keys
- Food & Agriculturejoint 61st of 1844/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital69th of 1963/3 keys
- Economy & Innovation63rd of 1764/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade64th of 1774/4 keys
- Gender & Equality67th of 1834/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions83rd of 1944/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing87th of 2003/4 keys
- Digital & Technology100th of 1984/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience141st of 1934/4 keys
- Education & Knowledgejoint 152nd of 1984/4 keys
- Work & Labourjoint 146th of 1824/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality130th of 1593/3 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on energy
The three countries placed highest of 165, and the leaders Panama can most readily be measured against.
1
BhutanSouthern Asia
1st of 165 · 2 of 3 keys
Photo: VIkramjit Kakati derivative work: ויקיג'אנקי · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
NorwayNorthern Europe
2nd of 165 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: Ximonic , Simo Räsänen · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
UgandaEastern Africa
3rd of 165 · 2 of 3 keys
Photo: Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Americas
Venezuela=8th2/3 keysHighest in Central America
Costa Rica12th3/3 keysThis page
Panama=42nd3/3 keys
Positions out of 165 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Questions
Panama on energy: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Panama rank on energy?
Panama is placed joint 42nd of 165 countries on Energy in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics (Carbon Intensity of Electricity, Renewable Share of Electricity Generation and World Energy Trilemma Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Carbon Intensity of Electricity figure for Panama?
220.33 in 2024 (carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated)), according to Ember. The world median in the same edition was 433.75.
What is the latest Renewable Share of Electricity Generation figure for Panama?
67.98 in 2024 (renewables (% of electricity generated)), according to Ember. The world median in the same edition was 32.06.
How does Panama compare with Colombia on energy?
Colombia is placed 56th of 165, and Panama joint 42nd. Carbon Intensity of Electricity: Colombia 298.33, Panama 220.33; Renewable Share of Electricity Generation: Colombia 61.34, Panama 67.98; World Energy Trilemma Index: Colombia 65.7, Panama 67.
How have Panama’s energy figures changed?
Carbon Intensity of Electricity rose from 212.68 in 2000 to 220.33 in 2024; Renewable Share of Electricity Generation fell from 70.35 in 2000 to 67.98 in 2024.
Which energy statistics are missing for Panama?
No current reading is published for Panama on RISE Clean Cooking Policy Score and RISE Electricity Access Policy Score. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
This is deliberately the electricity and energy-system subject, not an infrastructure one: roads, railways, ports, water and telecommunications would each need a global series this site does not hold. Emissions are under Environment & Sustainability. Access to electricity is published here in full but takes no part in any ranking — more than half the world’s countries now report 100%, and a position derived from that would read “1, 1, 1 … 123”, which is noise rather than information.
How the Energy standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 3 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 3 keys to be placed.
The energy method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Carbon Intensity of Electricity — Ember, CC BY 4.0
- Renewable Share of Electricity Generation — Ember, CC BY 4.0
- World Energy Trilemma Index — World Energy Council, Express reuse grant (no Creative Commons licence named)
The other 25 statistics on this page come from 8 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Panama’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Panama (banner) — Brian Gratwicke derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY 2.0
- Bhutan — VIkramjit Kakati derivative work: ויקיג'אנקי, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Norway — Ximonic , Simo Räsänen, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Uganda — Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Panama: Energy — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/panama/energy