Panama
Panama
Panama is a key transit and host country, with UNHCR supporting asylum access, protection, and humanitarian assistance for people on the move through the Darien jungle and beyond.
Are you a refugee, asylum-seeker or stateless person looking for help? Visit the HELP site to find support and services from UNHCR.
Key statistics
137,364
people were displaced or stateless (or returning from forced displacement) within the country at the end of 2024
68,874
people were in need of international protection in the country at the end of 2024, mostly from Venezuela
$53.4 million
are needed in 2025 to ensure operations covered by the Panama multi-country office* are sustained
*UNHCR’s operations in Panama are managed by the Panama multi-country office, which also oversees operations in Aruba, Belize, Cuba, Curaçao, Guyana, Nicaragua, Panama, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago, with needs budgeted jointly.
In 2024, Panama remained at the forefront of mixed movements in the Americas, with the Darien region serving as a key transit point for hundreds of thousands of people on the move. While border policy changes led to a 42% drop in arrivals, down from over 520,000 in 2023 to 302,000 in 2024, the humanitarian needs remained acute, particularly in border areas like Darien and Chiriquí.
UNHCR worked closely with the Government of Panama, NGOs, and local communities to respond to the needs of people in transit and those seeking asylum. This included legal assistance, shelter, access to basic services, and information on asylum procedures and the risks of onward journeys. Panama also continued to host refugees and asylum-seekers from multiple countries, despite ongoing challenges related to limited absorption capacity and pressure on national systems.
UNHCR supported efforts to strengthen Panama’s asylum system, expand protection safeguards, and promote alternatives to detention, while advocating for inclusive policies that uphold the rights and dignity of displaced people.
Strategy and results
This section provides key information related to the Global Appeal and Global Report.
Operations in Panama are overseen by the Panama multi-country office, with strategy and results reported only at the multi-country level.
Strategy
Latest multi-year strategy, outlining key priorities and a comprehensive overview of operational plans as part of the Global Appeal.
Indicators and targets
Indicators and targets enable operations to establish their benchmarks and targets for comparison with results.
Annual Results Report
Latest Annual Results Report highlighting key achievements from the year and published as part of the Global Report.
Population and financial overview
Data on population and financials are available at the multi-country office level, which oversees operations across several countries.
Panama
Use the year selector to access information from previous years.
Populations
Population types
Population types
Note: The "Stateless" category does not include stateless people who are also in other categories, to avoid double counting. The total number of stateless, across all categories, is .
NB: 2025 figures are planning figures.
Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder for years until 2022, UNHCR planning figures (COMPASS) otherwise.
Population by country
Population by country
NB: 2025 figures are planning figures.
Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder for years until 2022, UNHCR planning figures (COMPASS) otherwise.
Population by origin
Population by origin
NB: 2025 figures are planning figures.
Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder for years until 2022, UNHCR planning figures (COMPASS) otherwise.
Financial
Budget and expenditure trend
Budget and expenditure trend
Source: 2025 budget was approved by ExCom in October 2024 while the 2024 budget figures include the latest supplementary appeals and are updated on a monthly basis.
Budget by pillar
Budget by pillar
Budget by objective
Budget by objective
Note: The table presents the budget for this operation broken down at the objective level. Resource allocation at the objective level is subject to change during the course of the year as the operational situation evolves and priorities shift. The current budget, reflected in the bottom line of this table, is updated on a monthly basis and is replaced by the final budget at year-end.
Expenditure by Outcome Area
Expenditure by Outcome Area
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Impact Area
Source: 2023 budget as approved by the Executive Committee in October 2022.
2022 current budget as approved by the High Commissioner as of October 2022; pending presentation to the ExCom's Standing Committee.
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Source: 2023 budget as approved by the Executive Committee in October 2022.
2022 current budget as approved by the High Commissioner as of October 2022; pending presentation to the ExCom's Standing Committee.
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Impact Area
Source: 2024 budget and 2023 current budget are taken from the budget document approved by UNHCR's Executive Committee in October 2023.
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Impact Area
Source: 2025 budget was approved by ExCom in October 2024 while the 2024 budget figures include the latest supplementary appeals and are updated on a monthly basis.
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Source: 2025 budget was approved by ExCom in October 2024 while the 2024 budget figures include the latest supplementary appeals and are updated on a monthly basis.
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Source: 2025 budget was approved by ExCom in October 2024 while the 2024 budget figures include the latest supplementary appeals and are updated on a monthly basis.
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
yearselected
Strategy - Country
Strategy
Street Address:
Clayton, Gonzalo Crance Street, Bldg. 171, City of Knowledge, Panama City, Panama
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 0843-02734, Balboa, Ancon, Panama City, Panama
Phone:
+507 304 9650
Fax:
+507 317 1715
Email:
[email protected]
Time zone:
GMT -5
Working hours
- Monday: 8:00 - 17:00
- Tuesday: 8:00 - 17:00
- Wednesday: 8:00 - 17:00
- Thursday: 8:00 - 17:00
- Friday: 8:00 - 17:00
- Saturday: closed
- Sunday: closed
