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Panama

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.

Download the strategy

Indicators and targets

Indicators and targets enable operations to establish their benchmarks and targets for comparison with results.

Download indicators and targets

Annual Results Report

Latest Annual Results Report highlighting key achievements from the year and published as part of the Global Report.

Download the ARR

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

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

NB: 2025 figures are planning figures.

Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder for years until 2022, UNHCR planning figures (COMPASS) otherwise.

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

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 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
Budget by Impact Area
Protect: Attaining favourable protection environments
Respond: Realizing rights in safe environments
Empower: Empowering communities and achieving gender equality
Solve: Securing solutions

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

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
Protect: Attaining favourable protection environments
Respond: Realizing rights in safe environments
Empower: Empowering communities and achieving gender equality
Solve: Securing solutions

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
Protect: Attaining favourable protection environments
Respond: Realizing rights in safe environments
Empower: Empowering communities and achieving gender equality
Solve: Securing solutions

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

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

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
Protect: Attaining favourable protection environments
Respond: Realizing rights in safe environments
Empower: Empowering communities and achieving gender equality
Solve: Securing solutions
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas

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Strategy - Country

Strategy

For information about our work in Panama:

Refworld

Find legislation, case law and UNHCR policy relating to claims for international protection.

Visit Refworld

 

Office contact details

The UNHCR Regional Representation in Panama

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