Quick facts
Panama City overview
Panama City (orange) and the other large cities of Panama
Panama City lies in Panamá in Panama at 8.99°N, 79.52°W, about 17 m above sea level. The local time zone is America/Panama (UTC-5); GeoNames classifies it as a national capital.
It is the biggest urban centre of Panama: the next largest cities are David (82,907), Colón (78,000), Arraiján (76,815). Together, the three largest cities hold 12.3% of the national population.
The nearest large city is Arraiján, about 15 km away, followed by Veracruz (16 km).
Panama as a whole has a live population of 4,642,598 (+1.2% a year) and ranks #129 of 238 countries — see the Panama population page for the full statistics and the Panama atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Panama City
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Arraiján Panamá Oeste Province | 15 km | 76,815 |
| Veracruz Panamá Oeste Province | 16 km | 17,144 |
| La Chorrera Panamá Oeste Province | 31 km | 61,232 |
| Colón Colón | 58 km | 78,000 |
| Penonomé Coclé | 106 km | 16,250 |
| Santiago de Veraguas Veraguas Province | 189 km | 45,355 |
Largest cities in Panama
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Panama CityCapital | Panamá | 408,168 |
| 2 | David | Chiriquí Province | 82,907 |
| 3 | Colón | Colón | 78,000 |
| 4 | Arraiján | Panamá Oeste Province | 76,815 |
| 5 | La Chorrera | Panamá Oeste Province | 61,232 |
| 6 | Santiago de Veraguas | Veraguas Province | 45,355 |
| 7 | Changuinola | Bocas del Toro Province | 17,997 |
| 8 | La Concepción | Chiriquí Province | 17,698 |
| 9 | Pedregal | Chiriquí Province | 17,427 |
| 10 | Veracruz | Panamá Oeste Province | 17,144 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Panama City?
Panama City has about 408,168 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Panama City the capital of Panama?
Yes — Panama City is the national capital of Panama.
How big is Panama City compared with the rest of Panama?
Its 408,168 residents are 8.8% of the 4,642,598 people living in Panama today. It is the largest city in the country.
Where is Panama City?
In Panamá, Panama, at latitude 8.99 and longitude -79.52, 17 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Arraiján (15 km), Veracruz (16 km), La Chorrera (31 km).
Explore more
Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Panama City Population 2026 — Panama. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/panama/panama-city/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/panama/panama-city/">Panama City Population 2026 — Panama</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.