Panama: Fixed broadband subscriptions

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2023, Panama's fixed broadband subscriptions rose 12.1% on 2022 (from 721,117 to 808,557).

Across the 21 yearly changes before that (2002 to 2022), the average change was +40.2% and a typical year strayed about 115.8% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.2 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 541.8% in 2006 and the biggest yearly fall was 0.8% in 2019. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2014 to 2023 the straight-line trend is upward, about 53,631 a year. A straight line explains 98% of the movement over 10 observed years.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

A straight-line projection, tested first

Extending that straight line gives about 897,259 for 2026. We show this only because the same method, fitted on earlier years, predicted 2021 to 2023 better than "no change" would have: its average miss was 90,290, against 130,858 for assuming no change. Treat it as a continuation of the recent pattern, not a forecast of events: it cannot see a recession, a policy change or a revision to the data.

See how a linear trend forecast works and the guide on forecasting without fooling yourself.

How it compares

In 2023, Panama had the 5th highest value of the 18 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Panama in the 2023 ranking

• Bulgaria — 2nd of 18: 2.52 million
• Syrian Arab Republic — 3rd of 18: 1.62 million
• Paraguay — 4th of 18: 881,769
• Lao PDR — 6th of 18: 208,504
• Somalia, Fed. Rep. — 7th of 18: 132,726
• Tajikistan — 8th of 18: 102,229

What this measures

Fixed broadband subscriptions refers to fixed subscriptions to high-speed access to the public Internet (a TCP/IP connection), at downstream speeds equal to, or greater than, 256 kbit/s. This includes cable modem, DSL, fiber-to-the-home/building, other fixed (wired)-broadband subscriptions, satellite broadband and terrestrial fixed wireless broadband. This total is measured irrespective of the method of payment. It excludes subscriptions that have access to data communications (including the Internet) via mobile-cellular networks. It should include fixed WiMAX and any other fixed wireless technologies. It includes both residential subscriptions and subscriptions for organizations.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a sum.

All 23 values

Fixed broadband subscriptions in nearby economies

• Antigua and Barbuda — 9,917 (2022)
• Argentina — 11.93 million (2024)
• Aruba — 18,847 (2022)
• Bahamas, The — 101,396 (2024)
• Barbados — 105,825 (2022)
• Belize — 39,282 (2022)
• Bolivia — 1.5 million (2024)
• Brazil — 51.05 million (2024)
• British Virgin Islands — 9,833 (2024)
• Cayman Islands — 40,349 (2022)
• Chile — 4.69 million (2024)

More infrastructure data for Panama

• Air transport, registered carrier departures worldwide — 123,804 (2023)
• Air transport, freight (million ton-km) — 143.67 (2023)
• Air transport, passengers carried — 15.75 million (2023)
• Mobile cellular subscriptions — 6.98 million (2023)
• Mobile cellular subscriptions (per 100 people) — 156.59 (2023)
• ICT service exports (BoP, current US$) — US$501.33 million (2025)
• ICT service exports (% of service exports, BoP) — 2.48% (2025)
• Fixed telephone subscriptions — 774,060 (2023)
• Fixed telephone subscriptions (per 100 people) — 17.36 (2023)
• Medium and high-tech exports (% manufactured exports)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
• Data analysis examples: 6 worked from one dataset — 3 min read
• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is Panama's fixed broadband subscriptions?

808,557 in 2023, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 2001?

It is up 10,305% from 7,771 in 2001 (23.51% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 808,557 in 2023 and the lowest 7,771 in 2001.

How does Panama rank?

5th highest of 18 economies with data for 2023.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator IT.NET.BBND, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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