Panama: Fixed broadband subscriptions (per 100 people)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2023, Panama's fixed broadband subscriptions (per 100 people) rose 1.75 on 2022 (from 16.39 to 18.13).

Across the 21 yearly changes before that (2002 to 2022), the average change was +0.77 and a typical year strayed about 0.91 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.1 standard deviations above that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 2.81 in 2006 and the biggest yearly fall was 0.31 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 1.09 a year. A straight line explains 97% 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 19.98 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 1.78, against 2.62 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: 37.02
• French Polynesia — 3rd of 18: 35.55
• Curaçao — 4th of 18: 31.51
• Paraguay — 6th of 18: 12.88
• Palau — 7th of 18: 7.33
• Syrian Arab Republic — 8th of 18: 6.86

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.

Limitations: Data are collected by national statistics offices through household surveys. Because survey questions and definitions differ, the estimates may not be strictly comparable across countries. Fixed broadband Internet includes cable modem, DSL, fibre and other fixed broadband technology (such as satellite broadband Internet, Ethernet LANs, fixed-wireless access, Wireless Local Area Network, WiMAX etc.). Subscribers with access to data communications (including the Internet) via mobile cellular networks are excluded. Advertised and real speeds can differ substantially.

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

All 23 values

Fixed broadband subscriptions (per 100 people) in nearby economies

• Antigua and Barbuda — 10.68 (2022)
• Argentina — 26.1 (2024)
• Aruba — 17.49 (2022)
• Bahamas, The — 25.27 (2024)
• Barbados — 37.48 (2022)
• Belize — 9.75 (2022)
• Bolivia — 12.07 (2024)
• Brazil — 24.08 (2024)
• British Virgin Islands — 24.91 (2024)
• Cayman Islands

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 (per 100 people)?

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

How has it changed since 2001?

It is up 7,063% from 0.25 in 2001 (21.43% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 18.13 in 2023 and the lowest 0.25 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.P2, 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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