Panama vs US size comparison
How Big Is Panama Compared to the US?
The US is about 130 times the size of Panama. Panama is about 1.74 times as densely populated. Drag Panama over the US below to see the difference at true size.
Hawaii and the territories are not drawn.
Printable Panama vs US size comparison
Free to print or share: Panama laid over the US at true size, with both areas, on one landscape A4 or US Letter page.
Key facts
- Area of Panama
- 75,420 km² (29,120 sq mi)
- Area of the US
- 9,833,517 km² (3,796,741 sq mi)
- Size difference
- The US is about 130 times bigger
- Closest US state in size
- South Carolina (82,940 km²)
- Population (2025)
- Panama 4,571,189; the US 341,784,857
- Panama's rank by area
- 116th-largest of 197
How big Panama is compared with the US
The US is about 130 times the size of Panama: 9,833,517 km² (3,796,741 sq mi) against 75,420 km² (29,120 sq mi). Even the 48 contiguous states alone, without Alaska, could hold Panama about 107 times. Panama is bigger than 10 of the 50 US states and smaller than the other 40; the state closest in size is South Carolina (82,940 km²). It is the 116th-largest of the world's 197 countries, and the eighth-largest of 23 in North America; the US is the third-largest.
Panama has about 5 million people (2025), the 128th-most populous country in the world, against 342 million in the US. With 61 people per km² it is about 1.74 times as crowded as the US (35 per km²), the 128th-most densely populated country.
Panama and the US on a world map
Panama reaches from 7°N to 10°N; the US from 19°N to 71°N, with Hawaii in the south and Alaska in the far north. Most world maps use the Mercator projection, which enlarges places more the further they are from the Equator. It draws Panama about 1.02 times its real size and the US about 2.3 times (Alaska far more than Florida). So on a normal world map the US looks about 294 times the size of Panama, when it is really about 130 times. The equal-area map above shows the real difference.
Where Panama is
Panama's capital, Panama City, is 3,340 km (2,070 miles) from Washington, D.C. as the crow flies. Panama borders 2 countries: Colombia and Costa Rica.
Panama and US in numbers
| Panama | US | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area | 75,420 km² 29,120 sq mi | 9,833,517 km² 3,796,741 sq mi | The US is 130× bigger |
| Population (2025) | 4,571,189 | 341,784,857 | The US has 75× more |
| Rank by area | 116th-largest | Third-largest | of 197 countries |
| People per km² | 61 | 35 | Panama is 1.74× denser |
| Capital | Panama City | Washington, D.C. | 3,340 km apart |
| Neighbouring countries | 2 | 2 |
Panama compared with US states
Frequently asked questions
Is Panama bigger than the US?
No. The US is about 130 times the size of Panama: 9,833,517 km² (3,796,741 sq mi) against 75,420 km² (29,120 sq mi).
How many times would Panama fit into the US?
About 130 times (130). Into the 48 contiguous states alone, about 107 times.
Which US state is Panama closest in size to?
South Carolina (82,940 km²). Panama is about the same size as South Carolina.
Is Panama bigger than Texas?
No. Texas is about 9.2 times the size of Panama.
Which has more people, Panama or the US?
The US: about 342 million people in 2025, about 75 times the 5 million in Panama.
Why does Panama look so small on a world map?
Most world maps use the Mercator projection, which stretches places more the further they are from the Equator. The US is further from the Equator than Panama, so it is stretched more. On a Mercator map the US looks about 294 times the size of Panama, not 130.
Where does Panama rank by size?
Panama is the 116th-largest of the world's 197 countries by total area and the eighth-largest in North America. The US is the third-largest.
How far is Panama from the US?
Panama's capital, Panama City, is 3,340 km (2,070 miles) from Washington, D.C. in a straight line.
Sources
- Areas: CIA World Factbook (total area, land and water). US states: US Census Bureau.
- Populations: World Bank, World Development Indicators (2025).
- Outlines are drawn on an equal-area projection, so their sizes on the map match their real areas.