Panama recorded 406 homicide victims during the first eight months of 2026, an increase of 6% from the same period last year, according to preliminary figures from the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The comparable total for January through August 2025 was 384. April was the deadliest month this year, with 63 victims, followed by May with 58 and August with 54.
Violence remained concentrated in the country’s largest urban areas. Panamá province recorded 176 victims and the neighbouring district of San Miguelito reported 78. Together, they accounted for nearly 63% of the national total. Colón followed with 71 victims, while Panamá Oeste registered 34.
Some provinces experienced sharp percentage increases from comparatively low starting points. Homicide victims in Chiriquí rose from eight to 21 and in Coclé from six to 14. Colón, by contrast, recorded a decline from 77 to 71.
Firearms were used in 344 homicides, equivalent to almost 85% of all cases. Men represented 376 of the 406 victims.
Young people were disproportionately affected. Ninety-nine victims were aged 18 to 24, the largest age group in the report. Another 39 were minors, including 30 between the ages of 15 and 17.
Separate figures show that Panama registered 16 femicides through August, compared with nine during the corresponding period of 2025 - an increase of 78%. Attempted femicides rose from 13 to 18, while other violent deaths of women increased from 11 to 13.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office distinguishes femicides from other killings of women by applying the criteria established under Panama’s femicide law. Eight of the 16 femicides involved firearms.
Not all crime indicators increased. Reported robberies declined by 4.7%, from 3,485 to 3,321, while theft reports rose by 2% to 11,554.
Authorities classify all the figures as preliminary. Totals may change as prosecutors obtain new evidence or revise the classification of individual cases.
Sources: Public Prosecutor’s Office
