Military Strength: 
Nicaragua vs 
Panama
Panama fields 28,000 active troops — 2.3:1 Nicaragua's 12,000, backed by 26,000 paramilitary. Panama's $1.0B defense budget is 9.7:1 that of Nicaragua ($0.10B).
Key figures
| Nicaragua | Panama | Ratio | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Defense budget | $98M | $952M | 🇵🇦 9.7× |
| – share of GDP | 0.5% | 1.1% | 🇵🇦 2.2× |
| Active personnel | 12,000 | 28,000 | 🇵🇦 2.3× |
| Combat aircraft | 0 | 0 | — |
| Warships | 0 | 0 | — |
| – submarines | 0 | 0 | — |
| Main battle tanks | 89 | 0 | 🇳🇮 |
| Nuclear warheads | 0 | 0 | — |
Show full breakdown · 11 more rowsHide the 11 extra rows
| Reserve troops | 0 | 0 | — |
| Paramilitary forces | 0 | 26,000 | 🇵🇦 |
| Military aircraft (all types) | 17 | 40 | 🇵🇦 2.4× |
| – helicopters | 11 | 25 | 🇵🇦 2.3× |
| Budget share of govt spending | — | — | — |
| Budget per capita | $14 | $211 | 🇵🇦 15× |
| Population | 6.9M | 4.5M | 🇳🇮 1.5× |
| GDP | $20B | $87B | 🇵🇦 4.4× |
| GDP per capita | $2,848 | $19,161 | 🇵🇦 6.7× |
| Land area | 119,990 km² | 74,340 km² | 🇳🇮 1.6× |
| Coastline | 910 km | 2,490 km | 🇵🇦 2.7× |
Defense budget history Nicaragua ×1.3 · Panama ×1.2 since 2020
Military personnel history
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who has more military personnel, Nicaragua or Panama?
Panama has approximately 28,000 active military personnel compared to Nicaragua's 12,000, giving Panama a 2.3:1 numerical advantage.
Which country spends more on defense, Nicaragua or Panama?
Panama has a larger defense budget at $952 million (9.7:1 more) compared to Nicaragua's $98 million annually.
Do Nicaragua and Panama have nuclear weapons?
Neither Nicaragua nor Panama currently possesses nuclear weapons.
How do the tank forces of Nicaragua and Panama compare?
Nicaragua operates 89 main battle tanks compared to Panama's 0. Tank numbers reflect both active inventory and reserves.