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Panama, IA
City in Shelby County, Iowa.
Population
245
Land area
0.3sq mi
People per sq mi
841
ZIP codes
0
Panama and its ZIP codes
Panama at a glance
- Panama is about 15 times as dense as Iowa as a whole.
Local data for Panama, IA
Counts from official public data
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Shelby County. PPP loans are for Panama.
Unemployment rate
2.9%
Aug 2026, 0.0 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$53,739
5,531 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$67,220
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$104M
FY 2026, $8,877 per person
Environment and hazard risk
Panama, IA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: drought
Storm events since 1996
427
Countywide, mostly hail
Flood insurance policies
19
0.3% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
86° / 10°F
34.3 inches of rain a year
Health statistics
Share of adults in Panama, IA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
38.1%
U.S. 33.3% +4.8 pts
Diabetes
11.8%
U.S. 12.1% about the same
Smoking
16.1%
U.S. 12.8% +3.3 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
6.3%
U.S. 11.1% -4.8 pts
Cities near Panama
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| WestphaliaCity | 4.4 mi | 0.1 |
| EarlingCity | 4.7 mi | 0.6 |
| PortsmouthCity | 5.9 mi | 0.3 |
| HarlanCity | 9.2 mi | 4.4 |
| TennantCity | 9.5 mi | 0.7 |
| DefianceCity | 9.8 mi | 0.4 |
| DunlapCity | 11 mi | 1.2 |
| KirkmanCity | 11 mi | 0.3 |
| PersiaCity | 11 mi | 0.5 |
| WoodbineCity | 12 mi | 1.7 |
| CorleyCensus-designated place | 13 mi | 0.1 |
| Dow CityCity | 14 mi | 0.3 |
| Buck GroveCity | 14 mi | 0.4 |
| IrwinCity | 15 mi | 0.6 |
| ArionCity | 15 mi | 0.5 |
| ShelbyCity | 16 mi | 2.1 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Panama, IA in?
- Panama is in Shelby County, Iowa.
- What is the population of Panama, IA?
- About 245 people live in Panama, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Panama?
- Nearby places include Westphalia (4.4 mi), Earling (4.7 mi), Portsmouth (5.9 mi), Harlan (9.2 mi), Tennant (9.5 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023