Panama Homicides Rise 8% in First Half of 2026 Amid Gang Violence

Homicide cases in Panama increased by 8% in the January‑June 2026 period, reaching 300 incidents compared with 279 in the same span of 2025. The province of Panama, which includes the capital, recorded the highest number with 133 killings, a 7% rise, followed by the San Miguelito district (54 deaths, up 4%). Chiriquí Province saw the sharpest growth, jumping 240% to 17 cases.

Men accounted for 93% of victims, most aged 18‑39, and 85% of the murders involved firearms. Authorities link the surge to gang rivalries over territorial control, noting the existence of 121 identified gangs, including major groups such as Bagdad, Calor Calor, Roca, RG 4L, Killa, Mafia Filipina, HP (Manzana Cere), and Sinaloa. A high‑profile incident on 17 June involved the killing of a 10‑year‑old girl outside her school during an attack aimed at her stepfather.

In early June, Panama also experienced a historic prison break in which 195 inmates escaped from a facility near the capital; most were later recaptured.