The World Bank Group has approved up to $60 million in financing to support Panama in modernizing its cadastral system, aiming to improve land administration, strengthen property services, and create a more attractive investment environment. The Panama Cadaster Transformation Program for Results will develop a modern, integrated digital cadaster system that consolidates land and property information into a unified platform accessible to citizens, municipalities, and public institutions.
Currently, cadastral coverage in Panama remains limited and outdated, with only about 36 percent of the national territory mapped and just 19 percent of properties formally titled, mostly in urban areas. The project will expand access to reliable land information, reduce processing times for property transactions, and improve legal certainty over land ownership, thereby supporting more productive land use and better access to credit.
The initiative is also expected to generate around 1,200 direct jobs during implementation, while indirectly benefiting private sector activity and landowners through improved investment conditions and territorial planning. It will be implemented by the National Land Administration Authority (ANATI) using a results-based financing model, with disbursements linked to measurable improvements such as faster services and expanded access to up-to-date cadastral data.
