Athletics at the 1979 Pan American Games Medal table Medal table

| Rank_ | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | 25 | 16 | 11 | 52 |
| 2 | Cuba | 6 | 10 | 9 | 25 |
| 3 | Canada | 3 | 3 | 12 | 18 |
| 4 | Mexico | 3 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
| 5 | Brazil | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| 6 | Jamaica | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 7 | Guyana | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 8 | Argentina | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | Bahamas | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | Colombia | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | U.S. Virgin Islands | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |