Education in Bocas Del Toro, Panama: official figures
8.2% of people aged 10 and over in Bocas Del Toro could not read and write at the 2023 census (9,668 people), against 3.7% nationally and 5th highest of 13 provinces and comarcas.
Is illiteracy falling in Bocas Del Toro?
Illiteracy in Bocas Del Toro fell from 16.9% in 2000 to 12.1% in 2010 and 8.2% in 2023, a drop of 3.9 points since 2010 (nationally 1.8 points).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Censo (INEC), Contraloria General de la Republica de Panama · saved copyHow many people cannot read in Bocas Del Toro?
The number of people aged 10 and over who cannot read and write in Bocas Del Toro fell from 10,794 in 2010 to 9,668 in 2023.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Censo (INEC), Contraloria General de la Republica de Panama · saved copyHow many young people go to school in Bocas Del Toro?
52.3% of people aged 5 to 39 in Bocas Del Toro were attending school or university at the 2023 census (52,953 of 101,215), against 50.4% nationally (5th highest of 13 provinces and comarcas).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Censo (INEC), Contraloria General de la Republica de Panama · saved copyIs school attendance rising in Bocas Del Toro?
School attendance among people aged 5 to 39 in Bocas Del Toro fell from 52.7% in 2010 to 52.3% in 2023 (-0.4 points); nationally it went from 49.0% to 50.4%.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Censo (INEC), Contraloria General de la Republica de Panama · saved copyHow many students are there in Bocas Del Toro?
5.4% of everyone in Panama aged 5 to 39 who attends school lives in Bocas Del Toro (52,953 of 980,233), against its 5.1% share of that age group.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Censo (INEC), Contraloria General de la Republica de Panama · saved copyHow does literacy in Bocas Del Toro compare with the rest of Panama?
Illiteracy in Bocas Del Toro stood at 8.2% in 2023, 4.5 pp higher than the national figure (3.7%).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Censo (INEC), Contraloria General de la Republica de Panama · saved copyHow Bocas Del Toro compares with other provinces
Illiteracy rate, ages 10+ (2023 census)
Bocas Del Toro ranks 5 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Illiteracy rate, ages 10+ |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Ngabe Bugle | 19.4% |
| 3 | Embera | 13.9% |
| 4 | Darien | 9.8% |
| 5 | Bocas Del Toro | 8.2% |
| 6 | Veraguas | 6.9% |
| 7 | Herrera | 4.2% |
| 8 | Los Santos | 4.2% |
Share of ages 5-39 attending school (2023 census)
Bocas Del Toro ranks 5 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of ages 5-39 attending school |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Embera | 54.0% |
| 3 | Colon | 52.9% |
| 4 | Veraguas | 52.7% |
| 5 | Bocas Del Toro | 52.3% |
| 6 | Darien | 51.5% |
| 7 | Herrera | 51.0% |
| 8 | Chiriqui | 50.9% |
Fall in illiteracy since 2010 (points; Panama excluded, boundary change) (2010-2023)
Bocas Del Toro ranks 6 of 11, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Fall in illiteracy since 2010 (points; Panama excluded, boundary change) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Kuna Yala | 8.5 pts |
| 4 | Darien | 6.1 pts |
| 5 | Veraguas | 4.0 pts |
| 6 | Bocas Del Toro | 3.9 pts |
| 7 | Herrera | 2.8 pts |
| 8 | Los Santos | 2.6 pts |
| 9 | Cocle | 2.2 pts |
More on Bocas Del Toro: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · Panama
Sources
- Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Censo (INEC), Contraloria General de la Republica de Panama: Censos 2000, 2010 y 2023, Cuadro 14: poblacion analfabeta de 10 y mas anos, segun provincia y comarca indigena, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 e852c84390e0…)
- Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Censo (INEC), Contraloria General de la Republica de Panama: Censos 2010 y 2023, Cuadro 15: poblacion de 5 a 39 anos por asistencia escolar, segun provincia y comarca indigena, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 eaa4b877fbbe…)
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