Education in Chiriqui, Panama: official figures
4.0% of people aged 10 and over in Chiriqui could not read and write at the 2023 census (15,981 people), against 3.7% nationally and 5th lowest of 13 provinces and comarcas.
Is illiteracy falling in Chiriqui?
Illiteracy in Chiriqui fell from 7.7% in 2000 to 5.9% in 2010 and 4.0% in 2023, a drop of 1.9 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 Chiriqui?
The number of people aged 10 and over who cannot read and write in Chiriqui fell from 19,919 in 2010 to 15,981 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 Chiriqui?
50.9% of people aged 5 to 39 in Chiriqui were attending school or university at the 2023 census (127,586 of 250,577), against 50.4% nationally (6th lowest 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 Chiriqui?
School attendance among people aged 5 to 39 in Chiriqui fell from 51.1% in 2010 to 50.9% in 2023 (-0.2 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 Chiriqui?
13.0% of everyone in Panama aged 5 to 39 who attends school lives in Chiriqui (127,586 of 980,233), against its 12.5% 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 Chiriqui compare with the rest of Panama?
Illiteracy in Chiriqui stood at 4.0% in 2023, 0.3 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 Chiriqui compares with other provinces
Illiteracy rate, ages 10+ (2023 census)
Chiriqui ranks 9 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Illiteracy rate, ages 10+ |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Veraguas | 6.9% |
| 7 | Herrera | 4.2% |
| 8 | Los Santos | 4.2% |
| 9 | Chiriqui | 4.0% |
| 10 | Cocle | 2.5% |
| 11 | Colon | 1.9% |
| 12 | Panama | 1.4% |
Share of ages 5-39 attending school (2023 census)
Chiriqui ranks 8 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of ages 5-39 attending school |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Bocas Del Toro | 52.3% |
| 6 | Darien | 51.5% |
| 7 | Herrera | 51.0% |
| 8 | Chiriqui | 50.9% |
| 9 | Kuna Yala | 50.7% |
| 10 | Los Santos | 50.0% |
| 11 | Panama | 48.6% |
Fall in illiteracy since 2010 (points; Panama excluded, boundary change) (2010-2023)
Chiriqui ranks 10 of 11, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Fall in illiteracy since 2010 (points; Panama excluded, boundary change) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 10 | Chiriqui | 1.9 pts |
| 11 | Colon | 0.6 pts |
More on Chiriqui: 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.