Poverty and living standards in Chiriqui, Panama: official figures
19.9% of people in Chiriqui lived in general poverty in 2025, 2.0 pp lower than the national figure (21.9%) and 6th lowest of 13 provinces and comarcas, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
What is the extreme poverty rate in Chiriqui?
Extreme poverty affected 7.1% of people in Chiriqui in 2025, against 10.0% nationally (6th lowest of 13 provinces and comarcas).
Source: Ministerio de Economia y Finanzas (MEF), Direccion de Analisis Economico y Social, con base en la Encuesta de Hogares del INEC · saved copyIs poverty falling in Chiriqui?
General poverty in Chiriqui fell from 21.4% in 2024 to 19.9% in 2025 (-1.5 points); the national rate went from 22.9% to 21.9%.
Source: Ministerio de Economia y Finanzas (MEF), Direccion de Analisis Economico y Social, con base en la Encuesta de Hogares del INEC · saved copyIs extreme poverty falling in Chiriqui?
Extreme poverty in Chiriqui fell from 7.7% in 2024 to 7.1% in 2025 (-0.6 points), while the national rate went from 10.3% to 10.0%.
Source: Ministerio de Economia y Finanzas (MEF), Direccion de Analisis Economico y Social, con base en la Encuesta de Hogares del INEC · saved copyHow many of the poor in Chiriqui are in extreme poverty?
Of every 100 people in general poverty in Chiriqui in 2025, about 36 were in extreme poverty (nationally about 46).
Source: Ministerio de Economia y Finanzas (MEF), Direccion de Analisis Economico y Social, con base en la Encuesta de Hogares del INEC · saved copyHow does poverty in Chiriqui compare with the rest of Panama?
The general poverty rate in Chiriqui was 0.9 times the national rate in 2025 (19.9% against 21.9%).
Source: Ministerio de Economia y Finanzas (MEF), Direccion de Analisis Economico y Social, con base en la Encuesta de Hogares del INEC · saved copyHow Chiriqui compares with other provinces
General poverty rate (2025)
Chiriqui ranks 8 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | General poverty rate |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Darien | 32.8% |
| 6 | Veraguas | 29.6% |
| 7 | Cocle | 25.1% |
| 8 | Chiriqui | 19.9% |
| 9 | Colon | 16.2% |
| 10 | Panama | 14.7% |
| 11 | Herrera | 13.7% |
Extreme poverty rate (2025)
Chiriqui ranks 8 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Extreme poverty rate |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Darien | 13.6% |
| 6 | Veraguas | 13.6% |
| 7 | Cocle | 10.3% |
| 8 | Chiriqui | 7.1% |
| 9 | Colon | 6.0% |
| 10 | Panama | 4.4% |
| 11 | Herrera | 3.3% |
Change in general poverty rate, 2024 to 2025 (points) (2024-2025)
Chiriqui ranks 8 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Change in general poverty rate, 2024 to 2025 (points) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Veraguas | -0.7 pts |
| 6 | Embera | -0.8 pts |
| 7 | Colon | -0.9 pts |
| 8 | Chiriqui | -1.5 pts |
| 9 | Darien | -1.9 pts |
| 10 | Kuna Yala | -2.1 pts |
| 11 | Herrera | -2.1 pts |
More on Chiriqui: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · Panama
Sources
- Ministerio de Economia y Finanzas (MEF), Direccion de Analisis Economico y Social, con base en la Encuesta de Hogares del INEC: Pobreza e Indigencia, Ano 2025 (Cuadro 4: porcentaje de personas en pobreza segun provincias y comarcas indigenas, 2024 y 2025), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 da3b189a8b36…)
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