Education in Colon, Panama: official figures
1.9% of people aged 10 and over in Colon could not read and write at the 2023 census (4,382 people), against 3.7% nationally and 3rd lowest of 13 provinces and comarcas.
Is illiteracy falling in Colon?
Illiteracy in Colon fell from 3.7% in 2000 to 2.5% in 2010 and 1.9% in 2023, a drop of 0.6 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 Colon?
The number of people aged 10 and over who cannot read and write in Colon fell from 4,781 in 2010 to 4,382 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 Colon?
52.9% of people aged 5 to 39 in Colon were attending school or university at the 2023 census (87,044 of 164,605), against 50.4% nationally (3rd 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 Colon?
School attendance among people aged 5 to 39 in Colon rose from 49.2% in 2010 to 52.9% in 2023 (+3.7 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 Colon?
8.9% of everyone in Panama aged 5 to 39 who attends school lives in Colon (87,044 of 980,233), against its 8.2% 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 Colon compare with the rest of Panama?
Illiteracy in Colon stood at 1.9% in 2023, 1.8 pp lower than the national figure (3.7%).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Censo (INEC), Contraloria General de la Republica de Panama · saved copyHow Colon compares with other provinces
Illiteracy rate, ages 10+ (2023 census)
Colon ranks 11 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)
Colon ranks 3 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of ages 5-39 attending school |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ngabe Bugle | 55.0% |
| 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% |
Fall in illiteracy since 2010 (points; Panama excluded, boundary change) (2010-2023)
Colon ranks 11 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 Colon: 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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