Education in Darien, Panama: official figures
9.8% of people aged 10 and over in Darien could not read and write at the 2023 census (4,132 people), against 3.7% nationally and 4th highest of 13 provinces and comarcas.
Is illiteracy falling in Darien?
Illiteracy in Darien fell from 23.0% in 2000 to 15.9% in 2010 and 9.8% in 2023, a drop of 6.1 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 Darien?
The number of people aged 10 and over who cannot read and write in Darien fell from 5,799 in 2010 to 4,132 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 Darien?
51.5% of people aged 5 to 39 in Darien were attending school or university at the 2023 census (16,610 of 32,254), against 50.4% nationally (6th 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 Darien?
School attendance among people aged 5 to 39 in Darien rose from 50.0% in 2010 to 51.5% in 2023 (+1.5 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 Darien?
1.7% of everyone in Panama aged 5 to 39 who attends school lives in Darien (16,610 of 980,233), against its 1.6% 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 Darien compare with the rest of Panama?
Illiteracy in Darien stood at 9.8% in 2023, 6.1 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 Darien compares with other provinces
Illiteracy rate, ages 10+ (2023 census)
Darien ranks 4 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Illiteracy rate, ages 10+ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kuna Yala | 19.8% |
| 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% |
Share of ages 5-39 attending school (2023 census)
Darien ranks 6 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of ages 5-39 attending school |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 9 | Kuna Yala | 50.7% |
Fall in illiteracy since 2010 (points; Panama excluded, boundary change) (2010-2023)
Darien ranks 4 of 11, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Fall in illiteracy since 2010 (points; Panama excluded, boundary change) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ngabe Bugle | 11.4 pts |
| 2 | Embera | 9.0 pts |
| 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 |
More on Darien: 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.