Poverty and living standards in Darien, Panama: official figures
32.8% of people in Darien lived in general poverty in 2025, 10.9 pp higher than the national figure (21.9%) and 5th highest of 13 provinces and comarcas, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
What is the extreme poverty rate in Darien?
Extreme poverty affected 13.6% of people in Darien in 2025, against 10.0% nationally (joint 5th highest 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 Darien?
General poverty in Darien fell from 34.7% in 2024 to 32.8% in 2025 (-1.9 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 Darien?
Extreme poverty in Darien fell from 16.1% in 2024 to 13.6% in 2025 (-2.5 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 Darien are in extreme poverty?
Of every 100 people in general poverty in Darien in 2025, about 41 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 Darien compare with the rest of Panama?
The general poverty rate in Darien was 1.5 times the national rate in 2025 (32.8% 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 Darien compares with other provinces
General poverty rate (2025)
Darien ranks 5 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | General poverty rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Kuna Yala | 74.0% |
| 3 | Embera | 64.3% |
| 4 | Bocas Del Toro | 38.9% |
| 5 | Darien | 32.8% |
| 6 | Veraguas | 29.6% |
| 7 | Cocle | 25.1% |
| 8 | Chiriqui | 19.9% |
Extreme poverty rate (2025)
Darien ranks 5 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Extreme poverty rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Kuna Yala | 47.4% |
| 3 | Embera | 31.0% |
| 4 | Bocas Del Toro | 19.4% |
| 5 | Darien | 13.6% |
| 6 | Veraguas | 13.6% |
| 7 | Cocle | 10.3% |
| 8 | Chiriqui | 7.1% |
Change in general poverty rate, 2024 to 2025 (points) (2024-2025)
Darien ranks 9 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Change in general poverty rate, 2024 to 2025 (points) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 12 | Cocle | -2.9 pts |
More on Darien: 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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