Education in Embera, Panama: official figures
13.9% of people aged 10 and over in Embera could not read and write at the 2023 census (1,242 people), against 3.7% nationally and 3rd highest of 13 provinces and comarcas.
Is illiteracy falling in Embera?
Illiteracy in Embera fell from 34.5% in 2000 to 22.9% in 2010 and 13.9% in 2023, a drop of 9.0 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 Embera?
The number of people aged 10 and over who cannot read and write in Embera fell from 1,603 in 2010 to 1,242 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 Embera?
54.0% of people aged 5 to 39 in Embera were attending school or university at the 2023 census (4,067 of 7,533), against 50.4% nationally (2nd 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 Embera?
School attendance among people aged 5 to 39 in Embera fell from 55.2% in 2010 to 54.0% in 2023 (-1.2 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 Embera?
0.4% of everyone in Panama aged 5 to 39 who attends school lives in Embera (4,067 of 980,233), against its 0.4% 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 Embera compare with the rest of Panama?
Illiteracy in Embera stood at 13.9% in 2023, 10.2 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 Embera compares with other provinces
Illiteracy rate, ages 10+ (2023 census)
Embera ranks 3 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)
Embera ranks 2 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)
Embera ranks 2 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 Embera: 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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