Poverty and living standards in Kuna Yala, Panama: official figures
74.0% of people in Kuna Yala lived in general poverty in 2025, 52.1 pp higher than the national figure (21.9%) and 2nd highest of 13 provinces and comarcas, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
What is the extreme poverty rate in Kuna Yala?
Extreme poverty affected 47.4% of people in Kuna Yala in 2025, against 10.0% nationally (2nd 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 Kuna Yala?
General poverty in Kuna Yala fell from 76.1% in 2024 to 74.0% in 2025 (-2.1 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 Kuna Yala?
Extreme poverty in Kuna Yala fell from 50.3% in 2024 to 47.4% in 2025 (-2.9 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 Kuna Yala are in extreme poverty?
Of every 100 people in general poverty in Kuna Yala in 2025, about 64 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 Kuna Yala compare with the rest of Panama?
The general poverty rate in Kuna Yala was 3.4 times the national rate in 2025 (74.0% 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 Kuna Yala compares with other provinces
General poverty rate (2025)
Kuna Yala ranks 2 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | General poverty rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ngabe Bugle | 84.4% |
| 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% |
Extreme poverty rate (2025)
Kuna Yala ranks 2 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Extreme poverty rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ngabe Bugle | 64.5% |
| 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% |
Change in general poverty rate, 2024 to 2025 (points) (2024-2025)
Kuna Yala ranks 10 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 Kuna Yala: 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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