Education in Los Santos, Panama: official figures
4.2% of people aged 10 and over in Los Santos could not read and write at the 2023 census (3,655 people), against 3.7% nationally and joint 7th highest of 13 provinces and comarcas.
Is illiteracy falling in Los Santos?
Illiteracy in Los Santos fell from 10.7% in 2000 to 6.8% in 2010 and 4.2% in 2023, a drop of 2.6 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 Los Santos?
The number of people aged 10 and over who cannot read and write in Los Santos fell from 5,252 in 2010 to 3,655 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 Los Santos?
50.0% of people aged 5 to 39 in Los Santos were attending school or university at the 2023 census (22,116 of 44,210), against 50.4% nationally (3rd lowest 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 Los Santos?
School attendance among people aged 5 to 39 in Los Santos rose from 49.0% in 2010 to 50.0% in 2023 (+1.0 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 Los Santos?
2.3% of everyone in Panama aged 5 to 39 who attends school lives in Los Santos (22,116 of 980,233), against its 2.2% 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 Los Santos compare with the rest of Panama?
Illiteracy in Los Santos stood at 4.2% in 2023, 0.5 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 Los Santos compares with other provinces
Illiteracy rate, ages 10+ (2023 census)
Los Santos ranks 8 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Illiteracy rate, ages 10+ |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Bocas Del Toro | 8.2% |
| 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% |
Share of ages 5-39 attending school (2023 census)
Los Santos ranks 10 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of ages 5-39 attending school |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Darien | 51.5% |
| 7 | Herrera | 51.0% |
| 8 | Chiriqui | 50.9% |
| 9 | Kuna Yala | 50.7% |
| 10 | Los Santos | 50.0% |
| 11 | Panama | 48.6% |
| 12 | Cocle | 48.3% |
Fall in illiteracy since 2010 (points; Panama excluded, boundary change) (2010-2023)
Los Santos ranks 8 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 Los Santos: 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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