Education in Ngabe Bugle, Panama: official figures
19.4% of people aged 10 and over in Ngabe Bugle could not read and write at the 2023 census (28,316 people), against 3.7% nationally and 2nd highest of 13 provinces and comarcas.
Is illiteracy falling in Ngabe Bugle?
Illiteracy in Ngabe Bugle fell from 45.9% in 2000 to 30.8% in 2010 and 19.4% in 2023, a drop of 11.4 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 Ngabe Bugle?
The number of people aged 10 and over who cannot read and write in Ngabe Bugle fell from 30,864 in 2010 to 28,316 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 Ngabe Bugle?
55.0% of people aged 5 to 39 in Ngabe Bugle were attending school or university at the 2023 census (75,931 of 138,165), against 50.4% nationally (the 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 Ngabe Bugle?
School attendance among people aged 5 to 39 in Ngabe Bugle fell from 55.3% in 2010 to 55.0% in 2023 (-0.3 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 Ngabe Bugle?
7.7% of everyone in Panama aged 5 to 39 who attends school lives in Ngabe Bugle (75,931 of 980,233), against its 6.9% 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 Ngabe Bugle compare with the rest of Panama?
Illiteracy in Ngabe Bugle stood at 19.4% in 2023, 15.7 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 Ngabe Bugle compares with other provinces
Illiteracy rate, ages 10+ (2023 census)
Ngabe Bugle ranks 2 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)
Ngabe Bugle ranks 1 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)
Ngabe Bugle ranks 1 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 Ngabe Bugle: 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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