Education in Veraguas, Panama: official figures
6.9% of people aged 10 and over in Veraguas could not read and write at the 2023 census (15,131 people), against 3.7% nationally and 6th highest of 13 provinces and comarcas.
Is illiteracy falling in Veraguas?
Illiteracy in Veraguas fell from 15.2% in 2000 to 10.9% in 2010 and 6.9% in 2023, a drop of 4.0 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 Veraguas?
The number of people aged 10 and over who cannot read and write in Veraguas fell from 19,994 in 2010 to 15,131 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 Veraguas?
52.7% of people aged 5 to 39 in Veraguas were attending school or university at the 2023 census (72,892 of 138,232), against 50.4% nationally (4th 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 Veraguas?
School attendance among people aged 5 to 39 in Veraguas fell from 52.9% in 2010 to 52.7% in 2023 (-0.2 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 Veraguas?
7.4% of everyone in Panama aged 5 to 39 who attends school lives in Veraguas (72,892 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 Veraguas compare with the rest of Panama?
Illiteracy in Veraguas stood at 6.9% in 2023, 3.2 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 Veraguas compares with other provinces
Illiteracy rate, ages 10+ (2023 census)
Veraguas ranks 6 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Illiteracy rate, ages 10+ |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Embera | 13.9% |
| 4 | Darien | 9.8% |
| 5 | Bocas Del Toro | 8.2% |
| 6 | Veraguas | 6.9% |
| 7 | Herrera | 4.2% |
| 8 | Los Santos | 4.2% |
| 9 | Chiriqui | 4.0% |
Share of ages 5-39 attending school (2023 census)
Veraguas ranks 4 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)
Veraguas ranks 5 of 11, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Fall in illiteracy since 2010 (points; Panama excluded, boundary change) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 8 | Los Santos | 2.6 pts |
More on Veraguas: 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.