Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Panama

Panama: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes was 96.3% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
96.3%
World rank
30th
of 83 countries
All-time high
96.3%
in 2018
All-time low
84.9%
in 1980
Years of data
5
1980–2018

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Panama, 1980–2018

0204060801001980199920181980: 84.9 %1990: 88 %2000: 92.4 %2010: 94.9 %2018: 96.3 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Panama is 96.3%, measured in 2018. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.

The figure is up 1.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Panama peaked at 96.3% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 84.9%, in 1980.

Panama ranks 30th of 83 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 84.9% 84.9% 84.9% 1
1990s 88.0% 88.0% 88.0% 1
2000s 92.4% 92.4% 92.4% 1
2010s 95.6% 94.9% 96.3% 2

Countries ranked near Panama

  1. 27 Indonesia 96.8% compare
  2. 28 Malaysia 96.6% compare
  3. 29 Mexico 96.5% compare
  4. 31 Kuwait 96.3% compare
  5. 32 Saudi Arabia 96.2% compare
  6. 33 Oman 96.0% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for Panama

All data for Panama →

Frequently asked questions

What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Panama?
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Panama was 96.3% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Panama?
The highest recorded value was 96.3% in 2018.
What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Panama?
The lowest recorded value was 84.9% in 1980.
How does Panama rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
Panama ranks 30th out of 83 countries with data for 2018.
Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in Panama?
Over the last ten years it is up 1.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Panama data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Panama. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 20 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/literacy-rate-population-25-64-years-both-sexes-percent/panama/

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About this data

Indicator
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
122 places, 2,220 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Percentage of the population between age 25 and age 64 who can, with understanding, read and write a short, simple statement on their everyday life. Generally, ‘literacy’ also encompasses ‘numeracy’, the ability to make simple arithmetic calculations. This indicator is calculated by dividing the number of literates aged 25-64 years by the corresponding age group population and multiplying the result by 100.