Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Panama
Panama: Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes was 7.7% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Panama, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
Panama recorded 7.7% for out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 13.5% on the previous year and down 3.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Panama peaked at 24.9% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 2006.
That places Panama 63rd out of 203 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Panama, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 24.9% | — |
| 1971 | 17.1% | -31.3% |
| 1972 | 14.9% | -13.2% |
| 1973 | 13.1% | -12.1% |
| 1975 | 11.6% | -11.2% |
| 1976 | 11.8% | +1.9% |
| 1978 | 9.3% | -21.7% |
| 1979 | 10.3% | +11.6% |
| 1980 | 11.0% | +6.3% |
| 1981 | 11.9% | +8.0% |
| 1982 | 12.4% | +4.6% |
| 1983 | 13.1% | +5.9% |
| 1984 | 13.0% | -1.1% |
| 1985 | 12.2% | -6.4% |
| 1986 | 12.1% | -0.7% |
| 1987 | 11.3% | -6.2% |
| 1988 | 12.5% | +10.5% |
| 1989 | 11.6% | -7.3% |
| 1990 | 12.2% | +5.4% |
| 1999 | 6.8% | -44.1% |
| 2000 | 5.5% | -18.9% |
| 2001 | 4.0% | -28.2% |
| 2002 | 1.6% | -58.8% |
| 2004 | 0.1% | -92.6% |
| 2005 | 0.5% | +316.0% |
| 2006 | 0.1% | -87.9% |
| 2007 | 0.1% | +58.0% |
| 2008 | 0.5% | +452.1% |
| 2009 | 3.3% | +516.4% |
| 2010 | 2.9% | -11.9% |
| 2011 | 4.1% | +42.6% |
| 2012 | 4.9% | +20.1% |
| 2013 | 5.9% | +19.3% |
| 2014 | 7.9% | +35.1% |
| 2015 | 10.1% | +27.0% |
| 2017 | 12.7% | +25.6% |
| 2019 | 12.1% | -4.7% |
| 2020 | 9.8% | -18.9% |
| 2021 | 3.5% | -64.7% |
| 2022 | 3.0% | -12.1% |
| 2023 | 8.9% | +192.6% |
| 2024 | 7.7% | -13.5% |
Panama compared with similar countries
- Panama's 7.7% is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.8%, 4.2× the median. (74 countries reporting)
- Panama's 7.7% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 5.1%, 1.5× the median. (38 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Panama changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | +516.4% | 0.5% | 3.3% |
| 2008 | +452.1% | 0.1% | 0.5% |
| 2005 | +316.0% | 0.1% | 0.5% |
| 2023 | +192.6% | 3.0% | 8.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 14.1% | 9.3% | 24.9% | 8 |
| 1980s | 12.1% | 11.0% | 13.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.5% | 6.8% | 12.2% | 2 |
| 2000s | 1.7% | 0.1% | 5.5% | 9 |
| 2010s | 7.6% | 2.9% | 12.7% | 8 |
| 2020s | 6.6% | 3.0% | 9.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Panama
- 60 Martinique 8.5% compare
- 61 Guatemala 8.4% compare
- 62 Kazakhstan 7.9% compare
- 64 Kuwait 7.5% compare
- 65 New Caledonia 7.4% compare
- 66 Colombia 7.3% compare
More education data for Panama
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 23,777 (2017)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 10,042 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 47,857 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 46,052 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 311,983 (2017)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 451,308 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.02 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0999 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Panama?
- Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in Panama was 7.7% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes recorded in Panama?
- The highest recorded value was 24.9% in 1970.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes recorded in Panama?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 2006.
- How does Panama rank for out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes?
- Panama ranks 63rd out of 203 countries with data for 2024.
- Is out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes rising or falling in Panama?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Panama data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release