Share of population with no formal education in Panama

Panama: Share of population with no formal education was 4.1% in 2020. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2020)
4.1%
World rank
49th
of 111 countries
All-time high
97.8%
in 1870
All-time low
4.1%
in 2020
Years of data
31
1870–2020

Share of population with no formal education in Panama, 1870–2020

0204060801001870194520201870: 97.8 %1875: 97.3 %1880: 96.6 %1885: 95.7 %1890: 94.5 %1895: 93.2 %1900: 81 %1905: 76.7 %1910: 68.5 %1915: 63.5 %1920: 59.7 %1925: 56 %1930: 50 %1935: 42.2 %1940: 37.7 %1945: 34.2 %1950: 31.2 %1955: 26.6 %1960: 21.6 %1965: 20 %1970: 18.9 %1975: 15.2 %1980: 12.1 %1985: 9.5 %1990: 7.8 %1995: 6.8 %2000: 5.7 %2005: 5.4 %2010: 5.2 %2015: 4.5 %2020: 4.1 %

Source: Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for share of population with no formal education in Panama is 4.1%, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 31 years on record.

That represents a change of down 21.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of population with no formal education in Panama peaked at 97.8% in 1870 and was at its lowest, 4.1%, in 2020.

That places Panama 49th out of 111 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Share of population with no formal education in Panama, year by year

Annual values for Share of population with no formal education in Panama, 1870 to 2020.
Year % Change
1870 97.8%
1875 97.3% -0.5%
1880 96.6% -0.7%
1885 95.7% -0.9%
1890 94.5% -1.3%
1895 93.2% -1.4%
1900 81.0% -13.1%
1905 76.7% -5.3%
1910 68.5% -10.7%
1915 63.5% -7.3%
1920 59.7% -6.0%
1925 56.0% -6.2%
1930 50.0% -10.7%
1935 42.2% -15.6%
1940 37.7% -10.7%
1945 34.2% -9.3%
1950 31.2% -8.8%
1955 26.6% -14.7%
1960 21.6% -18.8%
1965 20.0% -7.4%
1970 18.9% -5.5%
1975 15.2% -19.6%
1980 12.1% -20.4%
1985 9.5% -21.5%
1990 7.8% -17.9%
1995 6.8% -12.8%
2000 5.7% -16.2%
2005 5.4% -5.3%
2010 5.2% -3.7%
2015 4.5% -13.5%
2020 4.1% -8.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1870s 97.5% 97.3% 97.8% 2
1880s 96.2% 95.7% 96.6% 2
1890s 93.8% 93.2% 94.5% 2
1900s 78.8% 76.7% 81.0% 2
1910s 66.0% 63.5% 68.5% 2
1920s 57.9% 56.0% 59.7% 2
1930s 46.1% 42.2% 50.0% 2
1940s 36.0% 34.2% 37.7% 2
1950s 28.9% 26.6% 31.2% 2
1960s 20.8% 20.0% 21.6% 2
1970s 17.0% 15.2% 18.9% 2
1980s 10.8% 9.5% 12.1% 2
1990s 7.3% 6.8% 7.8% 2
2000s 5.6% 5.4% 5.7% 2
2010s 4.8% 4.5% 5.2% 2
2020s 4.1% 4.1% 4.1% 1

Countries ranked near Panama

  1. 46 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 4.9% compare
  2. 47 Dominican Republic 4.3% compare
  3. 48 Brazil 4.2% compare
  4. 50 Türkiye 3.7% compare
  5. 51 Denmark 3.3% compare
  6. 51 Mexico 3.3% compare

See the full ranking of 111 places →

More education data for Panama

All data for Panama →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of population with no formal education in Panama?
Share of population with no formal education in Panama was 4.1% in 2020, according to Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest share of population with no formal education recorded in Panama?
The highest recorded value was 97.8% in 1870.
What is the lowest share of population with no formal education recorded in Panama?
The lowest recorded value was 4.1% in 2020.
How does Panama rank for share of population with no formal education?
Panama ranks 49th out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
Is share of population with no formal education rising or falling in Panama?
Over the last ten years it is down 21.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Panama data come from?
The figures come from Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population with no formal education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Share of population with no formal education in Panama. Statizoid, drawing on Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 31 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/share-of-population-15-years-and-older-with-no-education/panama/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of population with no formal education
Unit
%
Source
Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
111 places, 3,441 data points, 1870–2020
Last refreshed

The share of adults aged between 15 and 64 years old with no formal education.