The ”’Indigenous peoples of Panama”’, also known as Native Panamanians, are the original inhabitants of Panama, are the [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native peoples]] whose history in the territory of today’s [[Panama]] predates Spanish colonization. As of the 2023 census, Indigenous peoples constitute 17.2% of Panama’s population of 4.5 million, totaling just over 698,000 individuals. There are 7 indigenous peoples.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Panama – IWGIA – International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs |url=https://iwgia.org/en/panama.html |access-date=2025-08-22 |website=iwgia.org}}</ref> The [[Ngäbe]] and [[Bokota people|Bokota]] comprise half of the Indigenous peoples of Panama.<ref name=ip>[http://www.panama-experts.com/indigenous.html “Panama History: Indigenous People.”] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125045628/http://www.panama-experts.com/indigenous.html |date=2010-11-25 }} ”Panama Experts.” (retrieved 23 Feb 2011)</ref>
The ”’Indigenous peoples of Panama”’, also known as Native Panamanians, are the original inhabitants of Panama, are the [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native peoples]] whose history in the territory of today’s [[Panama]] predates Spanish colonization. As of the 2023 census, Indigenous peoples constitute 17.2% of Panama’s population of 4.5 million, totaling just over 698,000 individuals. There are 7 indigenous peoples.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Panama – IWGIA – International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs |url=https://iwgia.org/en/panama.html |access-date=2025-08-22 |website=iwgia.org}}</ref> The [[Ngäbe]] and [[Bokota people|Bokota]] comprise half of the Indigenous peoples of Panama.<ref name=ip>[http://www.panama-experts.com/indigenous.html “Panama History: Indigenous People.”] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125045628/http://www.panama-experts.com/indigenous.html |date=2010-11-25 }} ”Panama Experts.” (retrieved 23 Feb 2011)</ref>
Many of the Indigenous Peoples live on ”[[comarca indígena]]s”,<ref name=iwgia>[http://www.iwgia.org/sw32477.asp “Indigenous Peoples in Panama.”] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110302230553/http://www.iwgia.org/sw32477.asp |date=2011-03-02 }} ”International Work Group for Indian Affairs.” (retrieved 23 Feb 2011)</ref> which are administrative regions for areas with substantial [[Amerindian|Indigenous]] populations. Three ”comarcas” ([[Comarca Emberá-Wounaan]], [[Guna Yala]], [[Ngäbe-Buglé]]) exist as equivalent to a province, with two smaller ”comarcas” ([[Guna de Madugandí]] and [[Guna de Wargandí]]) subordinate to a province and considered equivalent to a ”[[corregimiento]]” (municipality).
Many of the Indigenous Peoples live on ”[[ ]]”,<ref name=iwgia>[http://www.iwgia.org/sw32477.asp “Indigenous Peoples in Panama.”] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110302230553/http://www.iwgia.org/sw32477.asp |date=2011-03-02 }} ”International Work Group for Indian Affairs.” (retrieved 23 Feb 2011)</ref> which are administrative regions for areas with substantial [[Amerindian|Indigenous]] populations. Three ”comarcas” ([[Comarca Emberá-Wounaan]], [[Guna Yala]], [[Ngäbe-Buglé]]) exist as equivalent to a province, with two smaller ”comarcas” ([[Guna de Madugandí]] and [[Guna de Wargandí]]) subordinate to a province and considered equivalent to a ”[[corregimiento]]” (municipality).
They still face challenges, including land usage rights, eviction, poverty, and lack access to things like employment, education, and healthcare.
They still face challenges, including land usage rights, eviction, poverty, and lack access to things like employment, education, and healthcare.
The Indigenous peoples of Panama, also known as Native Panamanians, are the original inhabitants of Panama, are the Native peoples whose history in the territory of today’s Panama predates Spanish colonization. As of the 2023 census, Indigenous peoples constitute 17.2% of Panama’s population of 4.5 million, totaling just over 698,000 individuals. There are 7 indigenous peoples.[1] The Ngäbe and Bokota comprise half of the Indigenous peoples of Panama.[2]
Many of the Indigenous Peoples live on comarcas indígenas,[3] which are administrative regions for areas with substantial Indigenous populations. Three comarcas (Comarca Emberá-Wounaan, Guna Yala, Ngäbe-Buglé) exist as equivalent to a province, with two smaller comarcas (Guna de Madugandí and Guna de Wargandí) subordinate to a province and considered equivalent to a corregimiento (municipality).
They still face challenges, including land usage rights, eviction, poverty, and lack access to things like employment, education, and healthcare.
| Ethnic group |
Census 1990 | Census 2000 | Census 2010 | Census 2023 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
| Ngäbe (Guaymi) | 123,626 | 63.6 | 169,130 | 59.3 | 260,058 | 62.3 | 444,878 | 63.7 |
| Buglé (Bokota) | 3,784 | 1.9 | 18,724 | 6.6 | 26,871 | 6.4 | 24,488 | 3.5 |
| Guna | 47,298 | 24.3 | 61,707 | 21.6 | 80,526 | 19.3 | 112,319 | 16.1 |
| Emberá | 14,659 | 7.5 | 22,485 | 7.9 | 31,284 | 7.5 | 51,657 | 7.4 |
| Wounaan | 2,605 | 1.3 | 6,882 | 2.4 | 7,279 | 1.7 | 10,634 | 1.5 |
| Teribe/Naso | 2,194 | 1.1 | 3,305 | 1.2 | 4,046 | 1.0 | 6,899 | 1.0 |
| Bribri | 2,521 | 0.9 | 1,068 | 0.3 | 799 | 0.1 | ||
| Other | 103 | 0.1 | 460 | 0.1 | 45,498 | 6.5 | ||
| Not declared | 477 | 0.2 | 5,967 | 1.4 | 975 | 0.1 | ||
Some native peoples speak Spanish, while many more retain their traditional languages. According to the 2000 census, the following Indigenous languages are spoken in Panama:
