TheIndigenous peoples of Panama, also known as Native Panamanians, are the original inhabitants of Panama, are theNative peoples whose history in the territory of today'sPanama 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] TheNgäbe andBokota comprise half of the Indigenous peoples of Panama.^[2]

Many of the Indigenous Peoples live oncomarcas indígenas,^[3] which are administrative regions for areas with substantialIndigenous populations. Threecomarcas (Comarca Emberá-Wounaan,Guna Yala,Ngäbe-Buglé) exist as equivalent to a province, with two smallercomarcas (Guna de Madugandí andGuna de Wargandí) subordinate to a province and considered equivalent to acorregimiento (municipality).

They still face challenges, including land usage rights, eviction, poverty, and lack access to things like employment, education, and healthcare.

• Bokota,Bocas Del Toro
• Embera, southeasternDarién Province
• Ngäbe (including theMovere andMurire peoples), mainlyChiriquí Province
• Guna,Darién Province andCaribbean side.
• Buglé, mainlyChiriquí Province
• Talamanca
• Teribe^[2]
• Wounaan, southeasternDarién Province
• Emberá-Wounaan, mainlyEmberá-Wounaan Comarca
• Bribri

Some native peoples speakSpanish, while many more retain their traditional languages. According to the 2000 census, the followingIndigenous languages are spoken in Panama:

• Bokota language: 933 speakers (in Panama)
• Bri-bri language: 2,521 speakers
• Buglé language: 17,731 speakers
• Emberá language: 22,485 speakers
• Guna Language: 61,707 speakers
• Naso-Teribe language: 3,305 speakers
• Ngöbe language: 169,130 speakers
• Wounaan language: 6,882 speakers^[3]

• Indigenous peoples

Wikimedia Commons has media related toIndigenous peoples of Panama.

• Distribution of Indigenous Populations in Panama by Province and Comarca, 2000

• Indigenous peoples in Panama
• Indigenous peoples of Central America
• Ethnic groups in Panama

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