Indigenous peoples of Panama

The Indigenous peoples of Panama are the native peoples of Panama. According to the 2000 census, there are 285,231 indigenous peoples living in Panama,^[1] and they make up almost 5% of the overall population. The Guaymí and Ngöbe-Buglé comprise half of the indigenous peoples of Panama.^[2]

Many of the tribes live on comarca indígenas,^[1] which are administrative regions for an area with a substantial Indian populations. Three comarcas (Comarca Emberá-Wounaan, Kuna Yala, Ngöbe-Buglé) exist as equivalent to a province, with two smaller comarcas (Kuna de Madugandí and Kuna de Wargandí) subordinate to a province and considered equivalent to a corregimiento (municipality).

Indigenous groups

• Bokota, Bocas Del Toro
• Embera-Wounaan, southeastern Darién Province
• Guaymí (including the Movere and Murire peoples), mainly Chiriqui Province
• Kuna, Darién Province and Caribbean side.
• Ngöbe-Buglé, mainly Chiriqui Province
• Talamanca
• Teribe^[2]

Languages

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:

• Bokota language: 933 speakers (in Panama)
• Bri-bri language: 2,521 speakers
• Buglé language: 17,731 speakers
• Emberá language: 22,485 speakers
• Kuna language: 61,707 speakers
• Naso-Teribe language: 3,305 speakers
• Ngöbe language: 169,130 speakers
• Wounaan language: 6,882 speakers^[1]

Notes

External links

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