Panama City.- Panama records 3,922 complaints for sexual crimes between January and July 2026, a figure that represents a 16% increase compared to the 3,393 reports recorded during the same period of the previous year.
Preliminary data from the Panamanian Public Ministry indicate that during the first seven months of the year, 529 additional complaints were filed compared to 2025.
Of the total accumulated, 3,596 cases correspond to rape and other sexual offenses, while 326 are linked to corruption of minors, commercial sexual exploitation, and other conduct.
July recorded the highest monthly amount of the analyzed period, with 706 reports. May had accounted for 685 cases and June another 551.
Cases involving minors are on the rise
Among the behaviors with the highest number of reports is sexual access with persons over 14 and under 18 years of age, which accumulated 1,482 complaints up to July.
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The figure represents a 35% growth compared to the 1,097 cases registered during the first seven months of 2025.
Rape reports, meanwhile, reached 1,307 cases, compared to the 1,295 recorded during the same period last year, equivalent to a variation of 0.9%.
Libidinous acts went from 561 to 633 reports, an increase of 13%. The corruption of minors increased by 25%, going from 181 cases in 2025 to 226 this year.
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Another increase occurred in reports of child pornography. Authorities recorded 55 complaints between January and July 2026, compared to 34 during the same period of the previous year, an increase of 62%.
The exhibition of pornographic material to minors who are incapacitated or have a disability went from four to six cases, which represents an increase of 50%.
Panama leads in complaints by territory
By geographical area, the province of Panama accumulated 804 complaints, 25% more than the 641 registered in the same period of 2025.
Chiriquí reported 575 cases, Panama Oeste recorded 524, and the Ngäbe Buglé region registered 494. Bocas del Toro accumulated 381 reports and Veraguas another 250.
In percentage terms, Guna Yala showed one of the largest increases, going from 18 to 34 cases, equivalent to 89%.
Herrera experienced a 40% increase, while the Ngäbe Buglé comarca recorded a growth of 31%. Darién increased by 23% and Panama Oeste by 18%.
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In contrast, Los Santos showed an 8% reduction and the Emberá region a 46% decrease.
Young man convicted of sexual offenses and robberies
In another case disclosed by the Public Ministry, an 18-year-old youth was sentenced to 34 years in prison for sexual offenses and aggravated robbery against three victims in San Miguelito.
The sentence was reached through a plea agreement managed by offices of the San Miguelito Regional Prosecutor’s Office.
The events took place on October 5th and 22nd, and November 9th, 2025. According to the authorities, the victims were contacted through fake job offers posted on the internet and summoned to the Victoriano Lorenzo township for alleged job interviews.
According to the investigation, after initially meeting in public spaces, they were taken to other locations, where they were stripped of their belongings through threats with firearms and subsequently subjected to sexual assault.
The authorities also established that the events were recorded and the victims were subsequently threatened with the publication of the material on social media if they went to report them.
San Miguelito adds 189 complaints
San Miguelito has accumulated 189 complaints related to crimes against sexual freedom and integrity during the first seven months of 2026.
Of these, 172 correspond to rape and other sexual crimes, while 17 are related to corruption of minors, commercial sexual exploitation, and other conduct.
The statistics include 75 reports of sexual access with individuals between 14 and 17 years old, 51 for rape, and 36 for lewd acts.
The 189 cases represent a 7% increase compared to the 176 complaints recorded in San Miguelito during the same period in 2025.
The Public Ministry specified that the statistics corresponding to 2026 are preliminary in nature, so they could undergo modifications as investigations progress.
Nationally, Panama has recorded 3,922 reports of sexual offenses as of July, with increases in several categories linked to minors and an overall growth of 16% compared to the same period in 2025.
