Mercedes Chami Dogirama was born in 1898 and celebrated her 125^th birthday on March 13. She lives with her family in the Emberá Wounaan region, in Lajas Blancas, a community located three hours from Metetí in the province of Darién.

This was reported Tuesday, April 11, 2023, by the  Comptroller General.

According to the institution, they identified Chami Dogirama as the oldest person in the country through the latest data collected in the XII National Population Census.

"These censuses have revealed important data, such as the longest-lived person in the history of the country and possibly the world," said comptroller general, Gerardo Solís.

According to the interview conducted by the census takers, Mercedes Chami Dogirama had seven children, two of whom have already passed away. She has 54 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Her daughter Mercedes says she is in "impeccable health", walks, sews, and sometimes even cooks.

According to the census, Chami Dogirama ranks as the oldest person in Panama with 125 years, followed by a man residing in the province of Colón with 118 years, and in third place a 116-year-old woman residing in the province of Veraguas.

Darien is known to hundreds of thousands of migrants who have trekked through the jungle on their way to the United States.