Prison population per 100,000 — all countries

Prison population per 100,000 — Latin America & Caribbean

Prison population per 100,000 in Latin America & Caribbean in 2018 — 256.7 per 100k. Since 2006, the indicator has risen by 48.1%.

2018 256.7 per 100k −0.69% vs 2016
World rank —
Period maximum 258.5 per 100k2016
Period minimum 173.4 per 100k2006

Trend over time

2006–2018 · per 100,000 people

Prison population per 100,000 — Latin America & Caribbean, 2006–201815017520022525027520062008201020122014201620182006: 173.4 per 100k2008: 188 per 100k2010: 201.7 per 100k2012: 227.9 per 100k2014: 244.6 per 100k2016: 258.5 per 100k2018: 256.7 per 100k
Change over the period: +83.3 (+48.06%) Average annual rate: 3.32 %
Prison population per 100,000 — Latin America & Caribbean, by year Latin America & Caribbean All countries CSV XLSX
Year per 100k Change Change, %
2018 256.7 — —
2016 258.5 — —
2014 244.6 — —
2012 227.9 — —
2010 201.7 — —
2008 188 — —
2006 173.4 — —

About the indicator

The number of persons held in correctional institutions and pretrial detention facilities per 100,000 people. The indicator covers both the convicted and those under investigation — in a number of countries the second group makes up more than half. UNODC data, collected from national prison services.

Important: The indicator does not measure the level of crime. A high value is just as likely to reflect harsh judicial practice as an actual crime problem.

Source: UNODC Crime Statistics, license UN data: free to use with attribution.