Argentina

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CountryArgentina
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Justice and Human Rights
Prison administration
Servicio Penitenciario Federal and provincial prison administrations
Contact address
(Federal) Lavalle 2705, Ciudad de Buenos Aires 1190, Argentina
Telephone
+54 11 4964 8300
Fax
+54 11 4962 5001
Email
consultas@spf.gob.ar
Head of prison administration (and title)
(Federal) Emiliano Blanco
Director Nacional
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
117 810
at 31.12.2022 (Ministry of Justice SNEEP - including 12,757 held in police comisarias)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
254
based on an estimated national population of 46.32 million at end of 2022 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
41.7%
(31.12.2022 - not including prisoners in police comisarias)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
4.1%
(31.12.2022 - not including prisoners in police comisarias)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.0%
(31.12.2022 - under 18; not including prisoners in police comisarias. There are just 14 under 18s in prisons.)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
4.9%
(31.12.2022 - not including prisoners in police comisarias)
Number of establishments / institutions
330
(2022 - not including police comisarias)
Official capacity of prison system
88 622
(31.12.2022 - not including police comisarias)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
118.5%
(31.12.2022)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2002 57,632 151
2004 65,351 168
2006 60,621 152
2008 60,611 149
2010 65,095 157
2012 66,484 157
2015 75,769 174
2018 103,209 230
2020 106,559 233
2002 57,632 151
2004 65,351 168
2006 60,621 152
2008 60,611 149
2010 65,095 157
2012 66,484 157
2015 75,769 174
2018 103,209 230
2020 106,559 233

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Pre-trial/remand prison population: trend

The table below gives an indication of the recent trend in the pre-trial/remand prison population. The final row shows the latest figures available.

It consists of the number of pre-trial/remand prisoners in the prison population on a single date in the year (or the annual average) and the percentage of the total prison population that pre-trial/remand prisoners constituted on that day.  

The final column shows the pre-trial/remand population rate per 100,000 of the national population. 

                                                  ARGENTINA

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment
(not including those in police comisarias)

Percentage
of total
prison population
(not including those in police comisarias)

Pre-trial/remand
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

2002
2005
2010
2015
2020

26,477
31,913
31,142
35,779
42,348

58.9%
57.6%
52.6%
50.1%
44.6%

69
81
75
82
93

2022

43,807

41.7%

95

It should be noted that the number of pre-trial/remand prisoners fluctuates from day to day, month to month and year to year. Consequently the above figures give an indication of the trend but the picture is inevitably incomplete.

The pre-trial/remand population rate is calculated on the basis of the national population total. All national population figures are inevitably estimates but the estimates used in the World Prison Brief are based on official national figures, United Nations figures or figures from other recognised international authorities. 

Female prison population: trend

The table below gives an indication of the trend in the female prison population. The final row shows the latest figures available.

It consists of the number of female prisoners in the prison population on a single date in the year (or the annual average) and the percentage of the total prison population that female prisoners constituted on that day. 

The final column shows the female prison population rate per 100,000 of the national population.

                                                   ARGENTINA

Year

Number of
female
prisoners
(not including those in police comisarias)

Percentage
of total
prison population
(not including those in police comisarias)

Female prison
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

2002
2005
2010
2015
2020

2,402
2,172
2,719
2,963
3,568

5.3%
5.0%
4.6%
4.1%
3.8%

6.4
5.6
6.7
6.8
7.9

2022

4,256

4.1%

9.2

The number of female prisoners fluctuates and so the above figures give an indication of the trend but the picture is inevitably incomplete.

The female prison population rate is calculated on the basis of the national population total. All national population figures are inevitably estimates but the estimates used in the World Prison Brief are based on official national figures, United Nations figures or figures from other recognised international authorities.

(If the rate were calculated on the basis of the number of females in the national population it would of course be approximately double the figure in the final column).

Prison population total
Prison population rate