Brazil

CountryBrazil
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Justice
Prison administration
Departamento Penitenciario Nacional (DEPEN)
Contact address
Norte Comercial Sector, Quadra 3, Victória Building - Asa Norte, Brasília - DF, 70713-020
Telephone
+55 21 61 2025 3987
Fax
+55 21 61 3429 9347
Website
https://www.gov.br/depen/pt-br
Email
depen@mj.gov.br
Head of prison administration (and title)
Fabiano Bordignon
Director General (Diretor Geral)
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
835 643
at December 2021 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
389
based on an estimated national population of 214.67 million at December 2021 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
27.2%
(December 2021)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
5.1%
(December 2021)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.0%
(31.12.2020 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
0.3%
(of those in prison system, December 2021)
Number of establishments / institutions
1 413
(December 2021)
Official capacity of prison system
466 529
(December 2021- places in ‘sistema prisional’)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
143.8%
(December 2021 - prisoners in ‘sistema prisional’)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 232,755 132
2002 239,345 132
2004 336,358 180
2006 401,236 209
2008 451,429 231
2010 496,251 249
2012 548,003 270
2014 622,202 301
2016 722,120 349
2018 744,216 354
2020 811,707 381
2000 232,755 132
2002 239,345 132
2004 336,358 180
2006 401,236 209
2008 451,429 231
2010 496,251 249
2012 548,003 270
2014 622,202 301
2016 722,120 349
2018 744,216 354
2020 811,707 381

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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. 

                                                   BRAZIL

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2000
2005
2010
2015

80,775
102,116
164,683
261,786

34.7%
34.4%
36.9%
37.5%

46
55
84
128

2021

227,622

27.2%

106

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.

                                                    BRAZIL

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2000
2005
2010
2014

10,112
20,264
34,807
36,495

4.3%
5.6%
7.0%
5.9%

5.8
10.8
17.7
18.0

2021

42,694

5.1%

19.9

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