El Salvador

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CountryEl Salvador
Ministry responsible
a) Ministerio de Justicia y Seguridad Publica (adults); b) Ministerio de Educacion (juveniles)
Prison administration
a) Direccion General de Centros Penales (DGCP) and Direccion General de Centros Intermedios (DGCI - for young adults sentenced when juveniles). b) Instituto Salvadoreno de la Ninez y Adolescencia (ISNA)
Contact address
a) Final Psje 3 Edif. Prodisa, 7a. Ave. Nte., San Salvador, El Salvador b) Col. Costa Rica, Avenida Irazú y Final Calle Santa Marta, No. 2, San Salvador, Apartado Póstal 2690
Telephone
a) +503 2526 3666
b) +503 2213 4700
Fax
a) +503 2526 3667
Website
Head of prison administration (and title)
a) Osiris Luna Meza (DGCP), Irma Mejia (DGCI); b) Manuel Antonio Sánchez Estrada (ISNA)
Director
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
109 519
at March 2024 (via Cristosal Centroamerica)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
1 659
based on an estimated national population of 6.60 million at March 2024 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
23.1%
(22.3.2021)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
7.4%
(22.3.2021)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.0%
(1.3.2021 - under 18. Juveniles in custody are the responsibility of ISNA (El Instituto para el Desarrollo Integral de la Ninez y la Adolescencia)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
1.3%
(22.3.2021)
Number of establishments / institutions
25
(2015 - 24 prisons, 1 secure hospital ward)
Official capacity of prison system
67 289
(March 2024)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
162.8%
(March 2024)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 7,754 132
2002 10,907 183
2004 12,073 201
2006 14,771 243
2008 19,814 324
2010 24,662 399
2012 27,033 433
2014 28,334 450
2016 36,824 579
2018 39,642 617
2020 37,190 572
2000 7,754 132
2002 10,907 183
2004 12,073 201
2006 14,771 243
2008 19,814 324
2010 24,662 399
2012 27,033 433
2014 28,334 450
2016 36,824 579
2018 39,642 617
2020 37,190 572

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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. 

                                                  EL SALVADOR

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2001
2005
2010
2015

5,147
3,538
8,439
8,775

54.3%
28.2%
34.2%
26.9%

86
58
135
136

2021

8,477

23.1%

130

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.

                                                 EL SALVADOR

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2000
2005
2010
2015

371
585
2,445
3,176

4.8%
4.7%
9.9%
9.7%

6.2
9.6
39.2
49.2

2021

2,710

7.4%

41.7

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