Guatemala

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CountryGuatemala
Ministry responsible
Ministerio de Gobernacion
Prison administration
Direccion General del Sistema Penitenciario
Contact address
7 Calle 10-54, Edificio El Imparcial, Zona 1, Ciudad de Guatemala
Telephone
+502 2410 6060
Website
Head of prison administration (and title)
Luis Rodolfo Escobar
Director General
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
23 361
at 27.11.2023 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
123
based on an estimated national population of 19.04 million at end of November 2023 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
47.2%
(27.11.2023)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
12.1%
(27.11.2023)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
2.1%
(September 2022 - juveniles)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
3.2%
(20.2.2017)
Number of establishments / institutions
21
(2017)
Official capacity of prison system
7 982
(September 2023)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
299.4%
(September 2023)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 6,974 62
2002 8,077 69
2004 8,698 70
2006 7,477 57
2008 8,158 60
2010 11,148 78
2012 15,013 100
2014 18,425 115
2016 21,031 125
2018 24,303 140
2020 25,538 142
2000 6,974 62
2002 8,077 69
2004 8,698 70
2006 7,477 57
2008 8,158 60
2010 11,148 78
2012 15,013 100
2014 18,425 115
2016 21,031 125
2018 24,303 140
2020 25,538 142

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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. 

                                                  GUATEMALA

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
2020

4,289
3,173
5,440
9,232
12,474

58.7%
43.9%
54.4%
48.6%
47.7%

37
25
38
57
70

2023

11,015

47.2%

58

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.

                                                  GUATEMALA

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2001
2005
2010
2015
2020

433
381
743
1,822
2,856

5.9%
5.3%
6.7%
9.1%
11.2%

3.8
3.0
5.2
11.1
15.8

2023

2,826

12.1%

14.8

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