Guyana

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CountryGuyana
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Home Affairs
Prison administration
Guyana Prison Service
Contact address
Prisons Headquarters, 46 Brickdam, Stabroek, Georgetown, GUYANA
Telephone
+592 225 4571
Website
Email
guyanaprisonservice@hotmail.com
Head of prison administration (and title)
Nicklon Elliot
Director of Prisons
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
2 300
at January 2024 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
288
based on an estimated national population of 799,600 at January 2024 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
Circa
27.0%
(September 2022)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
2.6%
(January 2024)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.6%
(31.12.2015 - juveniles)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
1.5%
(31.12.2013)
Number of establishments / institutions
7
(2022)
Official capacity of prison system
1 373
(September 2022)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
151.0%
(September 2022)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2001 1,507 205
2002 c 1,275 c 173
2004 1,280 172
2006 1,861 248
2008 2,117 281
2010 2,160 286
2012 2,032 268
2014 1,967 257
2016 2,192 284
2018 2,144 275
2020 1,884 239
2001 1,507 205
2002 c 1,275 c 173
2004 1,280 172
2006 1,861 248
2008 2,117 281
2010 2,160 286
2012 2,032 268
2014 1,967 257
2016 2,192 284
2018 2,144 275
2020 1,884 239

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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. 

                                                  GUYANA

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
2013
2017

418
481
945
711
762

27.7%
31.6%
43.8%
35.6%
37.3%

57
64
125
94
99

2022

c. 560

c. 27.0%

c. 70

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.

                                                  GUYANA

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2001
2006
2010
2013
2015

47
82
98
70
67

3.1%
4.4%
4.5%
3.5%
3.4%

6.4
10.9
13.0
9.2
8.8

2024

60

2.6%

7.5

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