Honduras

Total prison population:
19,481
Country
Honduras
Ministry responsible
Secretaria de Derechos Humanos, Justicia, Gobernacion y Descentralizacion
Prison administration
Instituto Nacional Penitenciario
Contact address

Barrio El Centro, Edificio Bamma, Comayaguela, M.D.C.
Honduras

Telephone
Head of prison administration
Rosa Irene Gudiel Ardón, Directora del Instituto Nacional Penitenciario

Prison population data

Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners) 19,481
at 31.5.2023 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population) 188
based on an estimated national population of 10.37 million at end of May 2023 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population) 49.2%
(31.5.2023)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population) 6.1%
(31.5.2023)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population) 3.0%
(21.8.2017 - minors)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population) 0.6%
(31.5.2023)
Number of establishments / institutions 26
(2022)
Official capacity of prison system Circac. 13,000
(31.3.2023)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity) Circac. 150.0%
(31.3.2023)

Prison population trend

Year Prison population total Prison population rate
11,500 175
11,502 165
10,931 148
11,178 147
11,390 141
11,846 141
12,568 144
14,882 165
17,534 188
20,684 214
21,708 218

Prison population total

Prison population rate

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. 

                                                 HONDURAS

YearNumber in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment
Percentage
of total
prison population
Pre-trial/remand
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)
1999
2005
2010
2014
9,569
7,358
5,682
7,637
88.0%
63.5%
50.1%
51.8%
157
106
75
92
20239,59049.2%92

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.

                                                  HONDURAS

YearNumber of
female
prisoners
Percentage
of total
prison population
Female prison
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)
2002
2005
2010
2014
614
395
411
627
5.2%
3.4%
3.5%
4.3%
9.4
5.7
5.3
7.6
20231,1856.1%11.4

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 trend up to 2000

The figures below give an indication of the prison population trend in the years up to 2000. They supplement the more recent figures that are shown at the foot of the Overview page and in the graphs below.

                                              HONDURAS

YearPrison
population
total
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of
national population)
1987
1992
1995
2000
4,076
5,717
8,933
11,500
91
109
158
184

 

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