Nicaragua

Donate to WPB
CountryNicaragua
Ministry responsible
Ministerio de Gobernacion
Prison administration
Dirección General del Sistema Penitenciario Nacional
Contact address
Empalme Carretera Tipitapa - Masaya, 500 mts al Sur 800 Mts al Este, Nicaragua
Telephone
+505 2295 3682
Fax
+505 295 3287
Website
Email
relacionespublicas@migob.gob.ni
Head of prison administration (and title)
Julio Guillermo Orozco
Director General
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
20 918
at October 2018 (Ministerio de Gobernacion)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
332
based on an estimated national population of 6.3 million at October 2018 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
21.4%
(October 2016)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
5.4%
(October 2014)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.6%
(31.12.2012 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
2.9%
(October 2014)
Number of establishments / institutions
9
(2014 - there are also police holding cells)
Official capacity of prison system
11 781
(October 2018)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
177.6%
(October 2018)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 6,539 128
2002 6,885 131
2004 6,233 116
2006 6,103 110
2008 6,803 120
2010 c 6,500 c 113
2012 9,168 155
2014 10,569 175
2016 14,675 238
2000 6,539 128
2002 6,885 131
2004 6,233 116
2006 6,103 110
2008 6,803 120
2010 c 6,500 c 113
2012 9,168 155
2014 10,569 175
2016 14,675 238

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. 

                                                 NICARAGUA

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

1999
2004
2008

1,677
807
1,445

30.8%
14.4%
21.2%

33
15
25

2016

c. 3,140

21.4%

51

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.

                                                    NICARAGUA

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

1999
2005
2008
2012

c. 238
365
515
450

4.5%
6.5%
7.6%
4.9%

c. 4.7
6.7
9.1
7.5

2014

575

5.4%

9.3

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