Colombia vs Ecuador: Prison population rate
Colombia
199 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2025
Ecuador
196 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2025
Colombia rank
72nd
Ecuador rank
75th
Prison population rate over time
- Colombia
- Ecuador
How they compare
Colombia currently reports 199 prisoners per 100,000 people against 196 prisoners per 100,000 people in Ecuador, a difference of 3 prisoners per 100,000 people.
The two have swapped places 2 times across 13 shared years of data; in 2000 it was Colombia ahead.
Colombia ranks 72nd and Ecuador ranks 75th of 202 countries.
Across the 3 decades both report, Colombia averaged higher in 2 and Ecuador in 1.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Colombia | Ecuador | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 141 prisoners per 100,000 people | 77.6 prisoners per 100,000 people | 63.4 prisoners per 100,000 people | Colombia |
| 2010s | 228.8 prisoners per 100,000 people | 151.6 prisoners per 100,000 people | 77.2 prisoners per 100,000 people | Colombia |
| 2020s | 194.67 prisoners per 100,000 people | 196.67 prisoners per 100,000 people | 2 prisoners per 100,000 people | Ecuador |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher prison population rate, Colombia or Ecuador?
- Colombia, at 199 prisoners per 100,000 people against 196 prisoners per 100,000 people in Ecuador as of 2025.
- What is the difference in prison population rate between Colombia and Ecuador?
- 3 prisoners per 100,000 people, with Colombia ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Colombia and Ecuador?
- 13 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2025.
- How do Colombia and Ecuador rank globally for prison population rate?
- Colombia ranks 72nd and Ecuador ranks 75th of 202 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as Prison population rate. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Prison population (including pre-trial detainees and remand prisoners), per 100,000 population.