Prison population rate in Ecuador
Ecuador: Prison population rate was 196 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025. ▲ Rising
Prison population rate in Ecuador, 2000–2025
Source: Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in prisoners per 100,000 people.
Analysis
Ecuador recorded 196 prisoners per 100,000 people for prison population rate in 2025.
That represents a change of up 8.3% on the previous year and up 21.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in Ecuador peaked at 222 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2018 and was at its lowest, 64 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2000.
That places Ecuador 75th out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.
Prison population rate in Ecuador, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 64 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2002 | 67 prisoners per 100,000 people | +4.7% |
| 2004 | 84 prisoners per 100,000 people | +25.4% |
| 2006 | 90 prisoners per 100,000 people | +7.1% |
| 2008 | 83 prisoners per 100,000 people | -7.8% |
| 2010 | 79 prisoners per 100,000 people | -4.8% |
| 2012 | 135 prisoners per 100,000 people | +70.9% |
| 2014 | 162 prisoners per 100,000 people | +20.0% |
| 2016 | 160 prisoners per 100,000 people | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 222 prisoners per 100,000 people | +38.8% |
| 2020 | 213 prisoners per 100,000 people | -4.1% |
| 2022 | 181 prisoners per 100,000 people | -15.0% |
| 2025 | 196 prisoners per 100,000 people | +8.3% |
Ecuador compared with similar countries
- Ecuador's 196 prisoners per 100,000 people is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 216 prisoners per 100,000 people, 91% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Ecuador's 196 prisoners per 100,000 people is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 280 prisoners per 100,000 people, 70% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 77.6 prisoners per 100,000 people | 64 prisoners per 100,000 people | 90 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2010s | 151.6 prisoners per 100,000 people | 79 prisoners per 100,000 people | 222 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2020s | 196.67 prisoners per 100,000 people | 181 prisoners per 100,000 people | 213 prisoners per 100,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near Ecuador
- 72 Colombia 199 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 72 New Zealand 199 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 72 Venezuela 199 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 75 Albania 196 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 75 Hungary 196 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 75 Sint Maarten (Dutch part) 196 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for Ecuador
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.4058 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.5775 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -4.47 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.5775 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.6% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 792,284 people (2100)
- Population density 76.87 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.6% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.6473 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.9392 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in Ecuador?
- Prison population rate in Ecuador was 196 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025, according to Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest prison population rate recorded in Ecuador?
- The highest recorded value was 222 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2018.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Ecuador?
- The lowest recorded value was 64 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2000.
- How does Ecuador rank for prison population rate?
- Ecuador ranks 75th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in Ecuador?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ecuador data come from?
- The figures 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 part of Prison population rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Prison population (including pre-trial detainees and remand prisoners), per 100,000 population.