Prison population rate in El Salvador
El Salvador: Prison population rate was 1,659 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Prison population rate in El Salvador, 2000–2024
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
El Salvador recorded 1,659 prisoners per 100,000 people for prison population rate in 2024. That is the highest value across all 12 years on record.
The figure is up 268.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in El Salvador peaked at 1,659 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 132 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2000.
That places El Salvador 1st out of 202 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Prison population rate in El Salvador, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 132 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2002 | 183 prisoners per 100,000 people | +38.6% |
| 2004 | 201 prisoners per 100,000 people | +9.8% |
| 2006 | 243 prisoners per 100,000 people | +20.9% |
| 2008 | 324 prisoners per 100,000 people | +33.3% |
| 2010 | 399 prisoners per 100,000 people | +23.1% |
| 2012 | 433 prisoners per 100,000 people | +8.5% |
| 2014 | 450 prisoners per 100,000 people | +3.9% |
| 2016 | 579 prisoners per 100,000 people | +28.7% |
| 2018 | 617 prisoners per 100,000 people | +6.6% |
| 2020 | 572 prisoners per 100,000 people | -7.3% |
| 2024 | 1,659 prisoners per 100,000 people | +190.0% |
El Salvador compared with similar countries
- El Salvador's 1,659 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 216 prisoners per 100,000 people, 7.7× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- El Salvador's 1,659 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 280 prisoners per 100,000 people, 5.9× the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 216.6 prisoners per 100,000 people | 132 prisoners per 100,000 people | 324 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2010s | 495.6 prisoners per 100,000 people | 399 prisoners per 100,000 people | 617 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2020s | 1,116 prisoners per 100,000 people | 572 prisoners per 100,000 people | 1,659 prisoners per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near El Salvador
- 2 Rwanda 620 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 3 Turkmenistan 576 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 4 United States 542 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for El Salvador
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.8534 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.2367 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.8534 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -1.5 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 6,637 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.3467 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -1.06 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.9% (2100)
- Population density 244.85 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 204,177 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in El Salvador?
- Prison population rate in El Salvador was 1,659 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2024, 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 El Salvador?
- The highest recorded value was 1,659 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2024.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in El Salvador?
- The lowest recorded value was 132 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2000.
- How does El Salvador rank for prison population rate?
- El Salvador ranks 1st out of 202 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in El Salvador?
- Over the last ten years it is up 268.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this El Salvador 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.