Prison population rate in Paraguay
Paraguay: Prison population rate was 259 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025. ▲ Rising
Prison population rate in Paraguay, 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
The most recent figure for prison population rate in Paraguay is 259 prisoners per 100,000 people, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 12 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 63.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in Paraguay peaked at 259 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 60 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2000.
Paraguay ranks 52nd of 202 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 12 years of available data.
Prison population rate in Paraguay, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 60 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2002 | 83 prisoners per 100,000 people | +38.3% |
| 2004 | 106 prisoners per 100,000 people | +27.7% |
| 2006 | 102 prisoners per 100,000 people | -3.8% |
| 2008 | 96 prisoners per 100,000 people | -5.9% |
| 2010 | 99 prisoners per 100,000 people | +3.1% |
| 2012 | 123 prisoners per 100,000 people | +24.2% |
| 2014 | 158 prisoners per 100,000 people | +28.5% |
| 2016 | 195 prisoners per 100,000 people | +23.4% |
| 2018 | 212 prisoners per 100,000 people | +8.7% |
| 2020 | 194 prisoners per 100,000 people | -8.5% |
| 2025 | 259 prisoners per 100,000 people | +33.5% |
Paraguay compared with similar countries
- Paraguay's 259 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 216 prisoners per 100,000 people, 1.2× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Paraguay's 259 prisoners per 100,000 people is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 280 prisoners per 100,000 people, 92% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 89.4 prisoners per 100,000 people | 60 prisoners per 100,000 people | 106 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2010s | 157.4 prisoners per 100,000 people | 99 prisoners per 100,000 people | 212 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2020s | 226.5 prisoners per 100,000 people | 194 prisoners per 100,000 people | 259 prisoners per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Paraguay
- 49 Azerbaijan 264 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 50 Curacao 262 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 51 South Africa 260 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 53 Moldova 255 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 54 Bolivia 252 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 55 United States Virgin Islands 251 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for Paraguay
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.2301 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.4098 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.2301 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.3467 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 8,591 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.02 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.6927 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.2% (2100)
- Population density 22.77 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 452,902 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in Paraguay?
- Prison population rate in Paraguay was 259 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 Paraguay?
- The highest recorded value was 259 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Paraguay?
- The lowest recorded value was 60 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2000.
- How does Paraguay rank for prison population rate?
- Paraguay ranks 52nd out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in Paraguay?
- Over the last ten years it is up 63.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Paraguay 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.