Bolivia

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CountryBolivia
Ministry responsible
Ministerio de Interior y Policia
Prison administration
Dirección Nacional de Régimen Penitenciario y Supervisión
Contact address
Av. Arce No. 2316, La Paz, Bolivia
Telephone
+591 2 244 0256
Fax
+591 2 244 0256
Head of prison administration (and title)
Juan Carlos Limpias
Director Nacional
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
31 105
at July 2024 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
252
based on an estimated national population of 12.32 million at July 2024 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
60.7%
(July 2024)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
6.6%
(31.12.2023)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
14.0%
(31.12.2015 - under 21)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
3.3%
(31.12.2016)
Number of establishments / institutions
46
(2023)
Official capacity of prison system
10 521
(31.12.2023)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
274.1%
(31.12.2023)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 8,151 95
2002 6,065 68
2004 6,495 70
2006 7,031 73
2008 7,433 75
2010 9,406 93
2012 14,272 136
2014 14,220 132
2016 16,038 144
2018 18,368 161
2020 17,305 147
2000 8,151 95
2002 6,065 68
2004 6,495 70
2006 7,031 73
2008 7,433 75
2010 9,406 93
2012 14,272 136
2014 14,220 132
2016 16,038 144
2018 18,368 161
2020 17,305 147

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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. 

                                                  BOLIVIA

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2000
2005
2010
2015
2020

5,415
5,029
7,259
9,430
c. 11,869

66.4%
74.0%
77.2%
69.0%
c. 65.0%

63
53
71
85
100

2024

18,889

60.7%

153

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.

                                                    BOLIVIA

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2000
2005
2010
2015

1,393
913
1,069
1,112

17.1%
13.4%
11.4%
8.1%

16.2
9.7
10.4
10.0

2023

1,917

6.6%

15.7

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