Colombia

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CountryColombia
Ministry responsible
Ministerio de Justicia y del Derecho
Prison administration
Instituto Nacional Penitenciario y Carcelario (INPEC)
Contact address
Calle 26 No. 27-48 Piso 6, Bogota, Cundinamacar, Colombia
Telephone
+57 1 234 7474
Fax
+57 1 245 4088
Website
http://www.inpec.gov.co
Head of prison administration (and title)
(Brigadier General) Norberto Mujica Jaime
Director
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
103 530
at 31.8.2024 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
200
based on an estimated national population of 51.85 million at end of August 2024 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
21.9%
(31.8.2024)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
6.2%
(31.8.2024)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.0%
(31.3.2019 - minors in custody are the responsibility of a different authority)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
1.3%
(31.7.2019)
Number of establishments / institutions
125
(2024)
Official capacity of prison system
81 923
(31.8.2024)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
126.4%
(31.8.2024)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 51,518 128
2002 52,936 127
2004 68,020 159
2006 60,021 136
2008 69,979 155
2010 84,444 183
2012 113,884 242
2014 113,623 237
2016 118,532 243
2018 118,513 239
2020 97,414 193
2000 51,518 128
2002 52,936 127
2004 68,020 159
2006 60,021 136
2008 69,979 155
2010 84,444 183
2012 113,884 242
2014 113,623 237
2016 118,532 243
2018 118,513 239
2020 97,414 193

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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. 

                                                  COLOMBIA

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

20,308
25,749
25,916
42,753
22,707

39.4%
38.5%
30.7%
35.5%
23.3%

50
59
55
86
45

2024

22,698

21.9%

44

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.

                                                   COLOMBIA

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2000
2005
2010
2015
2020

3,141
4,122
5,684
8,256
6,958

6.1%
6.2%
6.7%
6.9%
7.1%

7.8
9.5
12.2
16.6
13.8

2024

6,416

6.2%

12.4

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