Ecuador

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CountryEcuador
Ministry responsible
Ministerio de Justicia, Derechos Humanos y Cultos
Prison administration
Servicio Nacional de Atención Integral para Personas Privadas de la Libertad y Adolescentes Infractores
Contact address
9 de Octubre y Av. Francisco de Orellana, Quito, Ecuador
Telephone
+593 2 3932-520
Website
https://www.atencionintegral.gob.ec/
Head of prison administration (and title)
Luis Eduardo Zaldumbide López
Director General
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
33 170
at 26.7.2024 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
179
based on an estimated national population of 18.55 million at end of July 2024 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
36.1%
(26.7.2024)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
6.0%
(26.7.2024)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
2.1%
(2014 - juveniles)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
8.1%
(14.9.2014)
Number of establishments / institutions
52
(2014 - not including 11 institutions for adolescents)
Official capacity of prison system
27 714
(26.7.2024)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
119.7%
(26.7.2024)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 8,029 64
2002 8,723 67
2004 11,358 84
2006 12,635 90
2008 12,067 83
2010 11,800 79
2012 21,080 135
2014 25,902 162
2016 26,421 160
2018 37,996 222
2020 37,623 213
2000 8,029 64
2002 8,723 67
2004 11,358 84
2006 12,635 90
2008 12,067 83
2010 11,800 79
2012 21,080 135
2014 25,902 162
2016 26,421 160
2018 37,996 222
2020 37,623 213

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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. 

                                                  ECUADOR

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2001
2005
2009
2015
2020

5,451
7,713
7,107
10,567
14,705

70.4%
63.0%
46.0%
37.2%
38.0%

42
56
48
65
83

2024

11,974

36.1%

65

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.

                                                 ECUADOR

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2002
2005
2009
2015
2020

682
1,307
1,230
1,759
2,530

8.8%
10.7%
8.0%
6.2%
6.5%

5.1
9.4
8.3
10.8
14.2

2024

1,996

6.0%

10.8

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