Honduras

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CountryHonduras
Ministry responsible
Secretaria de Derechos Humanos, Justicia, Gobernacion y Descentralizacion
Prison administration
Instituto Nacional Penitenciario
Contact address
Barrio El Centro, Edificio Bamma, Comayaguela, M.D.C., Honduras
Telephone
+504 2236 6434 or 8007
Website
Head of prison administration (and title)
Rosa Irene Gudiel Ardón
Directora del Instituto Nacional Penitenciario
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
Circa
19 500
at 31.3.2023 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
Circa
189
based on an estimated national population of 10.34 million at end of March 2023 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
53.7%
(31.8.2020)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
5.5%
(31.8.2020)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
3.0%
(21.8.2017 - minors)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
0.7%
(31.8.2020)
Number of establishments / institutions
26
(2022)
Official capacity of prison system
Circa
13 000
(31.3.2023)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
Circa
150.0%
(31.3.2023)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 11,500 175
2002 11,502 165
2004 10,931 148
2006 11,178 147
2008 11,390 141
2010 11,846 141
2012 12,095 139
2014 16,331 181
2016 17,253 186
2018 20,506 213
2020 21,675 218
2000 11,500 175
2002 11,502 165
2004 10,931 148
2006 11,178 147
2008 11,390 141
2010 11,846 141
2012 12,095 139
2014 16,331 181
2016 17,253 186
2018 20,506 213
2020 21,675 218

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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. 

                                                 HONDURAS

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

1999
2005
2010
2014

9,569
7,358
5,682
7,637

88.0%
63.5%
50.1%
51.8%

157
106
75
92

2020

11,643

53.7%

117

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.

                                                  HONDURAS

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2002
2005
2010
2014

614
395
411
627

5.2%
3.4%
3.5%
4.3%

9.4
5.7
5.3
7.6

2020

1,193

5.5%

12.0

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