Uruguay

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CountryUruguay
Ministry responsible
Ministry of the Interior
Prison administration
Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitacion
Contact address
Cerrito 419 (Ciudad Vieja), Montevideo, Uruguay, CP 11000
Telephone
+598 2030 91 49
Website
Email
inr-sgc@minterior.gub.uy
Head of prison administration (and title)
(Crio. Lic.) Ana Juanche Molina
Director
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
15 767
at 30.4.2024 (Prison Parliamentary Commissioner)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
449
based on an estimated national population of 3.51 million at end of April 2024 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
12.7%
(December 2021)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
7.9%
(30.4.2024)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.0%
(30.4.2024 - juveniles are the responsibility of SIRPA, the System of Penal Responsibility for Adolescents. 680 juveniles were deprived of liberty in SIRPA facilities at 10.11.2014.)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
2.8%
(31.1.2020)
Number of establishments / institutions
27
(2020)
Official capacity of prison system
11 147
(January 2023)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
130.1%
(January 2023)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 4,469 135
2002 5,630 169
2004 6,888 207
2006 6,887 207
2008 7,665 229
2010 8,700 257
2012 9,418 277
2014 9,542 279
2016 10,561 306
2018 10,233 294
2020 13,021 372
2000 4,469 135
2002 5,630 169
2004 6,888 207
2006 6,887 207
2008 7,665 229
2010 8,700 257
2012 9,418 277
2014 9,542 279
2016 10,561 306
2018 10,233 294
2020 13,021 372

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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. 

                                                  URUGUAY

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

1999
2002
2006
2010
2015

3,096
4,080
4,138
5,807
6,934

77.2%
72.5%
63.1%
66.4%
69.4%

94
123
124
172
202

2021

1,757

12.7%

50

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.

                                                 URUGUAY

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

1999
2003
2006
2010
2015
2020

c. 240
325
447
688
581
635

6.0%
4.9%
6.3%
7.9%
5.8%
5.4%

c. 7.3
9.8
13.4
20.4
16.9
18.2

2024

1,244

7.9%

35.4

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