Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Ecuador
Ecuador: Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees was 35.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Ecuador, 2001–2025
Source: Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Ecuador recorded 35.8% for share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Ecuador peaked at 70.4% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 35.8%, in 2025.
Ecuador ranks 60th of 150 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Ecuador, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 70.4% | — |
| 2005 | 63.0% | -10.5% |
| 2009 | 46.0% | -27.0% |
| 2015 | 37.2% | -19.1% |
| 2020 | 38.0% | +2.2% |
| 2025 | 35.8% | -5.8% |
Ecuador compared with similar countries
- Ecuador's 35.8% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 31.7%, 1.1× the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Ecuador's 35.8% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 36.4%, 98% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 59.8% | 46.0% | 70.4% | 3 |
| 2010s | 37.2% | 37.2% | 37.2% | 1 |
| 2020s | 36.9% | 35.8% | 38.0% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Ecuador
More social development data for Ecuador
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 26,428 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 5,723 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 3 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 3 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0003 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 5,723 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0014 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Ecuador?
- Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Ecuador was 35.8% in 2025, according to Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees recorded in Ecuador?
- The highest recorded value was 70.4% in 2001.
- What is the lowest share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees recorded in Ecuador?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.8% in 2025.
- How does Ecuador rank for share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees?
- Ecuador ranks 60th out of 150 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees rising or falling in Ecuador?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ecuador data come from?
- The figures come from Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Pre-trial detainees and remand prisoners as a percentage of the total prison population.