Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in El Salvador
El Salvador: Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees was 23.1% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in El Salvador, 2001–2024
Source: Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in El Salvador is 23.1%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.
The figure is down 14.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in El Salvador peaked at 54.3% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 23.1%, in 2021.
That places El Salvador 103rd out of 150 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in El Salvador, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 54.3% | — |
| 2005 | 28.2% | -48.1% |
| 2010 | 34.2% | +21.3% |
| 2015 | 26.9% | -21.3% |
| 2021 | 23.1% | -14.1% |
| 2024 | 23.1% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 41.2% | 28.2% | 54.3% | 2 |
| 2010s | 30.6% | 26.9% | 34.2% | 2 |
| 2020s | 23.1% | 23.1% | 23.1% | 2 |
Countries ranked near El Salvador
More social development data for El Salvador
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 182 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 68,182 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 5 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 5 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0107 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 68,182 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 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 El Salvador?
- Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in El Salvador was 23.1% in 2024, 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 El Salvador?
- The highest recorded value was 54.3% in 2001.
- What is the lowest share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees recorded in El Salvador?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.1% in 2021.
- How does El Salvador rank for share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees?
- El Salvador ranks 103rd out of 150 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees rising or falling in El Salvador?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this El Salvador 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.