Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Guatemala
Guatemala: Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees was 47.2% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Guatemala, 2001–2023
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 Guatemala is 47.2%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.0% on the previous year and down 2.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Guatemala peaked at 58.7% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 43.9%, in 2005.
Guatemala ranks 34th of 150 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Guatemala, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 58.7% | — |
| 2005 | 43.9% | -25.2% |
| 2010 | 54.4% | +23.9% |
| 2015 | 48.6% | -10.7% |
| 2020 | 47.7% | -1.9% |
| 2023 | 47.2% | -1.0% |
Guatemala compared with similar countries
- Guatemala's 47.2% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 31.7%, 1.5× the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Guatemala's 47.2% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 36.4%, 1.3× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 51.3% | 43.9% | 58.7% | 2 |
| 2010s | 51.5% | 48.6% | 54.4% | 2 |
| 2020s | 47.5% | 47.2% | 47.7% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Guatemala
- 31 Burundi 47.5% compare
- 32 Montenegro 47.4% compare
- 33 Luxembourg 47.3% compare
- 35 Canada 46.6% compare
- 36 Uganda 45.8% compare
- 37 Antigua and Barbuda 43.3% compare
More social development data for Guatemala
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1,586 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 34,994 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 4 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 4 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0019 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 34,994 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0001 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 Guatemala?
- Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Guatemala was 47.2% in 2023, 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 Guatemala?
- The highest recorded value was 58.7% in 2001.
- What is the lowest share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees recorded in Guatemala?
- The lowest recorded value was 43.9% in 2005.
- How does Guatemala rank for share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees?
- Guatemala ranks 34th out of 150 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees rising or falling in Guatemala?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Guatemala 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.