Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Uruguay
Uruguay: Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees was 12.7% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Uruguay, 1999–2024
Source: Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Uruguay recorded 12.7% for share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 81.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Uruguay peaked at 77.2% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 12.7%, in 2021.
That places Uruguay 141st out of 150 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Uruguay, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 77.2% | — |
| 2002 | 72.5% | -6.1% |
| 2006 | 63.1% | -13.0% |
| 2010 | 66.4% | +5.2% |
| 2015 | 69.4% | +4.5% |
| 2021 | 12.7% | -81.7% |
| 2024 | 12.7% | +0.0% |
Uruguay compared with similar countries
- Uruguay's 12.7% is below the median for high income countries, which is 26.6%, 48% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Uruguay's 12.7% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 36.4%, 35% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 77.2% | 77.2% | 77.2% | 1 |
| 2000s | 67.8% | 63.1% | 72.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 67.9% | 66.4% | 69.4% | 2 |
| 2020s | 12.7% | 12.7% | 12.7% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Uruguay
More social development data for Uruguay
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 3,195 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 126 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 1 (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 126 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0009 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 Uruguay?
- Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Uruguay was 12.7% 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 Uruguay?
- The highest recorded value was 77.2% in 1999.
- What is the lowest share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees recorded in Uruguay?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.7% in 2021.
- How does Uruguay rank for share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees?
- Uruguay ranks 141st out of 150 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees rising or falling in Uruguay?
- Over the last ten years it is down 81.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Uruguay 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.