The Central American nation with the highest prison occupancy rate, as of April 2025, was Guatemala, when the level stood at almost 300 percent of its official capacity. Nicaragua followed with 177.6 percent of occupancy level. The lowest prison occupancy rate was found in Belize, which, with 67 percent, was the only country whose prison system was not overcrowded. That year, El Salvador had the highest prison population rate in Central America.
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ICPR (World Prison Brief). (April 2, 2025). Prison occupancy rates in Central America as of 2024, by country [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. Retrieved July 28, 2026, from /statistics/1297372/prison-occupancy-rates-central-america-country/
ICPR (World Prison Brief). "Prison occupancy rates in Central America as of 2024, by country ." Chart. April 2, 2025. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. Accessed July 28, 2026. /statistics/1297372/prison-occupancy-rates-central-america-country/
ICPR (World Prison Brief). (2025). Prison occupancy rates in Central America as of 2024, by country . ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 28, 2026. /statistics/1297372/prison-occupancy-rates-central-america-country/
ICPR (World Prison Brief). "Prison Occupancy Rates in Central America as of 2024, by Country ." ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ Inc., 2 Apr 2025, /statistics/1297372/prison-occupancy-rates-central-america-country/
ICPR (World Prison Brief), Prison occupancy rates in Central America as of 2024, by country ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ, /statistics/1297372/prison-occupancy-rates-central-america-country/ (last visited July 28, 2026)
Prison occupancy rates in Central America as of 2024, by country [Graph], ICPR (World Prison Brief), April 2, 2025. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1297372/prison-occupancy-rates-central-america-country/