Panama

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CountryPanama
Ministry responsible
Ministerio de Gobierno
Prison administration
Direccion General del Sistema Penitenciario
Contact address
Edificios 37 and 38 Balboa, Apartado 1628, Zona 1, Panama
Telephone
+507 512 7600
Website
Head of prison administration (and title)
Walter Hernández
Director General
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
23 798
at 31.3.2024 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
522
based on an estimated national population of 4.56 million at end of March 2024 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
35.2%
(31.3.2024)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
4.9%
(31.3.2024)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.0%
(December 2012 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
10.1%
(2014)
Number of establishments / institutions
23
(2020)
Official capacity of prison system
14 591
(31.3.2024)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
163.1%
(31.3.2024)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 8,652 283
2002 10,423 328
2004 11,400 345
2006 11,575 338
2008 9,651 272
2010 12,542 341
2012 14,468 380
2014 15,690 398
2016 16,583 407
2018 16,561 395
2020 17,967 416
2000 8,652 283
2002 10,423 328
2004 11,400 345
2006 11,575 338
2008 9,651 272
2010 12,542 341
2012 14,468 380
2014 15,690 398
2016 16,583 407
2018 16,561 395
2020 17,967 416

Pre-trial/remand prison population: trend

The table below gives an indication of the recent trend in the pre-trial/remand prison population. The final row shows the latest figures available.

It consists of the number of pre-trial/remand prisoners in the prison population on a single date in the year (or the annual average) and the percentage of the total prison population that pre-trial/remand prisoners constituted on that day.  

The final column shows the pre-trial/remand population rate per 100,000 of the national population. 

                                                  PANAMA

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

Pre-trial/remand
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

2000
2005
2010
2015
2020

5,237
7,270
7,969
10,047
7,053

63.2%
62.8%
65.5%
59.7%
39.3%

169
214
217
250
163

2024

8,369

35.2%

184

It should be noted that the number of pre-trial/remand prisoners fluctuates from day to day, month to month and year to year. Consequently the above figures give an indication of the trend but the picture is inevitably incomplete.

The pre-trial/remand population rate is calculated on the basis of the national population total. All national population figures are inevitably estimates but the estimates used in the World Prison Brief are based on official national figures, United Nations figures or figures from other recognised international authorities. 

Female prison population: trend

The table below gives an indication of the trend in the female prison population. The final row shows the latest figures available.

It consists of the number of female prisoners in the prison population on a single date in the year (or the annual average) and the percentage of the total prison population that female prisoners constituted on that day. 

The final column shows the female prison population rate per 100,000 of the national population.

                                                    PANAMA

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

Female prison
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

2000
2005
2010
2015
2020

654
761
865
1,070
934

7.6%
6.6%
7.1%
6.4%
5.2%

21.2
22.4
23.3
26.6
21.6

2024

1,175

4.9%

25.8

The number of female prisoners fluctuates and so the above figures give an indication of the trend but the picture is inevitably incomplete.

The female prison population rate is calculated on the basis of the national population total. All national population figures are inevitably estimates but the estimates used in the World Prison Brief are based on official national figures, United Nations figures or figures from other recognised international authorities.

(If the rate were calculated on the basis of the number of females in the national population it would of course be approximately double the figure in the final column).

Prison population total
Prison population rate