Incarceration rates provide a stark window into how different nations approach crime, justice, and social control.
In 2024, the global disparity in prison populations per capita is immense, with El Salvador standing as a distinct outlier.
With an incarceration rate of 1,659 per 100,000 inhabitants, El Salvador has more than double the prison density of the next highest nation. This unprecedented figure is largely the result of aggressive government crackdowns on gang violence, a policy that has swept a significant portion of the male population into the penal system in a bid for public safety.
Trailing El Salvador are Cuba and Rwanda, with 794 and 620 prisoners per 100,000 residents, respectively. These figures often reflect different historical and political contexts, ranging from strict state control to the long-term judicial aftermath of civil conflict.
The United States, historically criticised for mass incarceration, remains high on the list at 542 per 100,000, sitting between Turkmenistan and American Samoa.
While the US no longer holds the top spot per capita, its rate remains significantly higher than most other Western democracies. The list is geographically diverse, featuring nations from Central Asia (Turkmenistan), the Middle East (Turkey), and the Pacific (Tonga, Guam).
This diversity suggests that high incarceration rates are not tied to a single region or economic model, but rather arise from specific legislative choices, judicial severity, or political decisions to prioritise detention as a primary tool for managing societal order.
