Global incarceration rates highlight challenges in justice systems

El Salvador currently holds the highest incarceration rate in the world, with over 1,000 prisoners per 100,000 inhabitants as of 2024, according to World Prison Brief.

This staggering figure underscores the country’s ongoing struggle with organized crime, much of which is deeply tied to gang violence and the lingering effects of its Civil War. Adding to this crisis, El Salvador recorded the world’s highest murder rate in 2023, with over 50 homicides per 100,000 people, further highlighting the scale of the violence plaguing the nation.

In Cuba, the incarceration rate stands at 794 per 100,000 people, reflecting a justice system shaped by the criminalisation of political dissent and independent journalism.

Many arrests are based on vague charges, such as “pre-criminal social dangerousness,” while other legal restrictions target unauthorized emigration and informal economic activities. These policies have drawn criticism from human rights organizations and underscore the tight grip of the Cuban government on individual freedoms.

In the United States, states such as Texas, California, and Florida have the largest prison populations. Crimes like sexual assault and murder remain the leading causes of incarceration in these states, reflecting the broader challenges of addressing violent crime within the country’s justice system.

These figures illustrate the complex political, social, and historical factors driving incarceration rates worldwide. From El Salvador’s fight against gang violence to Cuba’s restrictive policies and the United States’ focus on addressing violent crime, the global picture of imprisonment reveals the diverse challenges facing justice systems today.