There are 43 prisons in Bolivia which incarcerated 32,677 people .
The prisons are managed by the Penitentiary Regime Directorate (). There are 17 prisons in departmental capital cities (including their metropolitan regions) and 36 provincial prisons. The Defensor del Pueblo consider pre-trial detainees as people deprived of their right to liberty.
Urban prisons include San Pedro Prison and Chonchocoro Prison in La Paz, and San Sebastian Prison in Cochabamba and Palmasola Prison in Santa Cruz.
PrisonCityDepartmentDate foundedSan Pedro PrisonLa PazLa Paz1895Chonchocoro PrisonLa PazLa Paz1992Miraflores Women's PrisonLa PazLa Paz1997Obrajes Women's PrisonLa PazLa Paz1957Qalauma Juvenile CenterViachaLa Paz2011San Sebastian PrisonCochabambaCochabamba1935San Antonio PrisonCochabambaCochabamba1988El AbraCochabambaCochabamba1999San Pablo Prison (Quillacollo)QuillacolloCochabambaSan Pedro Prison (Sacaba)SacabaCochabambaPalmasola PrisonSanta Cruz de la SierraSanta Cruz1989Villa Busch prisonCobijaPando2002Mocoví PrisonTrinidadBeni1994Morros Blancos PrisonTarijaTarija1990San RoqueSucreChuquisaca1900CantumarcaPotosíPotosí2001San Pedro Prison (Oruro)OruroOruro1940
Population and overcrowding The prison population is growing rapidly: reaching a recent peak of 33,058 in June 2025, with prisons 105% over their planned capacity. The total was previously around 8,700 people as of 2010; and 16,613 people . Approximately 55.9% of prisoners have yet to receive their sentences, and are awaiting trial in preventative detention.
Overcrowding is at a serious level, with the total prison population at over twice the capacity of the prisons. Palmasola prison is at three times its capacity of 2,762 inmates. Buena Vista, San Pedro of Oruro, and Valle Grande all have overcrowding of more than three times their capacity, as do the smaller prisons of Camargo and Guayaramerín.
An investigative survey by the Defensor del Pueblo of 20 rural prisons found that they lack the basic infrastructure necessary to function humanely. Due to the overcrowding of prisons in Bolivia and as part of a program that aims to spread literacy, inmates have now access to a small library where they can read books to reduce their jail time.
Prisoners' rights The Defensor del Pueblo reported there were 17 violent deaths in Bolivian prisons in the first seven month of 2026, exceeding the total number in 2025.
References
External links Hacinómetro (Overcrowding-meter), interactive map of Bolivia's prison population