Prisons are meant to rehabilitate, but in many parts of the world, they have become places of extreme danger, neglect, and abuse. 

Overcrowding, violence, and systemic failures often leave inmates worse off than when they entered. 

Based on 2024 analysis from the International Security Journal, this graphic shows 20 of the world’s most dangerous prisons and the conditions that define them.

TL;DR

• The most dangerous prison in the world is Muhanga Correctional Facility in Rwanda, driven by extreme overcrowding, poor sanitation, and inhumane living conditions that put inmates’ health and safety at constant risk.
• Regionally, the world’s worst prisons are concentrated in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.

Top 20 Most Dangerous Prisons

Which Prison is the Most Dangerous?

At the top of the list is Muhanga Correctional Facility in central Rwanda. 

The facility has been overwhelmed by persistent overcrowding.

A May 2022 report from the National Human Rights Commission indicated Muhanga prison had a 238.8% occupancy rate, housing 6,498 inmates in a facility built for 2,720. 

Beyond physical hardship, the facility has been criticized for harsh treatment and lack of respect for prisoners’ rights. 

That has also cemented its reputation as one of the most dangerous places to be incarcerated in Africa. 

Although prisons now have health centers and medical screening at admission, this represents an improvement in the management of inmate health compared with the 1990s. 

Concentration Of The World’s Worst Prisons In Latin America

The ranking in the International Security Journal indicates that dangerous prisons are present across all continents, with Europe and North America accounting for the highest concentration. 

However, dangerous prisons also exist in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. 

On the list, Latin America accounts for three facilities (El Salvador, Argentina, and Colombia), Africa three (Rwanda, Kenya, and Equatorial Guinea), and Asia four (North Korea, Thailand, India, and Turkey). 

Combined, Latin America, Africa, and Asia make up 50% of the ranking. Europe is the largest single regional bloc, with 6 facilities (30%), driven by three entries from Russia, as well as prisons in Georgia, France, and the UK. North America accounts for 4 facilities (20%), all in the United States.

Human Rights & International Response

Some prisons on this list have drawn direct international rebuke.

For example,  Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp has been singled out by UN human rights experts as “a place of indefinite detention without trial, marked by ongoing suffering and serious violations of international law.”

It has also had repeated calls for its closure. 

Meanwhile, prisons such as Muhanga Correctional Facility in Rwanda and Ciudad Barrios Prison in El Salvador are frequently cited by rights groups for extreme overcrowding and neglect.

ELI5: Dangerous Prisons Around the World

The context of danger when referring to prisons is marked by human rights violations, deprivation, poor living conditions, and persistent violence. 

Among the 20 most dangerous prisons globally, Muhanga Correctional Facility in Rwanda stands out as the most dangerous. At least, according to the International Security Journal. 

Regionally, the world’s worst prisons are heavily concentrated in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.

Sources

Wikipedia | Teradig News  | Security Journal UK