Ecuador prisons face humanitarian crisis as inmate deaths surge

A joint investigation revealed that 1,220 prisoners died in Ecuador’s penitentiary system during 2025, averaging more than three deaths per day. The majority of fatalities were linked to disease and severe malnutrition rather than homicide. Tuberculosis cases rose sharply, from 641 in 2023 to 2,576 in 2025, with the Penitenciaría del Litoral accounting for 71 % of infections.

Families of detainees have staged protests in front of the national prison authority in Quito, demanding transparency and medical care. Ana Morales, founder of the Comité de Familiares por una Vida Digna, said, “Todo lo que está pasando dentro de las cárceles es totalmente inhumano.” The report also notes that many deceased inmates were buried in mass graves without notifying relatives, and that prisoners often lack basic food, medication, and access to essential supplies.

The findings highlight a severe humanitarian and health emergency inside Ecuadorian prisons, prompting calls for urgent government action to address overcrowding, improve health services, and protect inmate dignity.