How many people places of detention are designed for. Set against the number of prisoners, it shows overcrowding.
The ranking uses the latest available value for each country — the year is shown in the row. The table spans 2004 to 2026.
Top-20 · people
The scale does not start at zero — the values lie in a narrow range, and starting from zero the bars would be indistinguishable. The axis ticks are labeled.
| # | Year | Subregion | World rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Republic of the Congo
|
617 | 2019 | 1 | |
| 2 |
Cambodia
|
409 | 2025 | 2 | |
| 3 |
Uganda
|
342 | 2025 | 3 | |
| 4 |
Sao Tome and Principe
|
333 | 2023 | 4 | |
| 5 |
Senegal
|
330 | 2024 | 5 | |
| 6 |
Democratic Republic of the Congo
|
323 | 2022 | 6 | |
| 7 |
Haiti
|
302 | 2025 | 7 | |
| 8 |
Guatemala
|
299 | 2023 | 8 | |
| 9 |
Côte d'Ivoire
|
297 | 2024 | 9 | |
| 10 |
Burundi
|
292 | 2025 | 10 | |
| 11 |
Benin
|
280 | 2024 | 11 | |
| 12 |
Madagascar
|
278 | 2024 | 12 | |
| 13 |
Bolivia
|
274 | 2024 | 13 | |
| 14 |
Antigua and Barbuda
|
267 | 2023 | 14 | |
| 15 |
Zambia
|
265 | 2024 | 15 | |
| 16 |
Sudan
|
255 | 2017 | 16 | |
| 17 |
Liberia
|
252 | 2025 | 17 | |
| 18 |
Mozambique
|
248 | 2024 | 18 | |
| 19 |
Peru
|
248 | 2025 | 19 | |
| 20 |
Malawi
|
236 | 2024 | 20 | |
| 21 |
Mali
|
223 | 2023 | 21 | |
| 22 |
Sri Lanka
|
216 | 2026 | 22 | |
| 23 |
Egypt
|
207 | 2022 | 23 | |
| 24 |
Grenada
|
206 | 2024 | 24 | |
| 25 |
Lebanon
|
194 | 2023 | 25 | |
| 26 |
Tunisia
|
194 | 2025 | 26 | |
| 27 |
Central African Republic
|
191 | 2023 | 27 | |
| 28 |
Indonesia
|
185 | 2025 | 28 | |
| 29 |
Nepal
|
184 | 2025 | 29 | |
| 30 |
Togo
|
184 | 2021 | 30 | |
| 31 |
Bangladesh
|
183 | 2025 | 31 | |
| 32 |
Afghanistan
|
180 | 2024 | 32 | |
| 33 |
Sierra Leone
|
179 | 2024 | 33 | |
| 34 |
Nicaragua
|
178 | 2018 | 34 | |
| 35 |
Kenya
|
177 | 2024 | 35 | |
| 36 |
Timor-Leste
|
173 | 2021 | 36 | |
| 37 |
Gambia
|
173 | 2021 | 37 | |
| 38 |
Djibouti
|
171 | 2022 | 38 | |
| 39 |
Guinea
|
171 | 2024 | 38 | |
| 40 |
Eswatini
|
171 | 2025 | 40 | |
| 41 |
Panama
|
169 | 2025 | 41 | |
| 42 |
American Samoa
|
166 | 2022 | 42 | |
| 43 |
Cameroon
|
164 | 2024 | 43 | |
| 44 |
Pakistan
|
163 | 2024 | 44 | |
| 45 |
Burkina Faso
|
163 | 2024 | 45 | |
| 46 |
El Salvador
|
163 | 2024 | 46 | |
| 47 |
Bahamas
|
162 | 2023 | 47 | |
| 48 |
Comoros
|
162 | 2023 | 47 | |
| 49 |
Paraguay
|
159 | 2025 | 49 | |
| 50 |
United Arab Emirates
|
159 | 2014 | 49 | |
| 51 |
Morocco
|
159 | 2023 | 51 | |
| 52 |
Dominican Republic
|
158 | 2025 | 52 | |
| 53 |
Guadeloupe
|
157 | 2025 | 53 | |
| 54 |
British Virgin Islands
|
155 | 2023 | 54 | |
| 55 |
Iran
|
153 | 2020 | 55 | |
| 56 |
Guyana
|
151 | 2024 | 56 | |
| 57 |
Jordan
|
151 | 2022 | 57 | |
| 58 |
Martinique
|
150 | 2025 | 58 | |
| 59 |
Honduras
|
150 | 2023 | 59 | |
| 60 |
South Africa
|
149 | 2025 | 60 | |
| 61 |
Guam
|
148 | 2025 | 61 | |
| 62 |
Venezuela
|
146 | 2022 | 62 | |
| 63 |
Saint Kitts and Nevis
|
144 | 2022 | 63 | |
| 64 |
Brunei Darussalam
|
144 | 2022 | 64 | |
| 65 |
New Caledonia
|
143 | 2025 | 65 | |
| 66 |
Libya
|
142 | 2023 | 66 | |
| 67 |
Rwanda
|
141 | 2024 | 67 | |
| 68 |
Iraq
|
139 | 2021 | 68 | |
| 69 |
Ecuador
|
138 | 2025 | 69 | |
| 70 |
Ghana
|
138 | 2025 | 70 | |
| 71 |
Nigeria
|
137 | 2025 | 71 | |
| 72 |
Israel
|
136 | 2023 | 72 | |
| 73 |
Brazil
|
136 | 2024 | 73 | |
| 74 |
France
|
136 | 2025 | 73 | |
| 75 |
Chad
|
133 | 2022 | 75 | |
| 76 |
Türkiye
|
133 | 2026 | 76 | |
| 77 |
Palau
|
133 | 2023 | 77 | |
| 78 |
Uruguay
|
130 | 2024 | 78 | |
| 79 |
Zimbabwe
|
130 | 2025 | 78 | |
| 80 |
Colombia
|
128 | 2025 | 80 | |
| 81 |
Kuwait
|
126 | 2023 | 81 | |
| 82 |
Maldives
|
125 | 2024 | 82 | |
| 83 |
San Marino
|
125 | 2024 | 82 | |
| 84 |
Mongolia
|
124 | 2023 | 84 | |
| 85 |
Italy
|
124 | 2025 | 85 | |
| 86 |
Cyprus
|
123 | 2025 | 86 | |
| 87 |
Argentina
|
123 | 2024 | 87 | |
| 88 |
Cayman Islands
|
123 | 2024 | 88 | |
| 89 |
Belgium
|
122 | 2025 | 89 | |
| 90 |
Samoa
|
121 | 2019 | 90 | |
| 91 |
India
|
121 | 2023 | 91 | |
| 92 |
Costa Rica
|
120 | 2023 | 92 | |
| 93 |
Ireland
|
119 | 2025 | 93 | |
| 94 |
Algeria
|
119 | 2021 | 94 | |
| 95 |
South Korea
|
118 | 2023 | 95 | |
| 96 |
Romania
|
117 | 2025 | 96 | |
| 97 |
Mauritius
|
117 | 2025 | 97 | |
| 98 |
Papua New Guinea
|
117 | 2023 | 98 | |
| 99 |
Austria
|
115 | 2026 | 99 | |
| 100 |
Kiribati
|
113 | 2016 | 100 | |
| 101 |
Mexico
|
113 | 2025 | 101 | |
| 102 |
Australia
|
112 | 2025 | 102 | |
| 103 |
Thailand
|
112 | 2024 | 103 | |
| 104 |
Myanmar
|
112 | 2020 | 104 | |
| 105 |
Malaysia
|
110 | 2025 | 105 | |
| 106 |
Bahrain
|
110 | 2017 | 106 | |
| 107 |
Cabo Verde
|
109 | 2024 | 107 | |
| 108 |
Greenland
|
109 | 2024 | 108 | |
| 109 |
Slovenia
|
109 | 2026 | 108 | |
| 110 |
Croatia
|
109 | 2023 | 110 | |
| 111 |
Tanzania
|
109 | 2023 | 111 | |
| 112 |
Angola
|
107 | 2024 | 112 | |
| 113 |
Vanuatu
|
107 | 2024 | 112 | |
| 114 |
Sweden
|
105 | 2024 | 114 | |
| 115 |
Taiwan
|
104 | 2025 | 115 | |
| 116 |
Hungary
|
104 | 2024 | 116 | |
| 117 |
Fiji
|
104 | 2024 | 117 | |
| 118 |
Portugal
|
103 | 2025 | 118 | |
| 119 |
Azerbaijan
|
103 | 2024 | 119 | |
| 120 |
Finland
|
103 | 2024 | 119 | |
| 121 |
Saint Lucia
|
103 | 2024 | 119 | |
| 122 |
French Polynesia
|
103 | 2024 | 122 | |
| 123 |
Canada
|
102 | 2023 | 123 | |
| 124 |
Guinea-Bissau
|
102 | 2017 | 123 | |
| 125 |
Suriname
|
102 | 2023 | 125 | |
| 126 |
Mauritania
|
102 | 2022 | 126 | |
| 127 |
North Macedonia
|
101 | 2024 | 127 | |
| 128 |
Curaçao
|
99 | 2022 | 128 | |
| 129 |
Czechia
|
99 | 2025 | 128 | |
| 130 |
Serbia
|
98 | 2024 | 130 | |
| 131 |
Niger
|
97 | 2024 | 131 | |
| 132 |
Marshall Islands
|
97 | 2014 | 132 | |
| 133 |
Sint Maarten
|
97 | 2023 | 133 | |
| 134 |
Isle of Man
|
96 | 2025 | 134 | |
| 135 |
Greece
|
95 | 2024 | 135 | |
| 136 |
Switzerland
|
95 | 2025 | 136 | |
| 137 |
Denmark
|
94 | 2024 | 137 | |
| 138 |
Gibraltar
|
94 | 2021 | 137 | |
| 139 |
New Zealand
|
94 | 2025 | 139 | |
| 140 |
Albania
|
94 | 2025 | 140 | |
| 141 |
Aruba
|
93 | 2022 | 141 | |
| 142 |
Faroe Islands
|
93 | 2024 | 142 | |
| 143 |
Chile
|
91 | 2025 | 143 | |
| 144 |
Georgia
|
90 | 2025 | 144 | |
| 145 |
Moldova
|
89 | 2025 | 145 | |
| 146 |
Micronesia
|
88 | 2014 | 146 | |
| 147 |
Iceland
|
88 | 2024 | 147 | |
| 148 |
Jamaica
|
87 | 2023 | 148 | |
| 149 |
United States
|
86 | 2023 | 149 | |
| 150 |
Botswana
|
86 | 2022 | 150 | |
| 151 |
Turkmenistan
|
85 | 2021 | 151 | |
| 152 |
Belarus
|
83 | 2018 | 152 | |
| 153 |
Norway
|
83 | 2025 | 153 | |
| 154 |
Macao
|
83 | 2025 | 154 | |
| 155 |
Malta
|
83 | 2024 | 154 | |
| 156 |
Poland
|
83 | 2025 | 156 | |
| 157 |
Germany
|
82 | 2024 | 157 | |
| 158 |
Trinidad and Tobago
|
82 | 2021 | 158 | |
| 159 |
Tonga
|
82 | 2022 | 159 | |
| 160 |
Uzbekistan
|
80 | 2022 | 160 | |
| 161 |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
|
80 | 2024 | 161 | |
| 162 |
Singapore
|
79 | 2024 | 162 | |
| 163 |
Netherlands
|
78 | 2023 | 163 | |
| 164 |
Solomon Islands
|
78 | 2024 | 164 | |
| 165 |
Namibia
|
75 | 2021 | 165 | |
| 166 |
Montenegro
|
75 | 2024 | 166 | |
| 167 |
United States Virgin Islands
|
74 | 2022 | 167 | |
| 168 |
Hong Kong
|
74 | 2025 | 168 | |
| 169 |
Spain
|
74 | 2024 | 169 | |
| 170 |
Dominica
|
73 | 2024 | 170 | |
| 171 |
Lesotho
|
71 | 2025 | 171 | |
| 172 |
Slovakia
|
70 | 2025 | 172 | |
| 173 |
Bulgaria
|
69 | 2024 | 173 | |
| 174 |
Lithuania
|
68 | 2024 | 174 | |
| 175 |
Latvia
|
68 | 2024 | 175 | |
| 176 |
Russia
|
67 | 2023 | 176 | |
| 177 |
Syria
|
66 | 2004 | 177 | |
| 178 |
Belize
|
65 | 2025 | 178 | |
| 179 |
Estonia
|
65 | 2025 | 179 | |
| 180 |
Kazakhstan
|
62 | 2024 | 180 | |
| 181 |
Kyrgyzstan
|
62 | 2023 | 181 | |
| 182 |
Luxembourg
|
62 | 2024 | 182 | |
| 183 |
Barbados
|
62 | 2023 | 183 | |
| 184 |
Tajikistan
|
62 | 2024 | 183 | |
| 185 |
Bermuda
|
60 | 2021 | 185 | |
| 186 |
Puerto Rico
|
56 | 2022 | 186 | |
| 187 |
Armenia
|
55 | 2024 | 187 | |
| 188 |
Ukraine
|
54 | 2023 | 188 | |
| 189 |
Seychelles
|
54 | 2025 | 189 | |
| 190 |
Cook Islands
|
50 | 2024 | 190 | |
| 191 |
Northern Mariana Islands
|
48 | 2022 | 191 | |
| 192 |
Japan
|
47 | 2024 | 192 | |
| 193 |
Liechtenstein
|
40 | 2024 | 193 | |
| 194 |
Andorra
|
40 | 2024 | 194 | |
| 195 |
Monaco
|
31 | 2024 | 195 | |
| 196 |
Nauru
|
14 | 2023 | 196 |
The official design capacity of correctional institutions and pretrial detention facilities — how many people they are intended for under the country's own norms. UNODC data, collected from national prison services together with the data on the number of prisoners. The indicator exists for the sake of one comparison: the ratio of the actual prison population to capacity is the prison occupancy rate, by which the state of a penitentiary system is judged — and by which countries range from half full to three times over capacity.
Important: Capacity cannot be compared directly across countries: their norms of floor space per person differ. The indicator is meaningful next to the number of prisoners.
How many people are held in places of detention per 100,000 population — including those still under investigation.
Crime 1990–2024 Number of intentional homicidesHow many people become victims of intentional homicide in a year — in absolute numbers, from UNODC.
Crime 1990–2023 Intentional homicidesThe number of intentional homicides per 100,000 people.
Crime 1990–2024 Homicides: male victimsHow many men are killed by intentional homicide in a year. In most countries this is four victims out of five.
Crime 1990–2024 Homicides: female victimsHow many women are killed by intentional homicide in a year — an indicator customarily viewed apart from the total.
Crime 1990–2023 Homicides of men per 100,000The homicide rate among men — how many victims there are per 100,000 men.