How many people are held in places of detention per 100,000 population — including those still under investigation.
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 · per 100,000 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 |
El Salvador
|
1,659 | 2024 | 1 | |
| 2 |
Cuba
|
794 | 2020 | 2 | |
| 3 |
Rwanda
|
620 | 2024 | 3 | |
| 4 |
Turkmenistan
|
576 | 2021 | 4 | |
| 5 |
United States
|
542 | 2023 | 5 | |
| 6 |
American Samoa
|
538 | 2022 | 6 | |
| 7 |
Panama
|
533 | 2025 | 7 | |
| 8 |
Guam
|
530 | 2025 | 8 | |
| 9 |
Tonga
|
516 | 2022 | 9 | |
| 10 |
Türkiye
|
468 | 2026 | 10 | |
| 11 |
Cabo Verde
|
467 | 2024 | 11 | |
| 12 |
Uruguay
|
449 | 2024 | 12 | |
| 13 |
British Virgin Islands
|
426 | 2023 | 13 | |
| 14 |
Brazil
|
416 | 2024 | 14 | |
| 15 |
Antigua and Barbuda
|
400 | 2023 | 15 | |
| 16 |
Thailand
|
395 | 2024 | 16 | |
| 17 |
Seychelles
|
392 | 2025 | 17 | |
| 18 |
Eswatini
|
369 | 2025 | 18 | |
| 19 |
Palau
|
367 | 2023 | 19 | |
| 20 |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
|
361 | 2024 | 20 | |
| 21 |
Dominica
|
356 | 2024 | 21 | |
| 22 |
Belarus
|
345 | 2018 | 22 | |
| 23 |
Costa Rica
|
345 | 2023 | 22 | |
| 24 |
Nauru
|
345 | 2023 | 22 | |
| 25 |
Bahamas
|
336 | 2023 | 25 | |
| 26 |
Nicaragua
|
332 | 2018 | 26 | |
| 27 |
Chile
|
329 | 2025 | 27 | |
| 28 |
Grenada
|
324 | 2024 | 28 | |
| 29 |
Cambodia
|
320 | 2025 | 29 | |
| 30 |
Namibia
|
318 | 2021 | 30 | |
| 31 |
Saint Lucia
|
310 | 2024 | 31 | |
| 32 |
Northern Mariana Islands
|
304 | 2022 | 32 | |
| 33 |
Belize
|
302 | 2025 | 33 | |
| 34 |
Russia
|
300 | 2023 | 34 | |
| 35 |
Peru
|
299 | 2025 | 35 | |
| 36 |
Martinique
|
298 | 2025 | 36 | |
| 37 |
Saint Kitts and Nevis
|
296 | 2022 | 37 | |
| 38 |
Greenland
|
294 | 2024 | 38 | |
| 39 |
Guyana
|
288 | 2024 | 39 | |
| 40 |
Georgia
|
285 | 2025 | 40 | |
| 41 |
Argentina
|
284 | 2024 | 41 | |
| 42 |
Cayman Islands
|
280 | 2024 | 42 | |
| 43 |
Trinidad and Tobago
|
276 | 2021 | 43 | |
| 44 |
Gibraltar
|
273 | 2021 | 44 | |
| 45 |
Taiwan
|
270 | 2025 | 45 | |
| 46 |
Libya
|
269 | 2023 | 46 | |
| 47 |
Morocco
|
267 | 2023 | 47 | |
| 48 |
Tunisia
|
267 | 2025 | 47 | |
| 49 |
Azerbaijan
|
264 | 2024 | 49 | |
| 50 |
Curaçao
|
262 | 2022 | 50 | |
| 51 |
South Africa
|
260 | 2025 | 51 | |
| 52 |
Paraguay
|
259 | 2025 | 52 | |
| 53 |
Moldova
|
255 | 2025 | 53 | |
| 54 |
Bolivia
|
252 | 2024 | 54 | |
| 55 |
United States Virgin Islands
|
251 | 2022 | 55 | |
| 56 |
Fiji
|
248 | 2024 | 56 | |
| 57 |
Guadeloupe
|
247 | 2025 | 57 | |
| 58 |
Malaysia
|
244 | 2025 | 58 | |
| 59 |
Barbados
|
240 | 2023 | 59 | |
| 60 |
Bahrain
|
234 | 2017 | 60 | |
| 61 |
Aruba
|
233 | 2022 | 61 | |
| 62 |
Iran
|
228 | 2020 | 62 | |
| 63 |
Gabon
|
226 | 2024 | 63 | |
| 64 |
Maldives
|
225 | 2024 | 64 | |
| 65 |
Dominican Republic
|
219 | 2025 | 65 | |
| 66 |
Algeria
|
217 | 2021 | 66 | |
| 67 |
Israel
|
217 | 2023 | 66 | |
| 68 |
Mauritius
|
215 | 2025 | 68 | |
| 69 |
Bermuda
|
200 | 2021 | 69 | |
| 70 |
French Polynesia
|
200 | 2024 | 69 | |
| 71 |
Colombia
|
199 | 2025 | 71 | |
| 72 |
New Zealand
|
199 | 2025 | 71 | |
| 73 |
Venezuela
|
199 | 2022 | 71 | |
| 74 |
Albania
|
196 | 2025 | 74 | |
| 75 |
Ecuador
|
196 | 2025 | 74 | |
| 76 |
Hungary
|
196 | 2024 | 74 | |
| 77 |
Sint Maarten
|
196 | 2023 | 74 | |
| 78 |
Jordan
|
194 | 2022 | 78 | |
| 79 |
Poland
|
191 | 2025 | 79 | |
| 80 |
Honduras
|
188 | 2023 | 80 | |
| 81 |
Mexico
|
188 | 2025 | 80 | |
| 82 |
Isle of Man
|
186 | 2025 | 82 | |
| 83 |
New Caledonia
|
186 | 2025 | 82 | |
| 84 |
Macao
|
185 | 2025 | 84 | |
| 85 |
Myanmar
|
183 | 2020 | 85 | |
| 86 |
Sri Lanka
|
180 | 2026 | 86 | |
| 87 |
Czechia
|
179 | 2025 | 87 | |
| 88 |
Iraq
|
179 | 2021 | 87 | |
| 89 |
Samoa
|
179 | 2019 | 87 | |
| 90 |
Singapore
|
178 | 2024 | 90 | |
| 91 |
Puerto Rico
|
177 | 2022 | 91 | |
| 92 |
Serbia
|
177 | 2024 | 91 | |
| 93 |
Latvia
|
175 | 2024 | 93 | |
| 94 |
Australia
|
170 | 2025 | 94 | |
| 95 |
Montenegro
|
168 | 2024 | 95 | |
| 96 |
Laos
|
166 | 2018 | 96 | |
| 97 |
Mongolia
|
166 | 2023 | 96 | |
| 98 |
Kazakhstan
|
163 | 2024 | 98 | |
| 99 |
Botswana
|
161 | 2022 | 99 | |
| 100 |
Cook Islands
|
156 | 2024 | 100 | |
| 101 |
Lithuania
|
156 | 2024 | 100 | |
| 102 |
Philippines
|
151 | 2021 | 102 | |
| 103 |
Uganda
|
150 | 2025 | 103 | |
| 104 |
Zimbabwe
|
150 | 2025 | 103 | |
| 105 |
Slovakia
|
149 | 2025 | 105 | |
| 106 |
Bhutan
|
145 | 2014 | 106 | |
| 107 |
Tajikistan
|
145 | 2024 | 106 | |
| 108 |
Benin
|
144 | 2024 | 108 | |
| 109 |
Brunei Darussalam
|
143 | 2022 | 109 | |
| 110 |
North Macedonia
|
142 | 2024 | 110 | |
| 111 |
Lebanon
|
141 | 2023 | 111 | |
| 112 |
Saudi Arabia
|
140 | 2019 | 112 | |
| 113 |
United Kingdom
|
139.3 | 2025 | 113 | |
| 114 |
Hong Kong
|
139 | 2025 | 114 | |
| 115 |
Zambia
|
137 | 2024 | 115 | |
| 116 |
Vietnam
|
135 | 2022 | 116 | |
| 117 |
Suriname
|
134 | 2023 | 117 | |
| 118 |
Romania
|
129 | 2025 | 118 | |
| 119 |
Sao Tome and Principe
|
129 | 2023 | 118 | |
| 120 |
Micronesia
|
127 | 2014 | 120 | |
| 121 |
France
|
126 | 2025 | 121 | |
| 122 |
Jamaica
|
124 | 2023 | 122 | |
| 123 |
Guatemala
|
123 | 2023 | 123 | |
| 124 |
Portugal
|
121 | 2025 | 124 | |
| 125 |
Spain
|
121 | 2024 | 124 | |
| 126 |
China
|
119 | 2018 | 126 | |
| 127 |
Malta
|
119 | 2024 | 126 | |
| 128 |
Cameroon
|
118 | 2024 | 128 | |
| 129 |
Estonia
|
118 | 2025 | 128 | |
| 130 |
Lesotho
|
117 | 2025 | 130 | |
| 131 |
Ukraine
|
116 | 2023 | 131 | |
| 132 |
Croatia
|
115 | 2023 | 132 | |
| 133 |
South Korea
|
115 | 2023 | 132 | |
| 134 |
Cyprus
|
114 | 2025 | 134 | |
| 135 |
Belgium
|
113 | 2025 | 135 | |
| 136 |
Egypt
|
113 | 2022 | 135 | |
| 137 |
Kiribati
|
113 | 2016 | 135 | |
| 138 |
Kyrgyzstan
|
112 | 2023 | 138 | |
| 139 |
Tuvalu
|
110 | 2014 | 139 | |
| 140 |
Italy
|
108 | 2025 | 140 | |
| 141 |
Austria
|
104 | 2026 | 141 | |
| 142 |
United Arab Emirates
|
104 | 2014 | 141 | |
| 143 |
Ireland
|
101 | 2025 | 143 | |
| 144 |
Kuwait
|
101 | 2023 | 143 | |
| 145 |
Kenya
|
100 | 2024 | 145 | |
| 146 |
Bulgaria
|
99 | 2024 | 146 | |
| 147 |
Ethiopia
|
99 | 2020 | 146 | |
| 148 |
Greece
|
98 | 2024 | 148 | |
| 149 |
Indonesia
|
96 | 2025 | 149 | |
| 150 |
Madagascar
|
95 | 2024 | 150 | |
| 151 |
Côte d'Ivoire
|
94 | 2024 | 151 | |
| 152 |
Nepal
|
93 | 2025 | 152 | |
| 153 |
Sweden
|
92 | 2024 | 153 | |
| 154 |
Luxembourg
|
91 | 2024 | 154 | |
| 155 |
Burundi
|
90 | 2025 | 155 | |
| 156 |
Canada
|
90 | 2023 | 155 | |
| 157 |
Uzbekistan
|
85 | 2022 | 157 | |
| 158 |
Armenia
|
83 | 2024 | 158 | |
| 159 |
Monaco
|
81 | 2024 | 159 | |
| 160 |
Malawi
|
78 | 2024 | 160 | |
| 161 |
Switzerland
|
77 | 2025 | 161 | |
| 162 |
Senegal
|
76 | 2024 | 162 | |
| 163 |
Djibouti
|
74 | 2022 | 163 | |
| 164 |
Solomon Islands
|
74 | 2024 | 163 | |
| 165 |
Andorra
|
71 | 2024 | 165 | |
| 166 |
Germany
|
71 | 2024 | 165 | |
| 167 |
Denmark
|
69 | 2024 | 167 | |
| 168 |
Qatar
|
69 | 2022 | 167 | |
| 169 |
Slovenia
|
69 | 2026 | 167 | |
| 170 |
Vanuatu
|
68 | 2024 | 170 | |
| 171 |
Marshall Islands
|
66 | 2014 | 171 | |
| 172 |
Angola
|
65 | 2024 | 172 | |
| 173 |
Netherlands
|
64 | 2023 | 173 | |
| 174 |
Equatorial Guinea
|
63 | 2015 | 174 | |
| 175 |
Mozambique
|
63 | 2024 | 174 | |
| 176 |
Liberia
|
60 | 2025 | 176 | |
| 177 |
Syria
|
60 | 2004 | 176 | |
| 178 |
Haiti
|
59 | 2025 | 178 | |
| 179 |
Togo
|
59 | 2021 | 178 | |
| 180 |
South Sudan
|
58 | 2021 | 180 | |
| 181 |
Mauritania
|
57 | 2022 | 181 | |
| 182 |
Papua New Guinea
|
57 | 2023 | 181 | |
| 183 |
Chad
|
56 | 2022 | 183 | |
| 184 |
Niger
|
55 | 2024 | 184 | |
| 185 |
Timor-Leste
|
55 | 2021 | 184 | |
| 186 |
Afghanistan
|
54 | 2024 | 186 | |
| 187 |
Finland
|
54 | 2024 | 186 | |
| 188 |
Norway
|
54 | 2025 | 186 | |
| 189 |
Central African Republic
|
52 | 2023 | 189 | |
| 190 |
Sierra Leone
|
52 | 2024 | 189 | |
| 191 |
Sudan
|
52 | 2017 | 189 | |
| 192 |
Mali
|
48 | 2023 | 192 | |
| 193 |
Bangladesh
|
46 | 2025 | 193 | |
| 194 |
Comoros
|
46 | 2023 | 193 | |
| 195 |
Democratic Republic of the Congo
|
46 | 2022 | 193 | |
| 196 |
Oman
|
46 | 2015 | 193 | |
| 197 |
Pakistan
|
45 | 2024 | 197 | |
| 198 |
San Marino
|
44 | 2024 | 198 | |
| 199 |
Ghana
|
41 | 2025 | 199 | |
| 200 |
Tanzania
|
41 | 2023 | 199 | |
| 201 |
Guinea
|
38 | 2024 | 201 | |
| 202 |
Burkina Faso
|
37 | 2024 | 202 | |
| 203 |
India
|
37 | 2023 | 202 | |
| 204 |
Iceland
|
35 | 2024 | 204 | |
| 205 |
Japan
|
33 | 2024 | 205 | |
| 206 |
Nigeria
|
33 | 2025 | 205 | |
| 207 |
Guinea-Bissau
|
31 | 2017 | 207 | |
| 208 |
Republic of the Congo
|
27 | 2019 | 208 | |
| 209 |
Faroe Islands
|
24 | 2024 | 209 | |
| 210 |
Gambia
|
22 | 2021 | 210 | |
| 211 |
Liechtenstein
|
20 | 2024 | 211 | |
| 212 |
Somalia
|
16 | 2023 | 212 | |
| 213 |
Yemen
|
14 | 2022 | 213 |
The number of persons held in correctional institutions and pretrial detention facilities per 100,000 people. The indicator covers both the convicted and those under investigation — in a number of countries the second group makes up more than half. UNODC data, collected from national prison services.
Important: The indicator does not measure the level of crime. A high value is just as likely to reflect harsh judicial practice as an actual crime problem.
How many people places of detention are designed for. Set against the number of prisoners, it shows overcrowding.
Crime 1990–2023 Intentional homicidesThe number of intentional homicides per 100,000 people.
Crime 1990–2024 Number of intentional homicidesHow many people become victims of intentional homicide in a year — in absolute numbers, from UNODC.
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.