Prison population per 100,000 — all countries

Prison population per 100,000 — World

Prison population per 100,000 in the world in 2014 — 149.5 per 100k. Since 2002, the indicator has risen by 2.7%.

2014 149.5 per 100k +1.74% vs 2012
World rank
Period maximum 151.7 per 100k2010
Period minimum 142.3 per 100k2006

Trend over time

2002–2014 · per 100,000 people

Prison population per 100,000 — World, 2002–2014140142.5145147.5150152.520022004200620082010201220142002: 145.6 per 100k2006: 142.3 per 100k2008: 150.7 per 100k2010: 151.7 per 100k2012: 146.9 per 100k2014: 149.5 per 100k
Change over the period: +3.9 (+2.65%) Average annual rate: 0.22 %

Comparison, 2014

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: World

World 149.5 per 100k
World computed 149.5 per 100k
Prison population per 100,000 — World, by year World All countries CSV XLSX
Year per 100k Change Change, %
2014 149.5
2012 146.9
2010 151.7
2008 150.7
2006 142.3
2002 145.6

About the indicator

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.

Source: UNODC Crime Statistics, license UN data: free to use with attribution.