Prison population per 100,000 — all countries

Prison population per 100,000 — United States

Prison population per 100,000 in the United States in 2023 — 542 per 100k. Ranked 1 in the world out of 34. Since 2000, the indicator has fallen by 20.6%.

2023 542 per 100k +7.33% vs 2020
World rank 1of 34
Period maximum 755 per 100k2008
Period minimum 505 per 100k2020

Trend over time

2000–2023 · per 100,000 people

Prison population per 100,000 — United States, 2000–20235006007008002000200320062009201220152018202120232000: 683 per 100k2002: 703 per 100k2004: 725 per 100k2006: 752 per 100k2008: 755 per 100k2010: 731 per 100k2012: 707 per 100k2014: 693 per 100k2016: 666 per 100k2018: 642 per 100k2020: 505 per 100k2023: 542 per 100k
Change over the period: −141 (−20.64%) Average annual rate: -1 %
Prison population per 100,000 — United States, by year United States All countries CSV XLSX
Year per 100k Change Change, %
2023 542 — —
2020 505 — —
2018 642 — —
2016 666 — —
2014 693 — —
2012 707 — —
2010 731 — —
2008 755 — —
2006 752 — —
2004 725 — —
2002 703 — —
2000 683 — —

Northern America, 2023

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

US United States 542 CA Canada 90

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.