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.