Colombia vs Venezuela: Prison population rate

Colombia
199 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2025
Venezuela
199 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2022
Colombia rank
72nd
Venezuela rank
72nd

Prison population rate over time

  • Colombia
  • Venezuela
50100150200250200020122025

How they compare

Colombia currently reports 199 prisoners per 100,000 people against 199 prisoners per 100,000 people in Venezuela, a difference of 0 prisoners per 100,000 people.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 12 shared years of data; in 2000 it was Colombia ahead.

Colombia ranks 72nd and Venezuela ranks 72nd of 202 countries.

Colombia has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Colombia Venezuela Difference Ahead
2000s 141 prisoners per 100,000 people 73 prisoners per 100,000 people 68 prisoners per 100,000 people Colombia
2010s 228.8 prisoners per 100,000 people 155.2 prisoners per 100,000 people 73.6 prisoners per 100,000 people Colombia
2020s 192.5 prisoners per 100,000 people 156 prisoners per 100,000 people 36.5 prisoners per 100,000 people Colombia

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher prison population rate, Colombia or Venezuela?
Colombia, at 199 prisoners per 100,000 people against 199 prisoners per 100,000 people in Venezuela as of 2025.
What is the difference in prison population rate between Colombia and Venezuela?
0 prisoners per 100,000 people, with Colombia ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Colombia and Venezuela?
12 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2022.
How do Colombia and Venezuela rank globally for prison population rate?
Colombia ranks 72nd and Venezuela ranks 72nd of 202 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as Prison population rate. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Individual pages

About this data

Indicator
Prison population rate
Unit
prisoners per 100,000 people
Source
Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
202 places, 2,155 data points, 1993–2026
Last refreshed

Prison population (including pre-trial detainees and remand prisoners), per 100,000 population.