Iceland vs Nigeria: Prison population rate
Iceland
35 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2024
Nigeria
33 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2025
Iceland rank
196th
Nigeria rank
197th
Prison population rate over time
- Iceland
- Nigeria
How they compare
Iceland currently reports 35 prisoners per 100,000 people against 33 prisoners per 100,000 people in Nigeria, a difference of 2 prisoners per 100,000 people.
That makes Iceland's figure about 1.1 times Nigeria's.
The two have swapped places 3 times across 11 shared years of data; in 2000 it was Nigeria ahead.
Iceland ranks 196th and Nigeria ranks 197th of 202 countries.
Iceland has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Iceland | Nigeria | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 37.4 prisoners per 100,000 people | 30.4 prisoners per 100,000 people | 7 prisoners per 100,000 people | Iceland |
| 2010s | 44 prisoners per 100,000 people | 32.8 prisoners per 100,000 people | 11.2 prisoners per 100,000 people | Iceland |
| 2020s | 44 prisoners per 100,000 people | 30 prisoners per 100,000 people | 14 prisoners per 100,000 people | Iceland |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher prison population rate, Iceland or Nigeria?
- Iceland, at 35 prisoners per 100,000 people against 33 prisoners per 100,000 people in Nigeria as of 2024.
- What is the difference in prison population rate between Iceland and Nigeria?
- 2 prisoners per 100,000 people, with Iceland ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Iceland and Nigeria?
- 11 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2020.
- How do Iceland and Nigeria rank globally for prison population rate?
- Iceland ranks 196th and Nigeria ranks 197th 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
Prison population (including pre-trial detainees and remand prisoners), per 100,000 population.