India vs Pakistan: Prison population rate
India
37 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2023
Pakistan
45 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2024
India rank
194th
Pakistan rank
191st
Prison population rate over time
- India
- Pakistan
How they compare
Pakistan currently reports 45 prisoners per 100,000 people against 37 prisoners per 100,000 people in India, a difference of 8 prisoners per 100,000 people.
That makes Pakistan's figure about 1.2 times India's.
Across all 7 years both countries report, Pakistan has been ahead every year.
India ranks 194th and Pakistan ranks 191st of 202 countries.
Pakistan has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | India | Pakistan | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 29.33 prisoners per 100,000 people | 55.33 prisoners per 100,000 people | 26 prisoners per 100,000 people | Pakistan |
| 2010s | 32.33 prisoners per 100,000 people | 40.33 prisoners per 100,000 people | 8 prisoners per 100,000 people | Pakistan |
| 2020s | 35 prisoners per 100,000 people | 37 prisoners per 100,000 people | 2 prisoners per 100,000 people | Pakistan |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher prison population rate, India or Pakistan?
- Pakistan, at 45 prisoners per 100,000 people against 37 prisoners per 100,000 people in India as of 2024.
- What is the difference in prison population rate between India and Pakistan?
- 8 prisoners per 100,000 people, with Pakistan ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for India and Pakistan?
- 7 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2020.
- How do India and Pakistan rank globally for prison population rate?
- India ranks 194th and Pakistan ranks 191st 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.