Prison population rate by country
Countries reporting
202
Highest
1,659
El Salvador
Lowest
14
Yemen
Median
158.5
Years covered
34
1993–2026
Data points
2,155
What the numbers show
Prison population rate is currently reported for 202 countries. The highest value is 1,659 in El Salvador; the lowest is 14 in Yemen.
The median across all reporting countries is 158.5, and the mean is 192.23.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 118.
Over the past decade 110 countries rose and 91 fell. The largest increase was in Libya (up 417.3%), and the largest decrease in Yemen (down 66.7%).
Prison population rate: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Salvador | 1,659 | 2024 | up 268.7% | volatile |
| 2 | Rwanda | 620 | 2024 | up 26.3% | rising |
| 3 | Turkmenistan | 576 | 2021 | down 1.2% | rising |
| 4 | United States | 542 | 2023 | down 23.3% | falling |
| 5 | American Samoa | 538 | 2022 | up 54.2% | rising |
| 6 | Panama | 533 | 2025 | up 33.9% | rising |
| 7 | Guam | 530 | 2025 | up 13.5% | rising |
| 8 | Tonga | 516 | 2022 | up 244.0% | volatile |
| 9 | Turkey | 468 | 2026 | up 86.5% | volatile |
| 10 | Cape Verde | 467 | 2024 | up 71.1% | rising |
| 11 | Uruguay | 449 | 2024 | up 60.9% | rising |
| 12 | British Virgin Islands | 426 | 2023 | down 10.5% | flat |
| 13 | Brazil | 416 | 2024 | up 38.2% | rising |
| 14 | Antigua and Barbuda | 400 | 2023 | down 0.7% | rising |
| 15 | Thailand | 395 | 2024 | down 14.1% | rising |
| 16 | Seychelles | 392 | 2025 | down 53.2% | volatile |
| 17 | Eswatini | 369 | 2025 | up 30.9% | rising |
| 18 | Palau | 367 | 2023 | down 35.8% | falling |
| 19 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 361 | 2024 | down 4.5% | rising |
| 20 | Dominica | 356 | 2024 | up 36.9% | falling |
| 21 | Belarus | 345 | 2018 | down 24.8% | falling |
| 21 | Costa Rica | 345 | 2023 | up 6.2% | rising |
| 21 | Nauru | 345 | 2023 | up 32.7% | volatile |
| 24 | Bahamas | 336 | 2023 | down 23.5% | falling |
| 25 | Nicaragua | 332 | 2018 | up 176.7% | rising |
| 26 | Chile | 329 | 2025 | up 28.0% | rising |
| 27 | Grenada | 324 | 2024 | down 30.8% | rising |
| 28 | French Guiana | 321 | 2025 | up 24.4% | flat |
| 29 | Cambodia | 320 | 2025 | up 226.5% | volatile |
| 30 | Namibia | 318 | 2021 | up 66.5% | flat |
| 31 | Saint Lucia | 310 | 2024 | down 12.7% | flat |
| 32 | Northern Mariana Islands | 304 | 2022 | unchanged | rising |
| 33 | Belize | 302 | 2025 | down 29.8% | falling |
| 34 | Russia | 300 | 2023 | down 43.2% | falling |
| 35 | Peru | 299 | 2025 | up 27.8% | rising |
| 36 | Martinique | 298 | 2025 | up 22.1% | rising |
| 37 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 296 | 2022 | down 59.6% | falling |
| 38 | Greenland | 294 | 2024 | up 25.6% | rising |
| 39 | Guyana | 288 | 2024 | up 12.1% | rising |
| 40 | Georgia | 285 | 2025 | up 1.8% | rising |
| 41 | Argentina | 284 | 2024 | up 63.2% | rising |
| 42 | Cayman Islands | 280 | 2024 | down 14.1% | falling |
| 43 | Trinidad and Tobago | 276 | 2021 | down 2.5% | falling |
| 44 | Gibraltar | 273 | 2021 | up 51.7% | rising |
| 45 | Taiwan | 270 | 2025 | down 0.4% | flat |
| 46 | Libya | 269 | 2023 | up 417.3% | rising |
| 47 | Morocco | 267 | 2023 | up 25.4% | rising |
| 47 | Tunisia | 267 | 2025 | up 18.1% | falling |
| 49 | Azerbaijan | 264 | 2024 | up 12.3% | falling |
| 50 | Curacao | 262 | 2022 | down 9.0% | falling |
| 51 | South Africa | 260 | 2025 | down 9.7% | falling |
| 52 | Paraguay | 259 | 2025 | up 63.9% | rising |
| 53 | Moldova | 255 | 2025 | up 6.7% | flat |
| 54 | Bolivia | 252 | 2024 | up 90.9% | rising |
| 55 | United States Virgin Islands | 251 | 2022 | down 53.1% | falling |
| 56 | Fiji | 248 | 2024 | up 42.5% | rising |
| 57 | Guadeloupe | 247 | 2025 | up 22.3% | rising |
| 58 | Malaysia | 244 | 2025 | up 52.5% | rising |
| 59 | Barbados | 240 | 2023 | down 34.8% | falling |
| 59 | Anguilla | 240 | 2022 | down 55.8% | falling |
| 61 | Bahrain | 234 | 2017 | up 175.3% | volatile |
| 62 | Aruba | 233 | 2022 | down 3.3% | falling |
| 63 | Iran | 228 | 2020 | down 0.4% | rising |
| 64 | Maldives | 225 | 2024 | down 18.5% | falling |
| 65 | Dominican Republic | 219 | 2025 | down 9.1% | rising |
| 66 | Algeria | 217 | 2021 | up 34.8% | rising |
| 66 | Israel | 217 | 2023 | down 17.5% | flat |
| 68 | Mauritius | 215 | 2025 | up 22.2% | rising |
| 69 | Mayotte | 204 | 2025 | up 179.5% | rising |
| 70 | Bermuda | 200 | 2021 | down 48.5% | falling |
| 70 | French Polynesia | 200 | 2024 | up 28.2% | rising |
| 72 | Colombia | 199 | 2025 | down 16.0% | rising |
| 72 | New Zealand | 199 | 2025 | up 4.7% | rising |
| 72 | Venezuela | 199 | 2022 | up 32.7% | rising |
| 75 | Albania | 196 | 2025 | down 4.4% | rising |
| 75 | Ecuador | 196 | 2025 | up 21.0% | rising |
| 75 | Hungary | 196 | 2024 | up 7.7% | rising |
| 75 | Sint Maarten (Dutch part) | 196 | 2023 | down 51.6% | falling |
| 79 | Jordan | 194 | 2022 | up 136.6% | rising |
| 80 | Poland | 191 | 2025 | down 6.4% | falling |
| 81 | Honduras | 188 | 2023 | up 30.6% | rising |
| 81 | Mexico | 188 | 2025 | down 11.3% | flat |
| 83 | Isle of Man | 186 | 2025 | up 77.1% | rising |
| 83 | New Caledonia | 186 | 2025 | up 12.0% | rising |
| 85 | Macao | 185 | 2025 | down 2.1% | rising |
| 86 | Myanmar | 183 | 2020 | up 51.2% | rising |
| 87 | Sri Lanka | 180 | 2026 | up 116.9% | rising |
| 88 | Czechia | 179 | 2025 | up 1.1% | flat |
| 88 | Iraq | 179 | 2021 | up 43.2% | rising |
| 88 | Samoa | 179 | 2019 | down 21.1% | rising |
| 91 | Singapore | 178 | 2024 | down 21.6% | falling |
| 92 | Puerto Rico | 177 | 2022 | down 47.8% | falling |
| 92 | Serbia | 177 | 2024 | up 22.1% | rising |
| 94 | Latvia | 175 | 2024 | down 30.6% | falling |
| 95 | Australia | 170 | 2025 | up 18.1% | rising |
| 95 | Reunion | 170 | 2025 | up 40.5% | flat |
| 97 | Jersey | 169 | 2024 | up 20.7% | falling |
| 98 | Montenegro | 168 | 2024 | down 7.2% | rising |
| 99 | Mongolia | 166 | 2023 | down 44.7% | falling |
| 100 | Kazakhstan | 163 | 2024 | down 43.6% | falling |
| 101 | Botswana | 161 | 2022 | down 23.7% | falling |
| 102 | Lithuania | 156 | 2024 | down 50.5% | falling |
| 102 | Cook Islands | 156 | 2024 | down 11.4% | rising |
| 104 | Philippines | 151 | 2021 | up 46.6% | rising |
| 105 | Uganda | 150 | 2025 | up 36.4% | rising |
| 105 | Zimbabwe | 150 | 2025 | up 16.3% | flat |
| 107 | Slovakia | 149 | 2025 | down 19.5% | rising |
| 108 | Tajikistan | 145 | 2024 | up 19.8% | flat |
| 109 | Benin | 144 | 2024 | up 114.9% | rising |
| 110 | Brunei | 143 | 2022 | up 20.2% | rising |
| 111 | North Macedonia | 142 | 2024 | down 6.0% | rising |
| 112 | Lebanon | 141 | 2023 | up 54.9% | falling |
| 113 | Saudi Arabia | 140 | 2019 | down 15.2% | rising |
| 114 | United Kingdom | 139.33 | 2025 | down 4.8% | flat |
| 115 | Hong Kong | 139 | 2025 | up 21.9% | falling |
| 116 | Zambia | 137 | 2024 | up 25.7% | falling |
| 117 | Vietnam | 135 | 2022 | down 5.6% | rising |
| 118 | Suriname | 134 | 2023 | down 30.9% | flat |
| 119 | Romania | 129 | 2025 | down 15.1% | falling |
| 119 | Sao Tome and Principe | 129 | 2023 | up 12.2% | rising |
| 121 | Micronesia (country) | 127 | 2014 | up 58.8% | rising |
| 122 | France | 126 | 2025 | up 10.5% | rising |
| 123 | Jamaica | 124 | 2023 | down 16.2% | falling |
| 123 | Guernsey | 124 | 2026 | down 12.1% | flat |
| 125 | Guatemala | 123 | 2023 | up 23.0% | rising |
| 126 | Spain | 121 | 2024 | down 16.0% | falling |
| 126 | Portugal | 121 | 2025 | down 10.4% | flat |
| 128 | China | 119 | 2018 | down 1.7% | flat |
| 128 | Malta | 119 | 2024 | down 9.8% | rising |
| 130 | Cameroon | 118 | 2024 | up 2.6% | flat |
| 130 | Estonia | 118 | 2025 | down 48.7% | falling |
| 132 | Lesotho | 117 | 2025 | up 14.7% | falling |
| 133 | Ukraine | 116 | 2023 | down 64.2% | falling |
| 134 | Croatia | 115 | 2023 | down 2.5% | rising |
| 134 | South Korea | 115 | 2023 | up 25.0% | falling |
| 136 | Cyprus | 114 | 2025 | up 42.5% | rising |
| 137 | Belgium | 113 | 2025 | up 7.6% | rising |
| 137 | Kiribati | 113 | 2016 | up 27.0% | rising |
| 139 | Kyrgyzstan | 112 | 2023 | down 36.4% | falling |
| 140 | Tuvalu | 110 | 2014 | up 57.1% | rising |
| 141 | Italy | 108 | 2025 | up 22.7% | rising |
| 142 | Austria | 104 | 2026 | up 7.2% | flat |
| 143 | Ireland | 101 | 2025 | up 20.2% | rising |
| 144 | Kenya | 100 | 2024 | down 18.7% | falling |
| 145 | Bulgaria | 99 | 2024 | down 18.9% | falling |
| 145 | Ethiopia | 99 | 2020 | down 27.2% | rising |
| 147 | Greece | 98 | 2024 | down 15.5% | rising |
| 148 | Indonesia | 96 | 2025 | up 50.0% | rising |
| 149 | Madagascar | 95 | 2024 | up 10.5% | falling |
| 150 | Cote d'Ivoire | 94 | 2024 | up 184.8% | rising |
| 151 | Nepal | 93 | 2025 | up 57.6% | rising |
| 152 | Sweden | 92 | 2024 | up 50.8% | rising |
| 153 | Luxembourg | 91 | 2024 | down 22.9% | falling |
| 154 | Burundi | 90 | 2025 | up 3.4% | falling |
| 154 | Canada | 90 | 2023 | down 23.7% | falling |
| 156 | Armenia | 83 | 2024 | down 37.1% | falling |
| 157 | Monaco | 81 | 2024 | up 32.8% | rising |
| 158 | Malawi | 78 | 2024 | up 6.8% | flat |
| 159 | Switzerland | 77 | 2025 | down 8.3% | flat |
| 160 | Senegal | 76 | 2024 | up 31.0% | rising |
| 161 | Djibouti | 74 | 2022 | down 16.9% | flat |
| 161 | Solomon Islands | 74 | 2024 | up 51.0% | rising |
| 163 | Andorra | 71 | 2024 | down 5.3% | falling |
| 163 | Germany | 71 | 2024 | down 6.6% | falling |
| 165 | Denmark | 69 | 2024 | up 3.0% | flat |
| 165 | Qatar | 69 | 2022 | up 81.6% | falling |
| 165 | Slovenia | 69 | 2026 | up 7.8% | rising |
| 168 | Vanuatu | 68 | 2024 | up 17.2% | rising |
| 169 | Marshall Islands | 66 | 2014 | down 26.7% | falling |
| 170 | Angola | 65 | 2024 | down 29.3% | rising |
| 171 | Netherlands | 64 | 2023 | down 22.0% | falling |
| 172 | Mozambique | 63 | 2024 | up 12.5% | flat |
| 173 | Liberia | 60 | 2025 | up 22.4% | rising |
| 174 | Haiti | 59 | 2025 | down 39.8% | rising |
| 174 | Togo | 59 | 2021 | down 7.8% | falling |
| 176 | Mauritania | 57 | 2022 | up 35.7% | rising |
| 176 | Papua New Guinea | 57 | 2023 | up 26.7% | falling |
| 178 | Chad | 56 | 2022 | up 36.6% | rising |
| 179 | Niger | 55 | 2024 | up 25.0% | flat |
| 179 | East Timor | 55 | 2021 | up 139.1% | rising |
| 181 | Afghanistan | 54 | 2024 | down 35.7% | rising |
| 181 | Finland | 54 | 2024 | down 5.3% | falling |
| 181 | Norway | 54 | 2025 | down 25.0% | falling |
| 184 | Central African Republic | 52 | 2023 | up 173.7% | rising |
| 184 | Sudan | 52 | 2017 | down 8.8% | rising |
| 184 | Sierra Leone | 52 | 2024 | up 4.0% | rising |
| 187 | Mali | 48 | 2023 | up 45.5% | flat |
| 188 | Bangladesh | 46 | 2025 | up 9.5% | falling |
| 188 | Comoros | 46 | 2023 | up 64.3% | rising |
| 188 | Oman | 46 | 2015 | down 24.6% | falling |
| 191 | Pakistan | 45 | 2024 | up 12.5% | falling |
| 192 | Ghana | 41 | 2025 | down 25.5% | falling |
| 192 | Tanzania | 41 | 2023 | down 39.7% | falling |
| 194 | Burkina Faso | 37 | 2024 | down 2.6% | rising |
| 194 | India | 37 | 2023 | up 23.3% | rising |
| 196 | Iceland | 35 | 2024 | down 25.5% | rising |
| 197 | Japan | 33 | 2024 | down 31.2% | falling |
| 197 | Nigeria | 33 | 2025 | up 3.1% | rising |
| 199 | Faroe Islands | 24 | 2024 | up 9.1% | flat |
| 200 | Gambia | 22 | 2021 | down 50.0% | falling |
| 201 | Liechtenstein | 20 | 2024 | down 4.8% | falling |
| 202 | Yemen | 14 | 2022 | down 66.7% | falling |