Prison population rate in Afghanistan

Afghanistan: Prison population rate was 54 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
54 prisoners per 100,000 people
World rank
181st
of 202 countries
All-time high
88 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2017
All-time low
22 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2004
Years of data
9
2004–2024

Prison population rate in Afghanistan, 2004–2024

204060802004201420242004: 22 prisoners per 100,000 people2006: 30 prisoners per 100,000 people2008: 47 prisoners per 100,000 people2010: 65 prisoners per 100,000 people2012: 82 prisoners per 100,000 people2014: 84 prisoners per 100,000 people2017: 88 prisoners per 100,000 people2020: 62 prisoners per 100,000 people2024: 54 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. Measured in prisoners per 100,000 people.

Analysis

The most recent figure for prison population rate in Afghanistan is 54 prisoners per 100,000 people, measured in 2024.

That represents a change of down 35.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prison population rate in Afghanistan peaked at 88 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2017 and was at its lowest, 22 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2004.

Afghanistan ranks 181st of 202 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 33 prisoners per 100,000 people 22 prisoners per 100,000 people 47 prisoners per 100,000 people 3
2010s 79.75 prisoners per 100,000 people 65 prisoners per 100,000 people 88 prisoners per 100,000 people 4
2020s 58 prisoners per 100,000 people 54 prisoners per 100,000 people 62 prisoners per 100,000 people 2

Countries ranked near Afghanistan

  1. 178 Chad 56 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
  2. 179 East Timor 55 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
  3. 179 Niger 55 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
  4. 181 Finland 54 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
  5. 181 Norway 54 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
  6. 184 Central African Republic 52 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
  7. 184 Sierra Leone 52 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
  8. 184 Sudan 52 prisoners per 100,000 people compare

See the full ranking of 202 places →

More population data for Afghanistan

All data for Afghanistan →

Frequently asked questions

What is prison population rate in Afghanistan?
Prison population rate in Afghanistan was 54 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2024, according to Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest prison population rate recorded in Afghanistan?
The highest recorded value was 88 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2017.
What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Afghanistan?
The lowest recorded value was 22 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2004.
How does Afghanistan rank for prison population rate?
Afghanistan ranks 181st out of 202 countries with data for 2024.
Is prison population rate rising or falling in Afghanistan?
Over the last ten years it is down 35.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
The figures 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 part of Prison population rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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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.