Prison population rate in Australia
Australia: Prison population rate was 170 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025. ▲ Rising
Prison population rate in Australia, 2000–2025
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 Australia is 170 prisoners per 100,000 people, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 9.0% on the previous year and up 18.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in Australia peaked at 172 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2018 and was at its lowest, 114 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2000.
Australia ranks 95th of 202 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.
Prison population rate in Australia, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 114 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2002 | 115 prisoners per 100,000 people | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 121 prisoners per 100,000 people | +5.2% |
| 2006 | 126 prisoners per 100,000 people | +4.1% |
| 2008 | 130 prisoners per 100,000 people | +3.2% |
| 2010 | 135 prisoners per 100,000 people | +3.8% |
| 2012 | 130 prisoners per 100,000 people | -3.7% |
| 2014 | 144 prisoners per 100,000 people | +10.8% |
| 2016 | 161 prisoners per 100,000 people | +11.8% |
| 2018 | 172 prisoners per 100,000 people | +6.8% |
| 2020 | 160 prisoners per 100,000 people | -7.0% |
| 2022 | 156 prisoners per 100,000 people | -2.5% |
| 2025 | 170 prisoners per 100,000 people | +9.0% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 170 prisoners per 100,000 people is below the median for high income countries, which is 172.5 prisoners per 100,000 people, 99% of the median. (80 countries reporting)
- Australia's 170 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 170 prisoners per 100,000 people, 1.0× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 121.2 prisoners per 100,000 people | 114 prisoners per 100,000 people | 130 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2010s | 148.4 prisoners per 100,000 people | 130 prisoners per 100,000 people | 172 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2020s | 162 prisoners per 100,000 people | 156 prisoners per 100,000 people | 170 prisoners per 100,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 92 Puerto Rico 177 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 92 Serbia 177 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 94 Latvia 175 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 95 Reunion 170 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 97 Jersey 169 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 98 Montenegro 168 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for Australia
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2553 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.5057 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.5755 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.5057 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.5% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 2.09 million people (2100)
- Population density 5.61 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.5% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.2773 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8589 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in Australia?
- Prison population rate in Australia was 170 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025, 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 Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 172 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2018.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 114 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2000.
- How does Australia rank for prison population rate?
- Australia ranks 95th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Australia 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
Prison population (including pre-trial detainees and remand prisoners), per 100,000 population.