Prison population rate in Belarus
Belarus: Prison population rate was 345 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2018. ▼ Falling
Prison population rate in Belarus, 2000–2018
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
In 2018, prison population rate in Belarus stood at 345 prisoners per 100,000 people.
That represents a change of down 6.8% on the previous year and down 24.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in Belarus peaked at 566 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2000 and was at its lowest, 305 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2012.
Belarus ranks 21st of 202 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 10 years of available data.
Prison population rate in Belarus, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 566 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2002 | 518 prisoners per 100,000 people | -8.5% |
| 2004 | 437 prisoners per 100,000 people | -15.6% |
| 2006 | 468 prisoners per 100,000 people | +7.1% |
| 2008 | 459 prisoners per 100,000 people | -1.9% |
| 2010 | 418 prisoners per 100,000 people | -8.9% |
| 2012 | 305 prisoners per 100,000 people | -27.0% |
| 2014 | 314 prisoners per 100,000 people | +3.0% |
| 2016 | 370 prisoners per 100,000 people | +17.8% |
| 2018 | 345 prisoners per 100,000 people | -6.8% |
Belarus compared with similar countries
- Belarus's 345 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 216 prisoners per 100,000 people, 1.6× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Belarus's 345 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 121 prisoners per 100,000 people, 2.9× the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 489.6 prisoners per 100,000 people | 437 prisoners per 100,000 people | 566 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2010s | 350.4 prisoners per 100,000 people | 305 prisoners per 100,000 people | 418 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Belarus
- 18 Palau 367 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 19 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 361 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 20 Dominica 356 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 21 Costa Rica 345 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 21 Nauru 345 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 24 Bahamas 336 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for Belarus
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.4414 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -1.15 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -3.09 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -1.15 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -1.2% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 144,679 people (2100)
- Population density 21.44 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -1.2% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1945 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.4518 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in Belarus?
- Prison population rate in Belarus was 345 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2018, 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 Belarus?
- The highest recorded value was 566 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2000.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Belarus?
- The lowest recorded value was 305 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2012.
- How does Belarus rank for prison population rate?
- Belarus ranks 21st out of 202 countries with data for 2018.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in Belarus?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Belarus 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.