Prison population rate in Belgium
Belgium: Prison population rate was 113 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025. ▲ Rising
Prison population rate in Belgium, 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
Belgium recorded 113 prisoners per 100,000 people for prison population rate in 2025. That is the highest value across all 12 years on record.
That represents a change of up 7.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in Belgium peaked at 113 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 83 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2002.
That places Belgium 137th out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 12 years of available data.
Prison population rate in Belgium, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 85 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2002 | 83 prisoners per 100,000 people | -2.4% |
| 2004 | 89 prisoners per 100,000 people | +7.2% |
| 2006 | 92 prisoners per 100,000 people | +3.4% |
| 2008 | 92 prisoners per 100,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 97 prisoners per 100,000 people | +5.4% |
| 2012 | 102 prisoners per 100,000 people | +5.2% |
| 2014 | 105 prisoners per 100,000 people | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 94 prisoners per 100,000 people | -10.5% |
| 2018 | 90 prisoners per 100,000 people | -4.3% |
| 2020 | 90 prisoners per 100,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 113 prisoners per 100,000 people | +25.6% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 113 prisoners per 100,000 people is below the median for high income countries, which is 172.5 prisoners per 100,000 people, 66% of the median. (80 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 113 prisoners per 100,000 people is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 121 prisoners per 100,000 people, 93% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 88.2 prisoners per 100,000 people | 83 prisoners per 100,000 people | 92 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2010s | 97.6 prisoners per 100,000 people | 90 prisoners per 100,000 people | 105 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2020s | 101.5 prisoners per 100,000 people | 90 prisoners per 100,000 people | 113 prisoners per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
- 134 Croatia 115 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 134 South Korea 115 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 136 Cyprus 114 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 137 Kiribati 113 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 139 Kyrgyzstan 112 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 140 Tuvalu 110 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for Belgium
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.0945 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.1652 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.1094 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1652 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.2% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 461,216 people (2100)
- Population density 365.29 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.2% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.0085 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.2011 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in Belgium?
- Prison population rate in Belgium was 113 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 Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 113 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 83 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2002.
- How does Belgium rank for prison population rate?
- Belgium ranks 137th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belgium 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.