Prison population rate in Brazil
Brazil: Prison population rate was 416 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prison population rate in Brazil, 2000–2024
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 2024, prison population rate in Brazil stood at 416 prisoners per 100,000 people. That is the highest value across all 12 years on record.
That represents a change of up 38.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in Brazil peaked at 416 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 132 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2000.
Brazil ranks 13th of 202 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 12 years of available data.
Prison population rate in Brazil, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 132 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2002 | 132 prisoners per 100,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 180 prisoners per 100,000 people | +36.4% |
| 2006 | 209 prisoners per 100,000 people | +16.1% |
| 2008 | 231 prisoners per 100,000 people | +10.5% |
| 2010 | 249 prisoners per 100,000 people | +7.8% |
| 2012 | 270 prisoners per 100,000 people | +8.4% |
| 2014 | 301 prisoners per 100,000 people | +11.5% |
| 2016 | 349 prisoners per 100,000 people | +15.9% |
| 2018 | 354 prisoners per 100,000 people | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 381 prisoners per 100,000 people | +7.6% |
| 2024 | 416 prisoners per 100,000 people | +9.2% |
Brazil compared with similar countries
- Brazil's 416 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 216 prisoners per 100,000 people, 1.9× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Brazil's 416 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 280 prisoners per 100,000 people, 1.5× the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 176.8 prisoners per 100,000 people | 132 prisoners per 100,000 people | 231 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2010s | 304.6 prisoners per 100,000 people | 249 prisoners per 100,000 people | 354 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2020s | 398.5 prisoners per 100,000 people | 381 prisoners per 100,000 people | 416 prisoners per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Brazil
- 10 Cape Verde 467 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 11 Uruguay 449 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 12 British Virgin Islands 426 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 14 Antigua and Barbuda 400 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 15 Thailand 395 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 16 Seychelles 392 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for Brazil
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.7328 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.2798 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.7328 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.5984 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 230,886 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.4122 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.8366 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.7% (2100)
- Population density 19.55 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 6.45 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in Brazil?
- Prison population rate in Brazil was 416 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 Brazil?
- The highest recorded value was 416 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2024.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Brazil?
- The lowest recorded value was 132 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2000.
- How does Brazil rank for prison population rate?
- Brazil ranks 13th out of 202 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in Brazil?
- Over the last ten years it is up 38.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Brazil 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.