Prison population rate in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Prison population rate was 99 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2024. ▼ Falling
Prison population rate in Bulgaria, 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
Bulgaria recorded 99 prisoners per 100,000 people for prison population rate in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 12 years on record.
That represents a change of down 18.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in Bulgaria peaked at 148 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2006 and was at its lowest, 99 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2018.
Bulgaria ranks 145th of 202 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.
Prison population rate in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 124 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2002 | 114 prisoners per 100,000 people | -8.1% |
| 2004 | 129 prisoners per 100,000 people | +13.2% |
| 2006 | 148 prisoners per 100,000 people | +14.7% |
| 2008 | 134 prisoners per 100,000 people | -9.5% |
| 2010 | 131 prisoners per 100,000 people | -2.2% |
| 2012 | 135 prisoners per 100,000 people | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 122 prisoners per 100,000 people | -9.6% |
| 2016 | 101 prisoners per 100,000 people | -17.2% |
| 2018 | 99 prisoners per 100,000 people | -2.0% |
| 2020 | 106 prisoners per 100,000 people | +7.1% |
| 2024 | 99 prisoners per 100,000 people | -6.6% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 99 prisoners per 100,000 people is below the median for high income countries, which is 172.5 prisoners per 100,000 people, 57% of the median. (80 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 99 prisoners per 100,000 people is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 121 prisoners per 100,000 people, 82% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 129.8 prisoners per 100,000 people | 114 prisoners per 100,000 people | 148 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2010s | 117.6 prisoners per 100,000 people | 99 prisoners per 100,000 people | 135 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2020s | 102.5 prisoners per 100,000 people | 99 prisoners per 100,000 people | 106 prisoners per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
- 142 Austria 104 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 143 Ireland 101 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 144 Kenya 100 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 145 Ethiopia 99 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 147 Greece 98 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 148 Indonesia 96 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for Bulgaria
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.7245 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -2.34 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.7245 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -1.18 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 5,187 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.8803 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.921 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.7% (2100)
- Population density 32.53 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 146,527 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in Bulgaria?
- Prison population rate in Bulgaria was 99 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 Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 148 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2006.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 99 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2018.
- How does Bulgaria rank for prison population rate?
- Bulgaria ranks 145th out of 202 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Bulgaria 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.