Prison population rate in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso: Prison population rate was 37 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
37 prisoners per 100,000 people
World rank
194th
of 202 countries
All-time high
41 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2016
All-time low
19 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2000
Years of data
12
2000–2024
Prison population rate in Burkina Faso, 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
Burkina Faso recorded 37 prisoners per 100,000 people for prison population rate in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in Burkina Faso peaked at 41 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2016 and was at its lowest, 19 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2000.
Burkina Faso ranks 194th of 202 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 12 years of available data.
Prison population rate in Burkina Faso, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 19 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2002 | 20 prisoners per 100,000 people | +5.3% |
| 2004 | 21 prisoners per 100,000 people | +5.0% |
| 2006 | 22 prisoners per 100,000 people | +4.8% |
| 2008 | 32 prisoners per 100,000 people | +45.5% |
| 2010 | 33 prisoners per 100,000 people | +3.1% |
| 2012 | 30 prisoners per 100,000 people | -9.1% |
| 2014 | 38 prisoners per 100,000 people | +26.7% |
| 2016 | 41 prisoners per 100,000 people | +7.9% |
| 2018 | 39 prisoners per 100,000 people | -4.9% |
| 2020 | 35 prisoners per 100,000 people | -10.3% |
| 2024 | 37 prisoners per 100,000 people | +5.7% |
Burkina Faso compared with similar countries
- Burkina Faso's 37 prisoners per 100,000 people is below the median for low income countries, which is 55.5 prisoners per 100,000 people, 67% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
- Burkina Faso's 37 prisoners per 100,000 people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 90 prisoners per 100,000 people, 41% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 22.8 prisoners per 100,000 people | 19 prisoners per 100,000 people | 32 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2010s | 36.2 prisoners per 100,000 people | 30 prisoners per 100,000 people | 41 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2020s | 36 prisoners per 100,000 people | 35 prisoners per 100,000 people | 37 prisoners per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Burkina Faso
- 191 Pakistan 45 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 192 Ghana 41 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 192 Tanzania 41 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 194 India 37 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 196 Iceland 35 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 197 Japan 33 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 197 Nigeria 33 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for Burkina Faso
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2492 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.0413 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -1.76 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.0413 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.0% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 3.29 million people (2100)
- Population density 182.22 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.0% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.4791 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.35 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in Burkina Faso?
- Prison population rate in Burkina Faso was 37 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 Burkina Faso?
- The highest recorded value was 41 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2016.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Burkina Faso?
- The lowest recorded value was 19 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2000.
- How does Burkina Faso rank for prison population rate?
- Burkina Faso ranks 194th out of 202 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in Burkina Faso?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Burkina Faso 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.