Prison population rate in Cambodia
Cambodia: Prison population rate was 320 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Prison population rate in Cambodia, 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
In 2025, prison population rate in Cambodia stood at 320 prisoners per 100,000 people. That is the highest value across all 12 years on record.
The figure is up 226.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in Cambodia peaked at 320 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 45 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2000.
That places Cambodia 29th out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Prison population rate in Cambodia, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 45 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2002 | 48 prisoners per 100,000 people | +6.7% |
| 2004 | 52 prisoners per 100,000 people | +8.3% |
| 2006 | 76 prisoners per 100,000 people | +46.2% |
| 2008 | 83 prisoners per 100,000 people | +9.2% |
| 2010 | 97 prisoners per 100,000 people | +16.9% |
| 2012 | 103 prisoners per 100,000 people | +6.2% |
| 2014 | 98 prisoners per 100,000 people | -4.9% |
| 2016 | 138 prisoners per 100,000 people | +40.8% |
| 2018 | 193 prisoners per 100,000 people | +39.9% |
| 2020 | 233 prisoners per 100,000 people | +20.7% |
| 2025 | 320 prisoners per 100,000 people | +37.3% |
Cambodia compared with similar countries
- Cambodia's 320 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 106 prisoners per 100,000 people, 3.0× the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Cambodia's 320 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 170 prisoners per 100,000 people, 1.9× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 60.8 prisoners per 100,000 people | 45 prisoners per 100,000 people | 83 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2010s | 125.8 prisoners per 100,000 people | 97 prisoners per 100,000 people | 193 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2020s | 276.5 prisoners per 100,000 people | 233 prisoners per 100,000 people | 320 prisoners per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Cambodia
- 26 Chile 329 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 27 Grenada 324 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 28 French Guiana 321 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 30 Namibia 318 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 31 Saint Lucia 310 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 32 Northern Mariana Islands 304 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for Cambodia
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.2557 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.5337 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.2557 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.4488 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 20,258 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8407 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.6579 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.3% (2100)
- Population density 128.82 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.20 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in Cambodia?
- Prison population rate in Cambodia was 320 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 Cambodia?
- The highest recorded value was 320 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Cambodia?
- The lowest recorded value was 45 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2000.
- How does Cambodia rank for prison population rate?
- Cambodia ranks 29th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in Cambodia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 226.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Cambodia 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 12 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Prison population (including pre-trial detainees and remand prisoners), per 100,000 population.