Prison population rate in Cameroon
Cameroon: Prison population rate was 118 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2024. ▬ Flat
Latest (2024)
118 prisoners per 100,000 people
Change on year
up 0.9%
World rank
130th
of 202 countries
All-time high
127 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2005
All-time low
112 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2011
Years of data
12
2002–2024
Prison population rate in Cameroon, 2002–2024
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 Cameroon stood at 118 prisoners per 100,000 people.
The figure is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 2.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in Cameroon peaked at 127 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2005 and was at its lowest, 112 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2011.
Cameroon ranks 130th of 202 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Prison population rate in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 119 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2003 | 120 prisoners per 100,000 people | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 127 prisoners per 100,000 people | +5.8% |
| 2007 | 119 prisoners per 100,000 people | -6.3% |
| 2009 | 115 prisoners per 100,000 people | -3.4% |
| 2011 | 112 prisoners per 100,000 people | -2.6% |
| 2013 | 115 prisoners per 100,000 people | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 119 prisoners per 100,000 people | +3.5% |
| 2017 | 124 prisoners per 100,000 people | +4.2% |
| 2019 | 118 prisoners per 100,000 people | -4.8% |
| 2021 | 117 prisoners per 100,000 people | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 118 prisoners per 100,000 people | +0.9% |
Cameroon compared with similar countries
- Cameroon's 118 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 106 prisoners per 100,000 people, 1.1× the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Cameroon's 118 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 90 prisoners per 100,000 people, 1.3× the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 120 prisoners per 100,000 people | 115 prisoners per 100,000 people | 127 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2010s | 117.6 prisoners per 100,000 people | 112 prisoners per 100,000 people | 124 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2020s | 117.5 prisoners per 100,000 people | 117 prisoners per 100,000 people | 118 prisoners per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Cameroon
More population data for Cameroon
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.5809 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 1.75 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.5809 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.5077 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 51,280 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.39 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1831 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.6% (2100)
- Population density 188.01 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 6.42 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in Cameroon?
- Prison population rate in Cameroon was 118 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 Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 127 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2005.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was 112 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2011.
- How does Cameroon rank for prison population rate?
- Cameroon ranks 130th out of 202 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Cameroon 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
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About this data
Prison population (including pre-trial detainees and remand prisoners), per 100,000 population.