Prison population rate in China
China: Prison population rate was 119 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2018. ▬ Flat
Latest (2018)
119 prisoners per 100,000 people
Change on year
down 1.7%
World rank
128th
of 202 countries
All-time high
121 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2008
All-time low
111 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2000
Years of data
10
2000–2018
Prison population rate in China, 2000–2018
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
The most recent figure for prison population rate in China is 119 prisoners per 100,000 people, measured in 2018.
The figure is down 1.7% on the previous year and down 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in China peaked at 121 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2008 and was at its lowest, 111 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2000.
China ranks 128th of 202 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Prison population rate in China, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 111 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2002 | 119 prisoners per 100,000 people | +7.2% |
| 2004 | 119 prisoners per 100,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 118 prisoners per 100,000 people | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 121 prisoners per 100,000 people | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 121 prisoners per 100,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 120 prisoners per 100,000 people | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 118 prisoners per 100,000 people | -1.7% |
| 2017 | 121 prisoners per 100,000 people | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 119 prisoners per 100,000 people | -1.7% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 119 prisoners per 100,000 people is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 216 prisoners per 100,000 people, 55% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
- China's 119 prisoners per 100,000 people is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 170 prisoners per 100,000 people, 70% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 117.6 prisoners per 100,000 people | 111 prisoners per 100,000 people | 121 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2010s | 119.8 prisoners per 100,000 people | 118 prisoners per 100,000 people | 121 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
- 125 Guatemala 123 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 126 Portugal 121 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 126 Spain 121 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 128 Malta 119 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 130 Cameroon 118 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 130 Estonia 118 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for China
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -1.19 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -1.66 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -12.97 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -1.66 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -1.7% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 15.54 million people (2100)
- Population density 67.46 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -1.7% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3489 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.1671 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in China?
- Prison population rate in China was 119 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2018, 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 121 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2008.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 111 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2000.
- How does China rank for prison population rate?
- China ranks 128th out of 202 countries with data for 2018.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this China 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 — 10 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.