Prison population rate in Colombia
Colombia: Prison population rate was 199 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
199 prisoners per 100,000 people
Change on year
up 3.6%
World rank
72nd
of 202 countries
All-time high
243 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2016
All-time low
127 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2002
Years of data
13
2000–2025
Prison population rate in Colombia, 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 Colombia stood at 199 prisoners per 100,000 people.
The figure is up 3.6% on the previous year and down 16.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in Colombia peaked at 243 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2016 and was at its lowest, 127 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2002.
That places Colombia 72nd out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.
Prison population rate in Colombia, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 128 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2002 | 127 prisoners per 100,000 people | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 159 prisoners per 100,000 people | +25.2% |
| 2006 | 136 prisoners per 100,000 people | -14.5% |
| 2008 | 155 prisoners per 100,000 people | +14.0% |
| 2010 | 183 prisoners per 100,000 people | +18.1% |
| 2012 | 242 prisoners per 100,000 people | +32.2% |
| 2014 | 237 prisoners per 100,000 people | -2.1% |
| 2016 | 243 prisoners per 100,000 people | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 239 prisoners per 100,000 people | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 193 prisoners per 100,000 people | -19.2% |
| 2022 | 192 prisoners per 100,000 people | -0.5% |
| 2025 | 199 prisoners per 100,000 people | +3.6% |
Colombia compared with similar countries
- Colombia's 199 prisoners per 100,000 people is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 216 prisoners per 100,000 people, 92% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Colombia's 199 prisoners per 100,000 people is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 280 prisoners per 100,000 people, 71% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 141 prisoners per 100,000 people | 127 prisoners per 100,000 people | 159 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2010s | 228.8 prisoners per 100,000 people | 183 prisoners per 100,000 people | 243 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2020s | 194.67 prisoners per 100,000 people | 192 prisoners per 100,000 people | 199 prisoners per 100,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near Colombia
- 69 Mayotte 204 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 70 Bermuda 200 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 70 French Polynesia 200 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 72 New Zealand 199 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 72 Venezuela 199 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 75 Albania 196 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 75 Ecuador 196 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 75 Hungary 196 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 75 Sint Maarten (Dutch part) 196 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for Colombia
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.7218 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -5.66 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.7218 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.6442 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 56,988 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.5501 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.8769 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.7% (2100)
- Population density 42.43 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.83 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in Colombia?
- Prison population rate in Colombia was 199 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 Colombia?
- The highest recorded value was 243 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2016.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Colombia?
- The lowest recorded value was 127 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2002.
- How does Colombia rank for prison population rate?
- Colombia ranks 72nd out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in Colombia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Colombia 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.