Prison population rate in Colombia
Colombia: Prison population rate was 199 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025. ▲ Rising
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.
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
- 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 growth rate, by level of development -0.7% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.83 million people (2100)
- Population density 42.43 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.7% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.63 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 1,306 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.63 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.63 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 0.8% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 1.65 live births per woman (2023)
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.