Prison population rate in Estonia
Estonia: Prison population rate was 118 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025. ▼ Falling
Prison population rate in Estonia, 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 Estonia stood at 118 prisoners per 100,000 people. That is the lowest value across all 13 years on record.
That represents a change of down 28.0% on the previous year and down 48.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in Estonia peaked at 349 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2002 and was at its lowest, 118 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2025.
That places Estonia 130th out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 13 years of available data.
Prison population rate in Estonia, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 343 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2002 | 349 prisoners per 100,000 people | +1.7% |
| 2004 | 337 prisoners per 100,000 people | -3.4% |
| 2006 | 327 prisoners per 100,000 people | -3.0% |
| 2008 | 258 prisoners per 100,000 people | -21.1% |
| 2010 | 267 prisoners per 100,000 people | +3.5% |
| 2012 | 257 prisoners per 100,000 people | -3.7% |
| 2014 | 230 prisoners per 100,000 people | -10.5% |
| 2016 | 204 prisoners per 100,000 people | -11.3% |
| 2018 | 191 prisoners per 100,000 people | -6.4% |
| 2020 | 184 prisoners per 100,000 people | -3.7% |
| 2022 | 164 prisoners per 100,000 people | -10.9% |
| 2025 | 118 prisoners per 100,000 people | -28.0% |
Estonia compared with similar countries
- Estonia's 118 prisoners per 100,000 people is below the median for high income countries, which is 172.5 prisoners per 100,000 people, 68% of the median. (80 countries reporting)
- Estonia's 118 prisoners per 100,000 people is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 121 prisoners per 100,000 people, 98% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 322.8 prisoners per 100,000 people | 258 prisoners per 100,000 people | 349 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2010s | 229.8 prisoners per 100,000 people | 191 prisoners per 100,000 people | 267 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2020s | 155.33 prisoners per 100,000 people | 118 prisoners per 100,000 people | 184 prisoners per 100,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near Estonia
More population data for Estonia
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.6697 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.5636 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.6697 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.6551 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3052 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.7% (2100)
- Population density 19.31 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 30,706 people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.7% (2100)
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate -1.17 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in Estonia?
- Prison population rate in Estonia was 118 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 Estonia?
- The highest recorded value was 349 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2002.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Estonia?
- The lowest recorded value was 118 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025.
- How does Estonia rank for prison population rate?
- Estonia ranks 130th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in Estonia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 48.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Estonia 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.