Prison population rate in Eswatini
Eswatini: Prison population rate was 369 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025. ▲ Rising
Prison population rate in Eswatini, 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
Eswatini recorded 369 prisoners per 100,000 people for prison population rate in 2025. That is the highest value across all 11 years on record.
That represents a change of up 30.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in Eswatini peaked at 369 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 221 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2008.
Eswatini ranks 17th of 202 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Prison population rate in Eswatini, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 257 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2002 | 299 prisoners per 100,000 people | +16.3% |
| 2004 | 247 prisoners per 100,000 people | -17.4% |
| 2006 | 237 prisoners per 100,000 people | -4.0% |
| 2008 | 221 prisoners per 100,000 people | -6.8% |
| 2011 | 311 prisoners per 100,000 people | +40.7% |
| 2013 | 264 prisoners per 100,000 people | -15.1% |
| 2015 | 282 prisoners per 100,000 people | +6.8% |
| 2018 | 258 prisoners per 100,000 people | -8.5% |
| 2020 | 277 prisoners per 100,000 people | +7.4% |
| 2025 | 369 prisoners per 100,000 people | +33.2% |
Eswatini compared with similar countries
- Eswatini's 369 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 106 prisoners per 100,000 people, 3.5× the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Eswatini's 369 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 90 prisoners per 100,000 people, 4.1× the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 252.2 prisoners per 100,000 people | 221 prisoners per 100,000 people | 299 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2010s | 278.75 prisoners per 100,000 people | 258 prisoners per 100,000 people | 311 prisoners per 100,000 people | 4 |
| 2020s | 323 prisoners per 100,000 people | 277 prisoners per 100,000 people | 369 prisoners per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Eswatini
- 14 Antigua and Barbuda 400 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 15 Thailand 395 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 16 Seychelles 392 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 18 Palau 367 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 19 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 361 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 20 Dominica 356 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for Eswatini
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.6638 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.312 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.6638 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.0005 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -1.06 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.7% (2100)
- Population density 77.96 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 74,031 people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.7% (2100)
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate 2.89 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in Eswatini?
- Prison population rate in Eswatini was 369 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 Eswatini?
- The highest recorded value was 369 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Eswatini?
- The lowest recorded value was 221 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2008.
- How does Eswatini rank for prison population rate?
- Eswatini ranks 17th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in Eswatini?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Eswatini 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.