Prison population rate in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Prison population rate was 99 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2020. ▲ Rising
Latest (2020)
99 prisoners per 100,000 people
World rank
145th
of 202 countries
All-time high
136 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2010
All-time low
85 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2000
Years of data
8
2000–2020
Prison population rate in Ethiopia, 2000–2020
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
Ethiopia recorded 99 prisoners per 100,000 people for prison population rate in 2020.
The figure is down 27.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in Ethiopia peaked at 136 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2010 and was at its lowest, 85 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2000.
That places Ethiopia 145th out of 202 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
Prison population rate in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 85 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2002 | 91 prisoners per 100,000 people | +7.1% |
| 2004 | 103 prisoners per 100,000 people | +13.2% |
| 2006 | 96 prisoners per 100,000 people | -6.8% |
| 2008 | 109 prisoners per 100,000 people | +13.5% |
| 2010 | 136 prisoners per 100,000 people | +24.8% |
| 2014 | 127 prisoners per 100,000 people | -6.6% |
| 2020 | 99 prisoners per 100,000 people | -22.0% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 99 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for low income countries, which is 55.5 prisoners per 100,000 people, 1.8× the median. (18 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 99 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 90 prisoners per 100,000 people, 1.1× the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 96.8 prisoners per 100,000 people | 85 prisoners per 100,000 people | 109 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2010s | 131.5 prisoners per 100,000 people | 127 prisoners per 100,000 people | 136 prisoners per 100,000 people | 2 |
| 2020s | 99 prisoners per 100,000 people | 99 prisoners per 100,000 people | 99 prisoners per 100,000 people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
- 142 Austria 104 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 143 Ireland 101 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 144 Kenya 100 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 145 Bulgaria 99 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 147 Greece 98 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 148 Indonesia 96 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for Ethiopia
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.4782 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 1.28 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.4782 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2918 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.229 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.5% (2100)
- Population density 325.45 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 23.22 million people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.5% (2100)
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate 4.7 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in Ethiopia?
- Prison population rate in Ethiopia was 99 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2020, 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 Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 136 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2010.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 85 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2000.
- How does Ethiopia rank for prison population rate?
- Ethiopia ranks 145th out of 202 countries with data for 2020.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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 — 8 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.