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

0501001502000201020202000: 85 prisoners per 100,000 people2002: 91 prisoners per 100,000 people2004: 103 prisoners per 100,000 people2006: 96 prisoners per 100,000 people2008: 109 prisoners per 100,000 people2010: 136 prisoners per 100,000 people2014: 127 prisoners per 100,000 people2020: 99 prisoners per 100,000 people

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.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 142 Austria 104 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
  2. 144 Kenya 100 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
  3. 145 Bulgaria 99 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
  4. 147 Greece 98 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
  5. 148 Indonesia 96 prisoners per 100,000 people compare

See the full ranking of 202 places →

More population data for Ethiopia

All data for Ethiopia →

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.

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About this data

Indicator
Prison population rate
Unit
prisoners per 100,000 people
Source
Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
202 places, 2,155 data points, 1993–2026
Last refreshed

Prison population (including pre-trial detainees and remand prisoners), per 100,000 population.