Prison population rate in France
France: Prison population rate was 126 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025. ▲ Rising
Prison population rate in France, 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 France stood at 126 prisoners per 100,000 people. That is the highest value across all 12 years on record.
That represents a change of up 6.8% on the previous year and up 10.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in France peaked at 126 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 76 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2002.
That places France 122nd 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 12 years of available data.
Prison population rate in France, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 82 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2002 | 76 prisoners per 100,000 people | -7.3% |
| 2004 | 91 prisoners per 100,000 people | +19.7% |
| 2006 | 91 prisoners per 100,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 96 prisoners per 100,000 people | +5.5% |
| 2011 | 99 prisoners per 100,000 people | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 114 prisoners per 100,000 people | +15.2% |
| 2016 | 110 prisoners per 100,000 people | -3.5% |
| 2018 | 114 prisoners per 100,000 people | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 119 prisoners per 100,000 people | +4.4% |
| 2022 | 118 prisoners per 100,000 people | -0.8% |
| 2025 | 126 prisoners per 100,000 people | +6.8% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 126 prisoners per 100,000 people is below the median for high income countries, which is 172.5 prisoners per 100,000 people, 73% of the median. (80 countries reporting)
- France's 126 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 121 prisoners per 100,000 people, 1.0× the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 87.2 prisoners per 100,000 people | 76 prisoners per 100,000 people | 96 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2010s | 109.25 prisoners per 100,000 people | 99 prisoners per 100,000 people | 114 prisoners per 100,000 people | 4 |
| 2020s | 121 prisoners per 100,000 people | 118 prisoners per 100,000 people | 126 prisoners per 100,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near France
- 119 Romania 129 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 119 Sao Tome and Principe 129 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 121 Micronesia (country) 127 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 123 Guernsey 124 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 123 Jamaica 124 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 125 Guatemala 123 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for France
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.028 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -3.58 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.028 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1885 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 65,827 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.1504 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.1075 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.0% (2100)
- Population density 125.07 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 3.16 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in France?
- Prison population rate in France was 126 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 France?
- The highest recorded value was 126 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 76 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2002.
- How does France rank for prison population rate?
- France ranks 122nd out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this France 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.