Prison population rate in Iceland
Iceland: Prison population rate was 35 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prison population rate in Iceland, 2000–2024
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
Iceland recorded 35 prisoners per 100,000 people for prison population rate in 2024.
That represents a change of down 25.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in Iceland peaked at 52 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2010 and was at its lowest, 28 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2000.
Iceland ranks 196th of 202 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 12 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 37.4 prisoners per 100,000 people | 28 prisoners per 100,000 people | 44 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2010s | 44 prisoners per 100,000 people | 37 prisoners per 100,000 people | 52 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2020s | 39.5 prisoners per 100,000 people | 35 prisoners per 100,000 people | 44 prisoners per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 194 Burkina Faso 37 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 194 India 37 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 197 Japan 33 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 197 Nigeria 33 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 199 Faroe Islands 24 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for Iceland
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.5% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 13,661 people (2100)
- Population density 3.6 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.5% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.56 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 7,879 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.56 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.56 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 0.4% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 1.54 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in Iceland?
- Prison population rate in Iceland was 35 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2024, 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 Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 52 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2010.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 28 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2000.
- How does Iceland rank for prison population rate?
- Iceland ranks 196th out of 202 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iceland 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.