Prison population rate in India
India: Prison population rate was 37 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2023. ▲ Rising
Prison population rate in India, 2000–2023
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
India recorded 37 prisoners per 100,000 people for prison population rate in 2023. That is the highest value across all 12 years on record.
That represents a change of up 5.7% on the previous year and up 23.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in India peaked at 37 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 26 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2000.
That places India 194th out of 202 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 12 years of available data.
Prison population rate in India, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 26 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2002 | 30 prisoners per 100,000 people | +15.4% |
| 2004 | 30 prisoners per 100,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 32 prisoners per 100,000 people | +6.7% |
| 2008 | 33 prisoners per 100,000 people | +3.1% |
| 2010 | 30 prisoners per 100,000 people | -9.1% |
| 2012 | 30 prisoners per 100,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 32 prisoners per 100,000 people | +6.7% |
| 2016 | 33 prisoners per 100,000 people | +3.1% |
| 2018 | 34 prisoners per 100,000 people | +3.0% |
| 2020 | 35 prisoners per 100,000 people | +2.9% |
| 2023 | 37 prisoners per 100,000 people | +5.7% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 37 prisoners per 100,000 people is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 106 prisoners per 100,000 people, 35% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
- India's 37 prisoners per 100,000 people is below the median for South Asia, which is 93 prisoners per 100,000 people, 40% of the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 30.2 prisoners per 100,000 people | 26 prisoners per 100,000 people | 33 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2010s | 31.8 prisoners per 100,000 people | 30 prisoners per 100,000 people | 34 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2020s | 36 prisoners per 100,000 people | 35 prisoners per 100,000 people | 37 prisoners per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near India
- 191 Pakistan 45 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 192 Ghana 41 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 192 Tanzania 41 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 194 Burkina Faso 37 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 196 Iceland 35 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 197 Japan 33 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 197 Nigeria 33 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for India
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.5076 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.2494 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.5076 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.4607 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 1.67 million Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.7665 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.7604 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.5% (2100)
- Population density 506.27 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 66.77 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in India?
- Prison population rate in India was 37 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2023, 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 37 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2023.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 26 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2000.
- How does India rank for prison population rate?
- India ranks 194th out of 202 countries with data for 2023.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India 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.