Prison population rate in Ireland
Ireland: Prison population rate was 101 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025. ▲ Rising
Prison population rate in Ireland, 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 Ireland stood at 101 prisoners per 100,000 people. That is the highest value across all 13 years on record.
That represents a change of up 24.7% on the previous year and up 20.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in Ireland peaked at 101 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 74 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2020.
Ireland ranks 143rd of 202 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.
Prison population rate in Ireland, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 77 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2002 | 81 prisoners per 100,000 people | +5.2% |
| 2004 | 79 prisoners per 100,000 people | -2.5% |
| 2006 | 75 prisoners per 100,000 people | -5.1% |
| 2008 | 80 prisoners per 100,000 people | +6.7% |
| 2010 | 94 prisoners per 100,000 people | +17.5% |
| 2012 | 94 prisoners per 100,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 84 prisoners per 100,000 people | -10.6% |
| 2016 | 78 prisoners per 100,000 people | -7.1% |
| 2018 | 80 prisoners per 100,000 people | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 74 prisoners per 100,000 people | -7.5% |
| 2022 | 81 prisoners per 100,000 people | +9.5% |
| 2025 | 101 prisoners per 100,000 people | +24.7% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 101 prisoners per 100,000 people is below the median for high income countries, which is 172.5 prisoners per 100,000 people, 59% of the median. (80 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 101 prisoners per 100,000 people is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 121 prisoners per 100,000 people, 83% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 78.4 prisoners per 100,000 people | 75 prisoners per 100,000 people | 81 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2010s | 86 prisoners per 100,000 people | 78 prisoners per 100,000 people | 94 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2020s | 85.33 prisoners per 100,000 people | 74 prisoners per 100,000 people | 101 prisoners per 100,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 140 Tuvalu 110 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 141 Italy 108 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 142 Austria 104 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 144 Kenya 100 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 145 Bulgaria 99 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 145 Ethiopia 99 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for Ireland
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.4488 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -1.68 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.4488 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1157 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 5,725 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.5372 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1844 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.5% (2100)
- Population density 76.73 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 217,052 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in Ireland?
- Prison population rate in Ireland was 101 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 Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 101 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 74 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2020.
- How does Ireland rank for prison population rate?
- Ireland ranks 143rd out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ireland 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.