Prison population rate in Israel
Israel: Prison population rate was 217 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
217 prisoners per 100,000 people
Change on year
up 41.8%
World rank
66th
of 202 countries
All-time high
305 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2008
All-time low
153 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2021
Years of data
12
2000–2023
Prison population rate in Israel, 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
Israel recorded 217 prisoners per 100,000 people for prison population rate in 2023.
That represents a change of up 41.8% on the previous year and down 17.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in Israel peaked at 305 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2008 and was at its lowest, 153 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2021.
That places Israel 66th out of 202 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
Prison population rate in Israel, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 158 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2002 | 174 prisoners per 100,000 people | +10.1% |
| 2004 | 208 prisoners per 100,000 people | +19.5% |
| 2006 | 302 prisoners per 100,000 people | +45.2% |
| 2008 | 305 prisoners per 100,000 people | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 270 prisoners per 100,000 people | -11.5% |
| 2012 | 263 prisoners per 100,000 people | -2.6% |
| 2014 | 264 prisoners per 100,000 people | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 253 prisoners per 100,000 people | -4.2% |
| 2018 | 234 prisoners per 100,000 people | -7.5% |
| 2021 | 153 prisoners per 100,000 people | -34.6% |
| 2023 | 217 prisoners per 100,000 people | +41.8% |
Israel compared with similar countries
- Israel's 217 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 172.5 prisoners per 100,000 people, 1.3× the median. (80 countries reporting)
- Israel's 217 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 160 prisoners per 100,000 people, 1.4× the median. (18 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 229.4 prisoners per 100,000 people | 158 prisoners per 100,000 people | 305 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2010s | 256.8 prisoners per 100,000 people | 234 prisoners per 100,000 people | 270 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2020s | 185 prisoners per 100,000 people | 153 prisoners per 100,000 people | 217 prisoners per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Israel
- 63 Iran 228 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 64 Maldives 225 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 65 Dominican Republic 219 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 66 Algeria 217 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 68 Mauritius 215 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 69 Mayotte 204 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for Israel
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.4941 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -7.23 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.4941 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.3735 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 12,992 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.38 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.0847 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.5% (2100)
- Population density 912.52 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.14 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in Israel?
- Prison population rate in Israel was 217 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 Israel?
- The highest recorded value was 305 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2008.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Israel?
- The lowest recorded value was 153 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2021.
- How does Israel rank for prison population rate?
- Israel ranks 66th out of 202 countries with data for 2023.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in Israel?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Israel 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 12 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Prison population (including pre-trial detainees and remand prisoners), per 100,000 population.