Prison population rate in Italy
Italy: Prison population rate was 108 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025. ▲ Rising
Prison population rate in Italy, 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
Italy recorded 108 prisoners per 100,000 people for prison population rate in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 12.5% on the previous year and up 22.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in Italy peaked at 112 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2010 and was at its lowest, 66 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2006.
That places Italy 141st 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 13 years of available data.
Prison population rate in Italy, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 93 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2002 | 97 prisoners per 100,000 people | +4.3% |
| 2004 | 96 prisoners per 100,000 people | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 66 prisoners per 100,000 people | -31.2% |
| 2008 | 97 prisoners per 100,000 people | +47.0% |
| 2010 | 112 prisoners per 100,000 people | +15.5% |
| 2012 | 110 prisoners per 100,000 people | -1.8% |
| 2014 | 88 prisoners per 100,000 people | -20.0% |
| 2016 | 90 prisoners per 100,000 people | +2.3% |
| 2018 | 100 prisoners per 100,000 people | +11.1% |
| 2020 | 90 prisoners per 100,000 people | -10.0% |
| 2022 | 96 prisoners per 100,000 people | +6.7% |
| 2025 | 108 prisoners per 100,000 people | +12.5% |
Italy compared with similar countries
- Italy's 108 prisoners per 100,000 people is below the median for high income countries, which is 172.5 prisoners per 100,000 people, 63% of the median. (80 countries reporting)
- Italy's 108 prisoners per 100,000 people is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 121 prisoners per 100,000 people, 89% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 89.8 prisoners per 100,000 people | 66 prisoners per 100,000 people | 97 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2010s | 100 prisoners per 100,000 people | 88 prisoners per 100,000 people | 112 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2020s | 98 prisoners per 100,000 people | 90 prisoners per 100,000 people | 108 prisoners per 100,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near Italy
More population data for Italy
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.6708 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.7397 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.6708 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.5615 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 52,250 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.3544 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3246 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.7% (2100)
- Population density 119.63 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.26 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in Italy?
- Prison population rate in Italy was 108 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 Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 112 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2010.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 66 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2006.
- How does Italy rank for prison population rate?
- Italy ranks 141st out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Italy 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.