Prison population rate in Macao
Macao: Prison population rate was 185 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
185 prisoners per 100,000 people
Change on year
down 6.1%
World rank
85th
of 202 countries
All-time high
227 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2020
All-time low
168 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2006
Years of data
13
2000–2025
Prison population rate in Macao, 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
Macao recorded 185 prisoners per 100,000 people for prison population rate in 2025.
The figure is down 6.1% on the previous year and down 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in Macao peaked at 227 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2020 and was at its lowest, 168 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2006.
Macao ranks 85th 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 Macao, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 196 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2002 | 211 prisoners per 100,000 people | +7.7% |
| 2004 | 187 prisoners per 100,000 people | -11.4% |
| 2006 | 168 prisoners per 100,000 people | -10.2% |
| 2008 | 168 prisoners per 100,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 172 prisoners per 100,000 people | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 191 prisoners per 100,000 people | +11.0% |
| 2014 | 189 prisoners per 100,000 people | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 197 prisoners per 100,000 people | +4.2% |
| 2018 | 218 prisoners per 100,000 people | +10.7% |
| 2020 | 227 prisoners per 100,000 people | +4.1% |
| 2022 | 197 prisoners per 100,000 people | -13.2% |
| 2025 | 185 prisoners per 100,000 people | -6.1% |
Macao compared with similar countries
- Macao's 185 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 172.5 prisoners per 100,000 people, 1.1× the median. (80 countries reporting)
- Macao's 185 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 170 prisoners per 100,000 people, 1.1× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 186 prisoners per 100,000 people | 168 prisoners per 100,000 people | 211 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2010s | 193.4 prisoners per 100,000 people | 172 prisoners per 100,000 people | 218 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2020s | 203 prisoners per 100,000 people | 185 prisoners per 100,000 people | 227 prisoners per 100,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near Macao
- 83 Isle of Man 186 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 83 New Caledonia 186 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 86 Myanmar 183 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 87 Sri Lanka 180 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 88 Czechia 179 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 88 Iraq 179 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 88 Samoa 179 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for Macao
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -1.43 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2047)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -1.43 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.406 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -1.66 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -1.4% (2100)
- Population density 10,036 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 7,889 people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -1.4% (2100)
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate 0.2423 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in Macao?
- Prison population rate in Macao was 185 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 Macao?
- The highest recorded value was 227 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2020.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Macao?
- The lowest recorded value was 168 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2006.
- How does Macao rank for prison population rate?
- Macao ranks 85th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in Macao?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Macao 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.