Prison population rate in Malaysia
Malaysia: Prison population rate was 244 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025. ▲ Rising
Prison population rate in Malaysia, 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 Malaysia stood at 244 prisoners per 100,000 people. That is the highest value across all 12 years on record.
The figure is up 52.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in Malaysia peaked at 244 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 116 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2000.
That places Malaysia 58th 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 12 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 142.2 prisoners per 100,000 people | 116 prisoners per 100,000 people | 171 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2010s | 158.2 prisoners per 100,000 people | 126 prisoners per 100,000 people | 188 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2020s | 225 prisoners per 100,000 people | 206 prisoners per 100,000 people | 244 prisoners per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More population data for Malaysia
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.3% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.91 million people (2100)
- Population density 134 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.3% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.54 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 138,417 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.54 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.54 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 0.7% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 1.55 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in Malaysia?
- Prison population rate in Malaysia was 244 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 Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 244 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 116 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2000.
- How does Malaysia rank for prison population rate?
- Malaysia ranks 58th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 52.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malaysia 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.