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.
Prison population rate in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 116 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2002 | 118 prisoners per 100,000 people | +1.7% |
| 2004 | 171 prisoners per 100,000 people | +44.9% |
| 2006 | 161 prisoners per 100,000 people | -5.8% |
| 2008 | 145 prisoners per 100,000 people | -9.9% |
| 2010 | 137 prisoners per 100,000 people | -5.5% |
| 2012 | 126 prisoners per 100,000 people | -8.0% |
| 2014 | 160 prisoners per 100,000 people | +27.0% |
| 2016 | 180 prisoners per 100,000 people | +12.5% |
| 2018 | 188 prisoners per 100,000 people | +4.4% |
| 2020 | 206 prisoners per 100,000 people | +9.6% |
| 2025 | 244 prisoners per 100,000 people | +18.4% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 244 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 216 prisoners per 100,000 people, 1.1× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 244 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 170 prisoners per 100,000 people, 1.4× the median. (35 countries reporting)
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
- 55 United States Virgin Islands 251 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 56 Fiji 248 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 57 Guadeloupe 247 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 59 Anguilla 240 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 59 Barbados 240 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 61 Bahrain 234 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for Malaysia
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.2686 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.2671 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -5.88 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.2671 % change on previous year (2100)
- 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)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1472 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8625 Percent per annum (2030)
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.
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.