Prison population rate in Malta
Malta: Prison population rate was 119 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prison population rate in Malta, 1999–2024
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
The most recent figure for prison population rate in Malta is 119 prisoners per 100,000 people, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 9.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in Malta peaked at 167 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2020 and was at its lowest, 61 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 1999.
Malta ranks 128th of 202 regions on this measure, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 61 prisoners per 100,000 people | 61 prisoners per 100,000 people | 61 prisoners per 100,000 people | 1 |
| 2000s | 83 prisoners per 100,000 people | 69 prisoners per 100,000 people | 108 prisoners per 100,000 people | 4 |
| 2010s | 132 prisoners per 100,000 people | 120 prisoners per 100,000 people | 144 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2020s | 143 prisoners per 100,000 people | 119 prisoners per 100,000 people | 167 prisoners per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Malta
- 125 Guatemala 123 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 126 Portugal 121 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 126 Spain 121 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 128 China 119 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 130 Cameroon 118 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 130 Estonia 118 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for Malta
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.8% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 11,503 people (2100)
- Population density 1,125 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.8% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.01 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 7,814 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.01 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.01 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 0.1% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 1.1 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in Malta?
- Prison population rate in Malta was 119 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2024, 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 Malta?
- The highest recorded value was 167 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2020.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Malta?
- The lowest recorded value was 61 prisoners per 100,000 people in 1999.
- How does Malta rank for prison population rate?
- Malta ranks 128th out of 202 regions with data for 2024.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in Malta?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malta 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.