Prison population rate in Moldova

Moldova: Prison population rate was 255 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025. ▬ Flat

Latest (2025)
255 prisoners per 100,000 people
Change on year
up 2.4%
World rank
53rd
of 202 countries
All-time high
293 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2002
All-time low
182 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2012
Years of data
13
2000–2025

Prison population rate in Moldova, 2000–2025

01002003002000201220252000: 260 prisoners per 100,000 people2002: 293 prisoners per 100,000 people2004: 293 prisoners per 100,000 people2006: 247 prisoners per 100,000 people2008: 221 prisoners per 100,000 people2010: 183 prisoners per 100,000 people2012: 182 prisoners per 100,000 people2014: 239 prisoners per 100,000 people2016: 285 prisoners per 100,000 people2018: 280 prisoners per 100,000 people2020: 254 prisoners per 100,000 people2022: 249 prisoners per 100,000 people2025: 255 prisoners per 100,000 people

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 Moldova is 255 prisoners per 100,000 people, measured in 2025.

The figure is up 2.4% on the previous year and up 6.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prison population rate in Moldova peaked at 293 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2002 and was at its lowest, 182 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2012.

Moldova ranks 53rd of 202 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 262.8 prisoners per 100,000 people 221 prisoners per 100,000 people 293 prisoners per 100,000 people 5
2010s 233.8 prisoners per 100,000 people 182 prisoners per 100,000 people 285 prisoners per 100,000 people 5
2020s 252.67 prisoners per 100,000 people 249 prisoners per 100,000 people 255 prisoners per 100,000 people 3

Countries ranked near Moldova

  1. 50 Curacao 262 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
  2. 51 South Africa 260 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
  3. 52 Paraguay 259 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
  4. 54 Bolivia 252 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
  5. 55 United States Virgin Islands 251 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
  6. 56 Fiji 248 prisoners per 100,000 people compare

See the full ranking of 202 places →

More population data for Moldova

All data for Moldova →

Frequently asked questions

What is prison population rate in Moldova?
Prison population rate in Moldova was 255 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 Moldova?
The highest recorded value was 293 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2002.
What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Moldova?
The lowest recorded value was 182 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2012.
How does Moldova rank for prison population rate?
Moldova ranks 53rd out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
Is prison population rate rising or falling in Moldova?
Over the last ten years it is up 6.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Moldova 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

Indicator
Prison population rate
Unit
prisoners per 100,000 people
Source
Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
202 places, 2,155 data points, 1993–2026
Last refreshed

Prison population (including pre-trial detainees and remand prisoners), per 100,000 population.