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
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.
Prison population rate in Moldova, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 260 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2002 | 293 prisoners per 100,000 people | +12.7% |
| 2004 | 293 prisoners per 100,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 247 prisoners per 100,000 people | -15.7% |
| 2008 | 221 prisoners per 100,000 people | -10.5% |
| 2010 | 183 prisoners per 100,000 people | -17.2% |
| 2012 | 182 prisoners per 100,000 people | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 239 prisoners per 100,000 people | +31.3% |
| 2016 | 285 prisoners per 100,000 people | +19.2% |
| 2018 | 280 prisoners per 100,000 people | -1.8% |
| 2020 | 254 prisoners per 100,000 people | -9.3% |
| 2022 | 249 prisoners per 100,000 people | -2.0% |
| 2025 | 255 prisoners per 100,000 people | +2.4% |
Moldova compared with similar countries
- Moldova's 255 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 216 prisoners per 100,000 people, 1.2× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Moldova's 255 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 121 prisoners per 100,000 people, 2.1× the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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
- 50 Curacao 262 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 51 South Africa 260 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 52 Paraguay 259 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 54 Bolivia 252 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 55 United States Virgin Islands 251 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 56 Fiji 248 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for Moldova
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.9131 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.8797 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.9131 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.4425 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2118 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.9% (2100)
- Population density 45.12 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 62,192 people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.9% (2100)
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate -0.7875 % change on previous year (2025)
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.
Download this data
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About this data
Prison population (including pre-trial detainees and remand prisoners), per 100,000 population.