Prison population rate in Morocco
Morocco: Prison population rate was 267 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2023. ▲ Rising
Prison population rate in Morocco, 2000–2023
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
Morocco recorded 267 prisoners per 100,000 people for prison population rate in 2023. That is the highest value across all 13 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.7% on the previous year and up 25.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in Morocco peaked at 267 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 174 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2006.
That places Morocco 47th out of 202 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.
Prison population rate in Morocco, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 187 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2002 | 184 prisoners per 100,000 people | -1.6% |
| 2004 | 195 prisoners per 100,000 people | +6.0% |
| 2006 | 174 prisoners per 100,000 people | -10.8% |
| 2008 | 188 prisoners per 100,000 people | +8.0% |
| 2010 | 201 prisoners per 100,000 people | +6.9% |
| 2012 | 213 prisoners per 100,000 people | +6.0% |
| 2014 | 219 prisoners per 100,000 people | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 225 prisoners per 100,000 people | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 234 prisoners per 100,000 people | +4.0% |
| 2020 | 232 prisoners per 100,000 people | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 260 prisoners per 100,000 people | +12.1% |
| 2023 | 267 prisoners per 100,000 people | +2.7% |
Morocco compared with similar countries
- Morocco's 267 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 106 prisoners per 100,000 people, 2.5× the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Morocco's 267 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 160 prisoners per 100,000 people, 1.7× the median. (18 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 185.6 prisoners per 100,000 people | 174 prisoners per 100,000 people | 195 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2010s | 218.4 prisoners per 100,000 people | 201 prisoners per 100,000 people | 234 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2020s | 253 prisoners per 100,000 people | 232 prisoners per 100,000 people | 267 prisoners per 100,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near Morocco
- 44 Gibraltar 273 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 45 Taiwan 270 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 46 Libya 269 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 47 Tunisia 267 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 49 Azerbaijan 264 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 50 Curacao 262 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for Morocco
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.3703 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.6063 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -2.8 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.6063 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.6% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.68 million people (2100)
- Population density 84.89 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.6% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.8403 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.7868 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in Morocco?
- Prison population rate in Morocco was 267 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2023, 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 Morocco?
- The highest recorded value was 267 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2023.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Morocco?
- The lowest recorded value was 174 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2006.
- How does Morocco rank for prison population rate?
- Morocco ranks 47th out of 202 countries with data for 2023.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in Morocco?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Morocco 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.