Prison population rate in Myanmar
Myanmar: Prison population rate was 183 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2020. ▲ Rising
Latest (2020)
183 prisoners per 100,000 people
Change on year
up 7.0%
World rank
86th
of 202 countries
All-time high
183 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2020
All-time low
68 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2001
Years of data
7
1993–2020
Prison population rate in Myanmar, 1993–2020
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
Myanmar recorded 183 prisoners per 100,000 people for prison population rate in 2020. That is the highest value across all 7 years on record.
The figure is up 7.0% on the previous year and up 51.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in Myanmar peaked at 183 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2020 and was at its lowest, 68 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2001.
Myanmar ranks 86th of 202 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Prison population rate in Myanmar, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 125 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2001 | 68 prisoners per 100,000 people | -45.6% |
| 2007 | 132 prisoners per 100,000 people | +94.1% |
| 2009 | 121 prisoners per 100,000 people | -8.3% |
| 2016 | 151 prisoners per 100,000 people | +24.8% |
| 2018 | 171 prisoners per 100,000 people | +13.2% |
| 2020 | 183 prisoners per 100,000 people | +7.0% |
Myanmar compared with similar countries
- Myanmar's 183 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 106 prisoners per 100,000 people, 1.7× the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Myanmar's 183 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 170 prisoners per 100,000 people, 1.1× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 125 prisoners per 100,000 people | 125 prisoners per 100,000 people | 125 prisoners per 100,000 people | 1 |
| 2000s | 107 prisoners per 100,000 people | 68 prisoners per 100,000 people | 132 prisoners per 100,000 people | 3 |
| 2010s | 161 prisoners per 100,000 people | 151 prisoners per 100,000 people | 171 prisoners per 100,000 people | 2 |
| 2020s | 183 prisoners per 100,000 people | 183 prisoners per 100,000 people | 183 prisoners per 100,000 people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Myanmar
- 83 Isle of Man 186 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 83 New Caledonia 186 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 85 Macao 185 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 87 Sri Lanka 180 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 88 Czechia 179 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 88 Iraq 179 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 88 Samoa 179 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for Myanmar
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.5005 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.8844 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.5005 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.4448 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 59,929 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.5289 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.737 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.5% (2100)
- Population density 76.09 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 2.45 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in Myanmar?
- Prison population rate in Myanmar was 183 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2020, 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 Myanmar?
- The highest recorded value was 183 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2020.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Myanmar?
- The lowest recorded value was 68 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2001.
- How does Myanmar rank for prison population rate?
- Myanmar ranks 86th out of 202 countries with data for 2020.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in Myanmar?
- Over the last ten years it is up 51.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Myanmar 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.