Prison population rate in Namibia
Namibia: Prison population rate was 318 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2021. ▬ Flat
Latest (2021)
318 prisoners per 100,000 people
World rank
30th
of 202 countries
All-time high
318 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2021
All-time low
148 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2016
Years of data
8
2000–2021
Prison population rate in Namibia, 2000–2021
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
In 2021, prison population rate in Namibia stood at 318 prisoners per 100,000 people. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.
That represents a change of up 66.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in Namibia peaked at 318 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2021 and was at its lowest, 148 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2016.
Namibia ranks 30th of 202 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Prison population rate in Namibia, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 254 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2001 | 244 prisoners per 100,000 people | -3.9% |
| 2004 | 218 prisoners per 100,000 people | -10.7% |
| 2007 | 188 prisoners per 100,000 people | -13.8% |
| 2010 | 191 prisoners per 100,000 people | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 171 prisoners per 100,000 people | -10.5% |
| 2016 | 148 prisoners per 100,000 people | -13.5% |
| 2021 | 318 prisoners per 100,000 people | +114.9% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's 318 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 106 prisoners per 100,000 people, 3.0× the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Namibia's 318 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 90 prisoners per 100,000 people, 3.5× the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 226 prisoners per 100,000 people | 188 prisoners per 100,000 people | 254 prisoners per 100,000 people | 4 |
| 2010s | 170 prisoners per 100,000 people | 148 prisoners per 100,000 people | 191 prisoners per 100,000 people | 3 |
| 2020s | 318 prisoners per 100,000 people | 318 prisoners per 100,000 people | 318 prisoners per 100,000 people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Namibia
- 27 Grenada 324 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 28 French Guiana 321 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 29 Cambodia 320 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 31 Saint Lucia 310 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 32 Northern Mariana Islands 304 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 33 Belize 302 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for Namibia
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.0916 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.6736 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.0916 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.1475 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 3,780 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.52 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.4525 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.1% (2100)
- Population density 7.16 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 357,079 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in Namibia?
- Prison population rate in Namibia was 318 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2021, 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 Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 318 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2021.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 148 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2016.
- How does Namibia rank for prison population rate?
- Namibia ranks 30th out of 202 countries with data for 2021.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 66.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Namibia 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.