Prison population rate in Namibia
Namibia: Prison population rate was 318 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2021. ▬ Flat
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.
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 growth rate, by level of development 0.1% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 357,079 people (2100)
- Population density 7.16 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.1% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 3.21 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 5,258 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 3.21 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 3.21 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 2.0% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 3.21 live births per woman (2023)
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.