Prison population rate in Nauru

Nauru: Prison population rate was 345 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
345 prisoners per 100,000 people
World rank
21st
of 202 countries
All-time high
370 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2009
All-time low
30 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2005
Years of data
5
2003–2023

Prison population rate in Nauru, 2003–2023

01002003004002003201320232003: 60 prisoners per 100,000 people2005: 30 prisoners per 100,000 people2009: 370 prisoners per 100,000 people2012: 260 prisoners per 100,000 people2023: 345 prisoners per 100,000 people

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

Nauru recorded 345 prisoners per 100,000 people for prison population rate in 2023.

That represents a change of up 32.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prison population rate in Nauru peaked at 370 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2009 and was at its lowest, 30 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2005.

That places Nauru 21st out of 202 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 153.33 prisoners per 100,000 people 30 prisoners per 100,000 people 370 prisoners per 100,000 people 3
2010s 260 prisoners per 100,000 people 260 prisoners per 100,000 people 260 prisoners per 100,000 people 1
2020s 345 prisoners per 100,000 people 345 prisoners per 100,000 people 345 prisoners per 100,000 people 1

Countries ranked near Nauru

  1. 18 Palau 367 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
  2. 19 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 361 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
  3. 20 Dominica 356 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
  4. 21 Belarus 345 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
  5. 21 Costa Rica 345 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
  6. 24 Bahamas 336 prisoners per 100,000 people compare

See the full ranking of 202 places →

More population data for Nauru

All data for Nauru →

Frequently asked questions

What is prison population rate in Nauru?
Prison population rate in Nauru was 345 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 Nauru?
The highest recorded value was 370 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2009.
What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Nauru?
The lowest recorded value was 30 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2005.
How does Nauru rank for prison population rate?
Nauru ranks 21st out of 202 countries with data for 2023.
Is prison population rate rising or falling in Nauru?
Over the last ten years it is up 32.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Nauru 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

Indicator
Prison population rate
Unit
prisoners per 100,000 people
Source
Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
202 places, 2,155 data points, 1993–2026
Last refreshed

Prison population (including pre-trial detainees and remand prisoners), per 100,000 population.