Prison population rate in Nepal
Nepal: Prison population rate was 93 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025. ▲ Rising
Prison population rate in Nepal, 2000–2025
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
Nepal recorded 93 prisoners per 100,000 people for prison population rate in 2025. That is the highest value across all 12 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 57.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in Nepal peaked at 93 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 22 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2006.
That places Nepal 151st out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 12 years of available data.
Prison population rate in Nepal, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 25 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2002 | 29 prisoners per 100,000 people | +16.0% |
| 2004 | 25 prisoners per 100,000 people | -13.8% |
| 2006 | 22 prisoners per 100,000 people | -12.0% |
| 2008 | 32 prisoners per 100,000 people | +45.5% |
| 2010 | 40 prisoners per 100,000 people | +25.0% |
| 2012 | 54 prisoners per 100,000 people | +35.0% |
| 2014 | 59 prisoners per 100,000 people | +9.3% |
| 2016 | 62 prisoners per 100,000 people | +5.1% |
| 2018 | 72 prisoners per 100,000 people | +16.1% |
| 2020 | 87 prisoners per 100,000 people | +20.8% |
| 2025 | 93 prisoners per 100,000 people | +6.9% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 93 prisoners per 100,000 people is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 106 prisoners per 100,000 people, 88% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 93 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for South Asia, which is 93 prisoners per 100,000 people, 1.0× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 26.6 prisoners per 100,000 people | 22 prisoners per 100,000 people | 32 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2010s | 57.4 prisoners per 100,000 people | 40 prisoners per 100,000 people | 72 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2020s | 90 prisoners per 100,000 people | 87 prisoners per 100,000 people | 93 prisoners per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
- 148 Indonesia 96 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 149 Madagascar 95 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 150 Cote d'Ivoire 94 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 152 Sweden 92 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 153 Luxembourg 91 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 154 Burundi 90 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 154 Canada 90 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for Nepal
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.6271 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.593 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.0333 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.593 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.6% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.41 million people (2100)
- Population density 222.05 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.6% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.8575 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8872 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in Nepal?
- Prison population rate in Nepal was 93 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025, 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 Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 93 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 22 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2006.
- How does Nepal rank for prison population rate?
- Nepal ranks 151st out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 57.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nepal 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.