Prison population rate in New Zealand
New Zealand: Prison population rate was 199 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
199 prisoners per 100,000 people
Change on year
up 32.7%
World rank
72nd
of 202 countries
All-time high
214 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2018
All-time low
145 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2002
Years of data
13
2000–2025
Prison population rate in New Zealand, 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
New Zealand recorded 199 prisoners per 100,000 people for prison population rate in 2025.
The figure is up 32.7% on the previous year and up 4.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in New Zealand peaked at 214 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2018 and was at its lowest, 145 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2002.
That places New Zealand 72nd 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 13 years of available data.
Prison population rate in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 148 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2002 | 145 prisoners per 100,000 people | -2.0% |
| 2004 | 160 prisoners per 100,000 people | +10.3% |
| 2006 | 181 prisoners per 100,000 people | +13.1% |
| 2008 | 182 prisoners per 100,000 people | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 198 prisoners per 100,000 people | +8.8% |
| 2012 | 195 prisoners per 100,000 people | -1.5% |
| 2014 | 190 prisoners per 100,000 people | -2.6% |
| 2016 | 203 prisoners per 100,000 people | +6.8% |
| 2018 | 214 prisoners per 100,000 people | +5.4% |
| 2020 | 186 prisoners per 100,000 people | -13.1% |
| 2022 | 150 prisoners per 100,000 people | -19.4% |
| 2025 | 199 prisoners per 100,000 people | +32.7% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 199 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 172.5 prisoners per 100,000 people, 1.2× the median. (80 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 199 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 170 prisoners per 100,000 people, 1.2× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 163.2 prisoners per 100,000 people | 145 prisoners per 100,000 people | 182 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2010s | 200 prisoners per 100,000 people | 190 prisoners per 100,000 people | 214 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2020s | 178.33 prisoners per 100,000 people | 150 prisoners per 100,000 people | 199 prisoners per 100,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 69 Mayotte 204 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 70 Bermuda 200 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 70 French Polynesia 200 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 72 Colombia 199 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 72 Venezuela 199 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 75 Albania 196 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 75 Ecuador 196 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 75 Hungary 196 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 75 Sint Maarten (Dutch part) 196 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for New Zealand
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.0744 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -14.71 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.0744 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.0739 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 5,949 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.628 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.191 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.1% (2100)
- Population density 22.07 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 256,010 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in New Zealand?
- Prison population rate in New Zealand was 199 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 New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 214 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2018.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 145 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2002.
- How does New Zealand rank for prison population rate?
- New Zealand ranks 72nd out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this New Zealand 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.