Prison population rate in Nigeria
Nigeria: Prison population rate was 33 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025. ▲ Rising
Prison population rate in Nigeria, 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
In 2025, prison population rate in Nigeria stood at 33 prisoners per 100,000 people.
The figure is down 5.7% on the previous year and up 3.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in Nigeria peaked at 38 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2018 and was at its lowest, 27 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2008.
Nigeria ranks 197th of 202 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 30.4 prisoners per 100,000 people | 27 prisoners per 100,000 people | 36 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2010s | 32.8 prisoners per 100,000 people | 29 prisoners per 100,000 people | 38 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2020s | 32.67 prisoners per 100,000 people | 30 prisoners per 100,000 people | 35 prisoners per 100,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 194 Burkina Faso 37 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 194 India 37 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 196 Iceland 35 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 197 Japan 33 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 199 Faroe Islands 24 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 200 Gambia 22 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for Nigeria
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.0% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 32.05 million people (2100)
- Population density 523.46 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.0% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 4.38 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 96,387 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 4.38 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 4.38 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 2.1% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 4.48 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in Nigeria?
- Prison population rate in Nigeria was 33 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 38 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2018.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 27 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2008.
- How does Nigeria rank for prison population rate?
- Nigeria ranks 197th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria 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.