Prison population rate in Norway
Norway: Prison population rate was 54 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
54
Change on year
down 3.6%
World rank
181st
of 202 countries
All-time high
74
in 2010
All-time low
54
in 2020
Years of data
13
2000–2025
Prison population rate in Norway, 2000–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prison population rate in Norway is 54, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 13 years on record.
The figure is down 3.6% on the previous year and down 25.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in Norway peaked at 74 in 2010 and was at its lowest, 54, in 2020.
That places Norway 181st out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 13 years of available data.
Prison population rate in Norway, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 57 | — |
| 2002 | 62 | +8.8% |
| 2004 | 66 | +6.5% |
| 2006 | 70 | +6.1% |
| 2008 | 71 | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 74 | +4.2% |
| 2012 | 72 | -2.7% |
| 2014 | 72 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 73 | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 65 | -11.0% |
| 2020 | 54 | -16.9% |
| 2022 | 56 | +3.7% |
| 2025 | 54 | -3.6% |
Norway compared with similar countries
- Norway's 54 is below the median for high income countries, which is 172.5, 31% of the median. (80 countries reporting)
- Norway's 54 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 121, 45% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 65.2 | 57 | 71 | 5 |
| 2010s | 71.2 | 65 | 74 | 5 |
| 2020s | 54.67 | 54 | 56 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Norway
- 178 Chad 56 compare
- 179 East Timor 55 compare
- 179 Niger 55 compare
- 181 Afghanistan 54 compare
- 181 Finland 54 compare
- 184 Central African Republic 52 compare
- 184 Sierra Leone 52 compare
- 184 Sudan 52 compare
More population data for Norway
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.2322 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -4.32 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.2322 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.1866 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 6,368 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.6612 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1496 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.231 (2100)
- Population density 14.86 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 224,990 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in Norway?
- Prison population rate in Norway was 54 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest prison population rate recorded in Norway?
- The highest recorded value was 74 in 2010.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Norway?
- The lowest recorded value was 54 in 2020.
- How does Norway rank for prison population rate?
- Norway ranks 181st out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in Norway?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Norway data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Prison population rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 13 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).