Prison population rate in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea: Prison population rate was 57 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2023. ▼ Falling
Prison population rate in Papua New Guinea, 2000–2023
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 2023, prison population rate in Papua New Guinea stood at 57 prisoners per 100,000 people.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 26.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in Papua New Guinea peaked at 70 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2008 and was at its lowest, 45 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2012.
Papua New Guinea ranks 176th of 202 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 10 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 65 prisoners per 100,000 people | 58 prisoners per 100,000 people | 70 prisoners per 100,000 people | 4 |
| 2010s | 56.2 prisoners per 100,000 people | 45 prisoners per 100,000 people | 61 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2020s | 57 prisoners per 100,000 people | 57 prisoners per 100,000 people | 57 prisoners per 100,000 people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Papua New Guinea
- 173 Liberia 60 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 174 Haiti 59 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 174 Togo 59 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 176 Mauritania 57 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 178 Chad 56 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 179 East Timor 55 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 179 Niger 55 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for Papua New Guinea
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.0% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.15 million people (2100)
- Population density 41.16 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.0% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 3.07 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 7,732 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 3.07 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 3.07 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 1.8% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 3.1 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in Papua New Guinea?
- Prison population rate in Papua New Guinea was 57 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 Papua New Guinea?
- The highest recorded value was 70 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2008.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The lowest recorded value was 45 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2012.
- How does Papua New Guinea rank for prison population rate?
- Papua New Guinea ranks 176th out of 202 countries with data for 2023.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in Papua New Guinea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Papua New Guinea 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 10 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Prison population (including pre-trial detainees and remand prisoners), per 100,000 population.