Prison population rate in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea: Prison population rate was 57 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
57 prisoners per 100,000 people
World rank
176th
of 202 countries
All-time high
70 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2008
All-time low
45 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2012
Years of data
10
2000–2023
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.
Prison population rate in Papua New Guinea, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 65 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2002 | 58 prisoners per 100,000 people | -10.8% |
| 2005 | 67 prisoners per 100,000 people | +15.5% |
| 2008 | 70 prisoners per 100,000 people | +4.5% |
| 2010 | 61 prisoners per 100,000 people | -12.9% |
| 2012 | 45 prisoners per 100,000 people | -26.2% |
| 2014 | 56 prisoners per 100,000 people | +24.4% |
| 2016 | 59 prisoners per 100,000 people | +5.4% |
| 2018 | 60 prisoners per 100,000 people | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 57 prisoners per 100,000 people | -5.0% |
Papua New Guinea compared with similar countries
- Papua New Guinea's 57 prisoners per 100,000 people is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 106 prisoners per 100,000 people, 54% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Papua New Guinea's 57 prisoners per 100,000 people is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 170 prisoners per 100,000 people, 34% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
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
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.0669 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.0564 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.3478 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.0564 % change on previous year (2100)
- 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)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5424 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.58 Percent per annum (2030)
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.
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About this data
Prison population (including pre-trial detainees and remand prisoners), per 100,000 population.