Prison population rate in Peru
Peru: Prison population rate was 299 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025. ▲ Rising
Prison population rate in Peru, 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
The most recent figure for prison population rate in Peru is 299 prisoners per 100,000 people, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 13 years on record.
That represents a change of up 12.4% on the previous year and up 27.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in Peru peaked at 299 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 103 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2002.
Peru ranks 35th of 202 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.
Prison population rate in Peru, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 107 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2002 | 103 prisoners per 100,000 people | -3.7% |
| 2004 | 114 prisoners per 100,000 people | +10.7% |
| 2006 | 128 prisoners per 100,000 people | +12.3% |
| 2008 | 152 prisoners per 100,000 people | +18.8% |
| 2010 | 157 prisoners per 100,000 people | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 197 prisoners per 100,000 people | +25.5% |
| 2014 | 234 prisoners per 100,000 people | +18.8% |
| 2016 | 257 prisoners per 100,000 people | +9.8% |
| 2018 | 275 prisoners per 100,000 people | +7.0% |
| 2020 | 280 prisoners per 100,000 people | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 266 prisoners per 100,000 people | -5.0% |
| 2025 | 299 prisoners per 100,000 people | +12.4% |
Peru compared with similar countries
- Peru's 299 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 216 prisoners per 100,000 people, 1.4× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Peru's 299 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 280 prisoners per 100,000 people, 1.1× the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 120.8 prisoners per 100,000 people | 103 prisoners per 100,000 people | 152 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2010s | 224 prisoners per 100,000 people | 157 prisoners per 100,000 people | 275 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2020s | 281.67 prisoners per 100,000 people | 266 prisoners per 100,000 people | 299 prisoners per 100,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near Peru
- 32 Northern Mariana Islands 304 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 33 Belize 302 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 34 Russia 300 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 36 Martinique 298 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 37 Saint Kitts and Nevis 296 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 38 Greenland 294 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for Peru
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.3151 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.4349 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.0396 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.4349 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.4% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.66 million people (2100)
- Population density 29.82 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.4% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.6906 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.9219 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in Peru?
- Prison population rate in Peru was 299 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 Peru?
- The highest recorded value was 299 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Peru?
- The lowest recorded value was 103 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2002.
- How does Peru rank for prison population rate?
- Peru ranks 35th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in Peru?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Peru 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.