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.
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
- 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
- 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)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.97 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 6,742 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.97 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.97 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 1.0% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 1.98 live births per woman (2023)
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.