Prison population rate in Portugal
Portugal: Prison population rate was 121 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
121 prisoners per 100,000 people
Change on year
up 2.5%
World rank
126th
of 202 countries
All-time high
135 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2014
All-time low
102 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2008
Years of data
13
2000–2025
Prison population rate in Portugal, 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 Portugal is 121 prisoners per 100,000 people, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 2.5% on the previous year and down 10.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in Portugal peaked at 135 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2014 and was at its lowest, 102 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2008.
Portugal ranks 126th of 202 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Prison population rate in Portugal, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 126 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2002 | 133 prisoners per 100,000 people | +5.6% |
| 2004 | 125 prisoners per 100,000 people | -6.0% |
| 2006 | 120 prisoners per 100,000 people | -4.0% |
| 2008 | 102 prisoners per 100,000 people | -15.0% |
| 2010 | 110 prisoners per 100,000 people | +7.8% |
| 2012 | 130 prisoners per 100,000 people | +18.2% |
| 2014 | 135 prisoners per 100,000 people | +3.8% |
| 2016 | 134 prisoners per 100,000 people | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 125 prisoners per 100,000 people | -6.7% |
| 2020 | 111 prisoners per 100,000 people | -11.2% |
| 2022 | 118 prisoners per 100,000 people | +6.3% |
| 2025 | 121 prisoners per 100,000 people | +2.5% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 121 prisoners per 100,000 people is below the median for high income countries, which is 172.5 prisoners per 100,000 people, 70% of the median. (80 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 121 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 121 prisoners per 100,000 people, 1.0× the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 121.2 prisoners per 100,000 people | 102 prisoners per 100,000 people | 133 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2010s | 126.8 prisoners per 100,000 people | 110 prisoners per 100,000 people | 135 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2020s | 116.67 prisoners per 100,000 people | 111 prisoners per 100,000 people | 121 prisoners per 100,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
- 123 Guernsey 124 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 123 Jamaica 124 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 125 Guatemala 123 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 126 Spain 121 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 128 China 119 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 128 Malta 119 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for Portugal
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.0538 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -4.39 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.0538 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.4941 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 9,261 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.2816 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.0558 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.0% (2100)
- Population density 95.56 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 396,215 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in Portugal?
- Prison population rate in Portugal was 121 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 Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 135 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2014.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 102 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2008.
- How does Portugal rank for prison population rate?
- Portugal ranks 126th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Portugal 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 — 13 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.