Prison population rate in Portugal
Portugal: Prison population rate was 121 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025. ▬ Flat
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.
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
More population data for Portugal
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.0% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 396,215 people (2100)
- Population density 95.56 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.0% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.41 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 68,603 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.41 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.41 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate -0.3% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 1.51 live births per woman (2023)
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.
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About this data
Prison population (including pre-trial detainees and remand prisoners), per 100,000 population.