Prison population rate in Romania
Romania: Prison population rate was 129 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025. ▼ Falling
Prison population rate in Romania, 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
Romania recorded 129 prisoners per 100,000 people for prison population rate in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.7% on the previous year and down 15.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in Romania peaked at 222 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2002 and was at its lowest, 107 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2018.
That places Romania 119th out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 13 years of available data.
Prison population rate in Romania, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 215 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2002 | 222 prisoners per 100,000 people | +3.3% |
| 2004 | 183 prisoners per 100,000 people | -17.6% |
| 2006 | 161 prisoners per 100,000 people | -12.0% |
| 2008 | 128 prisoners per 100,000 people | -20.5% |
| 2010 | 140 prisoners per 100,000 people | +9.4% |
| 2012 | 159 prisoners per 100,000 people | +13.6% |
| 2014 | 152 prisoners per 100,000 people | -4.4% |
| 2016 | 140 prisoners per 100,000 people | -7.9% |
| 2018 | 107 prisoners per 100,000 people | -23.6% |
| 2020 | 113 prisoners per 100,000 people | +5.6% |
| 2022 | 122 prisoners per 100,000 people | +8.0% |
| 2025 | 129 prisoners per 100,000 people | +5.7% |
Romania compared with similar countries
- Romania's 129 prisoners per 100,000 people is below the median for high income countries, which is 172.5 prisoners per 100,000 people, 75% of the median. (80 countries reporting)
- Romania's 129 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 121 prisoners per 100,000 people, 1.1× the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 181.8 prisoners per 100,000 people | 128 prisoners per 100,000 people | 222 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2010s | 139.6 prisoners per 100,000 people | 107 prisoners per 100,000 people | 159 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2020s | 121.33 prisoners per 100,000 people | 113 prisoners per 100,000 people | 129 prisoners per 100,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near Romania
- 116 Zambia 137 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 117 Vietnam 135 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 118 Suriname 134 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 119 Sao Tome and Principe 129 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 121 Micronesia (country) 127 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 122 France 126 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for Romania
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.5328 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.7777 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -1.41 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.7777 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.8% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 440,116 people (2100)
- Population density 46.8 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.8% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.8232 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.3241 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in Romania?
- Prison population rate in Romania was 129 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 Romania?
- The highest recorded value was 222 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2002.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Romania?
- The lowest recorded value was 107 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2018.
- How does Romania rank for prison population rate?
- Romania ranks 119th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in Romania?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Romania 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.