Prison population rate in Rwanda

Rwanda: Prison population rate was 620 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
620 prisoners per 100,000 people
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
2nd
of 202 countries
All-time high
621 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2022
All-time low
440 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2016
Years of data
8
2010–2024

Prison population rate in Rwanda, 2010–2024

02004006002010201720242010: 547 prisoners per 100,000 people2012: 553 prisoners per 100,000 people2014: 491 prisoners per 100,000 people2016: 440 prisoners per 100,000 people2018: 544 prisoners per 100,000 people2020: 545 prisoners per 100,000 people2022: 621 prisoners per 100,000 people2024: 620 prisoners per 100,000 people

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

In 2024, prison population rate in Rwanda stood at 620 prisoners per 100,000 people.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 26.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prison population rate in Rwanda peaked at 621 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2022 and was at its lowest, 440 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2016.

Rwanda ranks 2nd of 202 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 515 prisoners per 100,000 people 440 prisoners per 100,000 people 553 prisoners per 100,000 people 5
2020s 595.33 prisoners per 100,000 people 545 prisoners per 100,000 people 621 prisoners per 100,000 people 3

Countries ranked near Rwanda

  1. 1 El Salvador 1,659 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
  2. 3 Turkmenistan 576 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
  3. 4 United States 542 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
  4. 5 American Samoa 538 prisoners per 100,000 people compare

See the full ranking of 202 places →

More population data for Rwanda

All data for Rwanda →

Frequently asked questions

What is prison population rate in Rwanda?
Prison population rate in Rwanda was 620 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2024, 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 Rwanda?
The highest recorded value was 621 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2022.
What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Rwanda?
The lowest recorded value was 440 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2016.
How does Rwanda rank for prison population rate?
Rwanda ranks 2nd out of 202 countries with data for 2024.
Is prison population rate rising or falling in Rwanda?
Over the last ten years it is up 26.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Rwanda 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

Indicator
Prison population rate
Unit
prisoners per 100,000 people
Source
Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
202 places, 2,155 data points, 1993–2026
Last refreshed

Prison population (including pre-trial detainees and remand prisoners), per 100,000 population.