Prison population rate in Samoa

Samoa: Prison population rate was 179 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2019. ▲ Rising

Latest (2019)
179 prisoners per 100,000 people
Change on year
down 11.4%
World rank
88th
of 202 countries
All-time high
250 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2014
All-time low
99 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2000
Years of data
8
2000–2019

Prison population rate in Samoa, 2000–2019

0501001502002502000200920192000: 99 prisoners per 100,000 people2002: 131 prisoners per 100,000 people2004: 131 prisoners per 100,000 people2006: 101 prisoners per 100,000 people2011: 227 prisoners per 100,000 people2014: 250 prisoners per 100,000 people2017: 202 prisoners per 100,000 people2019: 179 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

Samoa recorded 179 prisoners per 100,000 people for prison population rate in 2019.

The figure is down 11.4% on the previous year and down 21.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prison population rate in Samoa peaked at 250 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2014 and was at its lowest, 99 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2000.

That places Samoa 88th out of 202 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 115.5 prisoners per 100,000 people 99 prisoners per 100,000 people 131 prisoners per 100,000 people 4
2010s 214.5 prisoners per 100,000 people 179 prisoners per 100,000 people 250 prisoners per 100,000 people 4

Countries ranked near Samoa

  1. 85 Macao 185 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
  2. 86 Myanmar 183 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
  3. 87 Sri Lanka 180 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
  4. 88 Czechia 179 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
  5. 88 Iraq 179 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
  6. 91 Singapore 178 prisoners per 100,000 people compare

See the full ranking of 202 places →

More population data for Samoa

All data for Samoa →

Frequently asked questions

What is prison population rate in Samoa?
Prison population rate in Samoa was 179 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2019, 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 Samoa?
The highest recorded value was 250 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2014.
What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Samoa?
The lowest recorded value was 99 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2000.
How does Samoa rank for prison population rate?
Samoa ranks 88th out of 202 countries with data for 2019.
Is prison population rate rising or falling in Samoa?
Over the last ten years it is down 21.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Samoa 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.