Prison population rate in Senegal
Senegal: Prison population rate was 76 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prison population rate in Senegal, 2000–2024
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 Senegal stood at 76 prisoners per 100,000 people. That is the highest value across all 12 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 20.6% on the previous year and up 31.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in Senegal peaked at 76 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2018 and was at its lowest, 51 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2000.
That places Senegal 160th out of 202 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 12 years of available data.
Prison population rate in Senegal, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 51 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2002 | 53 prisoners per 100,000 people | +3.9% |
| 2004 | 65 prisoners per 100,000 people | +22.6% |
| 2006 | 57 prisoners per 100,000 people | -12.3% |
| 2008 | 58 prisoners per 100,000 people | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 59 prisoners per 100,000 people | +1.7% |
| 2012 | 60 prisoners per 100,000 people | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 58 prisoners per 100,000 people | -3.3% |
| 2016 | 61 prisoners per 100,000 people | +5.2% |
| 2018 | 76 prisoners per 100,000 people | +24.6% |
| 2021 | 63 prisoners per 100,000 people | -17.1% |
| 2024 | 76 prisoners per 100,000 people | +20.6% |
Senegal compared with similar countries
- Senegal's 76 prisoners per 100,000 people is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 106 prisoners per 100,000 people, 72% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Senegal's 76 prisoners per 100,000 people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 90 prisoners per 100,000 people, 84% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 56.8 prisoners per 100,000 people | 51 prisoners per 100,000 people | 65 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2010s | 62.8 prisoners per 100,000 people | 58 prisoners per 100,000 people | 76 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2020s | 69.5 prisoners per 100,000 people | 63 prisoners per 100,000 people | 76 prisoners per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Senegal
- 157 Monaco 81 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 158 Malawi 78 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 159 Switzerland 77 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 161 Djibouti 74 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 161 Solomon Islands 74 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 163 Andorra 71 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 163 Germany 71 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for Senegal
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.3558 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 1.42 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.3558 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.7576 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 32,563 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.44 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.4124 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.3% (2100)
- Population density 244.19 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 3.10 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in Senegal?
- Prison population rate in Senegal was 76 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 Senegal?
- The highest recorded value was 76 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2018.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Senegal?
- The lowest recorded value was 51 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2000.
- How does Senegal rank for prison population rate?
- Senegal ranks 160th out of 202 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in Senegal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Senegal 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.