Prison population rate in Singapore
Singapore: Prison population rate was 178 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2024. ▼ Falling
Prison population rate in Singapore, 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
Singapore recorded 178 prisoners per 100,000 people for prison population rate in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 12 years on record.
The figure is down 21.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in Singapore peaked at 394 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2002 and was at its lowest, 178 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2024.
That places Singapore 91st out of 202 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.
Prison population rate in Singapore, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 352 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2002 | 394 prisoners per 100,000 people | +11.9% |
| 2004 | 385 prisoners per 100,000 people | -2.3% |
| 2006 | 262 prisoners per 100,000 people | -31.9% |
| 2008 | 244 prisoners per 100,000 people | -6.9% |
| 2010 | 250 prisoners per 100,000 people | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 234 prisoners per 100,000 people | -6.4% |
| 2014 | 227 prisoners per 100,000 people | -3.0% |
| 2016 | 213 prisoners per 100,000 people | -6.2% |
| 2018 | 199 prisoners per 100,000 people | -6.6% |
| 2020 | 185 prisoners per 100,000 people | -7.0% |
| 2024 | 178 prisoners per 100,000 people | -3.8% |
Singapore compared with similar countries
- Singapore's 178 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 172.5 prisoners per 100,000 people, 1.0× the median. (80 countries reporting)
- Singapore's 178 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 170 prisoners per 100,000 people, 1.0× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 327.4 prisoners per 100,000 people | 244 prisoners per 100,000 people | 394 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2010s | 224.6 prisoners per 100,000 people | 199 prisoners per 100,000 people | 250 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2020s | 181.5 prisoners per 100,000 people | 178 prisoners per 100,000 people | 185 prisoners per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Singapore
- 88 Czechia 179 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 88 Iraq 179 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 88 Samoa 179 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 92 Puerto Rico 177 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 92 Serbia 177 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 94 Latvia 175 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for Singapore
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.9668 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2028)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.9668 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.0914 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 6,337 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.4648 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5703 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.9% (2100)
- Population density 5,798 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 140,350 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in Singapore?
- Prison population rate in Singapore was 178 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 Singapore?
- The highest recorded value was 394 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2002.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Singapore?
- The lowest recorded value was 178 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2024.
- How does Singapore rank for prison population rate?
- Singapore ranks 91st out of 202 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in Singapore?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Singapore 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.