Prison population rate in South Africa
South Africa: Prison population rate was 260 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025. ▼ Falling
Prison population rate in South Africa, 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
In 2025, prison population rate in South Africa stood at 260 prisoners per 100,000 people.
That represents a change of down 9.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in South Africa peaked at 403 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2004 and was at its lowest, 259 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2020.
That places South Africa 51st out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.
Prison population rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 394 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2002 | 396 prisoners per 100,000 people | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 403 prisoners per 100,000 people | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 318 prisoners per 100,000 people | -21.1% |
| 2008 | 342 prisoners per 100,000 people | +7.5% |
| 2010 | 328 prisoners per 100,000 people | -4.1% |
| 2012 | 310 prisoners per 100,000 people | -5.5% |
| 2014 | 288 prisoners per 100,000 people | -7.1% |
| 2016 | 291 prisoners per 100,000 people | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 286 prisoners per 100,000 people | -1.7% |
| 2020 | 259 prisoners per 100,000 people | -9.4% |
| 2025 | 260 prisoners per 100,000 people | +0.4% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 260 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 216 prisoners per 100,000 people, 1.2× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 260 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 90 prisoners per 100,000 people, 2.9× the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 370.6 prisoners per 100,000 people | 318 prisoners per 100,000 people | 403 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2010s | 300.6 prisoners per 100,000 people | 286 prisoners per 100,000 people | 328 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2020s | 259.5 prisoners per 100,000 people | 259 prisoners per 100,000 people | 260 prisoners per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More population data for South Africa
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1847 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.7997 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.2% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 5.55 million people (2100)
- Population density 77.75 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.2% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.0148 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8824 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in South Africa?
- Prison population rate in South Africa was 260 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 403 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2004.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 259 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for prison population rate?
- South Africa ranks 51st out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa 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.