Prison population rate in Spain
Spain: Prison population rate was 121 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2024. ▼ Falling
Prison population rate in Spain, 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
Spain recorded 121 prisoners per 100,000 people for prison population rate in 2024.
The figure is up 4.3% on the previous year and down 16.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in Spain peaked at 165 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2010 and was at its lowest, 113 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2000.
That places Spain 126th 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 13 years of available data.
Prison population rate in Spain, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 113 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2002 | 122 prisoners per 100,000 people | +8.0% |
| 2004 | 137 prisoners per 100,000 people | +12.3% |
| 2006 | 142 prisoners per 100,000 people | +3.6% |
| 2008 | 153 prisoners per 100,000 people | +7.7% |
| 2010 | 165 prisoners per 100,000 people | +7.8% |
| 2012 | 151 prisoners per 100,000 people | -8.5% |
| 2014 | 144 prisoners per 100,000 people | -4.6% |
| 2016 | 133 prisoners per 100,000 people | -7.6% |
| 2018 | 128 prisoners per 100,000 people | -3.8% |
| 2020 | 117 prisoners per 100,000 people | -8.6% |
| 2022 | 116 prisoners per 100,000 people | -0.9% |
| 2024 | 121 prisoners per 100,000 people | +4.3% |
Spain compared with similar countries
- Spain's 121 prisoners per 100,000 people is below the median for high income countries, which is 172.5 prisoners per 100,000 people, 70% of the median. (80 countries reporting)
- Spain's 121 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 121 prisoners per 100,000 people, 1.0× the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 133.4 prisoners per 100,000 people | 113 prisoners per 100,000 people | 153 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2010s | 144.2 prisoners per 100,000 people | 128 prisoners per 100,000 people | 165 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2020s | 118 prisoners per 100,000 people | 116 prisoners per 100,000 people | 121 prisoners per 100,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near Spain
- 123 Guernsey 124 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 123 Jamaica 124 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 125 Guatemala 123 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 126 Portugal 121 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 128 China 119 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 128 Malta 119 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for Spain
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.6358 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.527 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -4.98 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.527 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.5% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.24 million people (2100)
- Population density 66.29 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.5% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2658 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.1636 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in Spain?
- Prison population rate in Spain was 121 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 Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 165 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2010.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 113 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2000.
- How does Spain rank for prison population rate?
- Spain ranks 126th out of 202 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Spain 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 13 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Prison population (including pre-trial detainees and remand prisoners), per 100,000 population.