Prison population rate in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Prison population rate was 180 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2026. ▲ Rising
Prison population rate in Sri Lanka, 2000–2026
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 2026, prison population rate in Sri Lanka stood at 180 prisoners per 100,000 people. That is the highest value across all 13 years on record.
That represents a change of up 116.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in Sri Lanka peaked at 180 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2026 and was at its lowest, 83 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2016.
That places Sri Lanka 87th out of 202 countries with data for 2026, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 105.4 prisoners per 100,000 people | 87 prisoners per 100,000 people | 128 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2010s | 102 prisoners per 100,000 people | 83 prisoners per 100,000 people | 130 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2020s | 134.33 prisoners per 100,000 people | 102 prisoners per 100,000 people | 180 prisoners per 100,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More population data for Sri Lanka
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.6% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 901,396 people (2100)
- Population density 343.51 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.6% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.95 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 232 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.95 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.95 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 0.7% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 1.97 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in Sri Lanka?
- Prison population rate in Sri Lanka was 180 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2026, 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 180 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2026.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 83 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2016.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for prison population rate?
- Sri Lanka ranks 87th out of 202 countries with data for 2026.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 116.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.