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.
Prison population rate in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 87 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2002 | 93 prisoners per 100,000 people | +6.9% |
| 2004 | 105 prisoners per 100,000 people | +12.9% |
| 2006 | 114 prisoners per 100,000 people | +8.6% |
| 2008 | 128 prisoners per 100,000 people | +12.3% |
| 2010 | 130 prisoners per 100,000 people | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 112 prisoners per 100,000 people | -13.8% |
| 2014 | 89 prisoners per 100,000 people | -20.5% |
| 2016 | 83 prisoners per 100,000 people | -6.7% |
| 2018 | 96 prisoners per 100,000 people | +15.7% |
| 2020 | 121 prisoners per 100,000 people | +26.0% |
| 2022 | 102 prisoners per 100,000 people | -15.7% |
| 2026 | 180 prisoners per 100,000 people | +76.5% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 180 prisoners per 100,000 people is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 216 prisoners per 100,000 people, 83% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 180 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for South Asia, which is 93 prisoners per 100,000 people, 1.9× the median. (5 countries reporting)
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 regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.5555 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.0083 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.5555 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -1.29 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 21,815 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.1332 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.6507 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.6% (2100)
- Population density 343.51 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 901,396 people (2100)
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.