Prison population rate in Tanzania
Tanzania: Prison population rate was 41 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2023. ▼ Falling
Prison population rate in Tanzania, 2000–2023
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
Tanzania recorded 41 prisoners per 100,000 people for prison population rate in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 11 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 21.2% on the previous year and down 39.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in Tanzania peaked at 135 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2000 and was at its lowest, 41 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2023.
That places Tanzania 192nd out of 202 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 11 years of available data.
Prison population rate in Tanzania, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 135 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2002 | 123 prisoners per 100,000 people | -8.9% |
| 2004 | 114 prisoners per 100,000 people | -7.3% |
| 2006 | 109 prisoners per 100,000 people | -4.4% |
| 2008 | 96 prisoners per 100,000 people | -11.9% |
| 2011 | 81 prisoners per 100,000 people | -15.6% |
| 2013 | 68 prisoners per 100,000 people | -16.0% |
| 2015 | 64 prisoners per 100,000 people | -5.9% |
| 2019 | 59 prisoners per 100,000 people | -7.8% |
| 2021 | 52 prisoners per 100,000 people | -11.9% |
| 2023 | 41 prisoners per 100,000 people | -21.2% |
Tanzania compared with similar countries
- Tanzania's 41 prisoners per 100,000 people is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 106 prisoners per 100,000 people, 39% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Tanzania's 41 prisoners per 100,000 people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 90 prisoners per 100,000 people, 46% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 115.4 prisoners per 100,000 people | 96 prisoners per 100,000 people | 135 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2010s | 68 prisoners per 100,000 people | 59 prisoners per 100,000 people | 81 prisoners per 100,000 people | 4 |
| 2020s | 46.5 prisoners per 100,000 people | 41 prisoners per 100,000 people | 52 prisoners per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Tanzania
More population data for Tanzania
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.8793 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -1.36 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.8793 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.6843 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 129,932 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.69 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.089 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.9% (2100)
- Population density 296.72 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 20.58 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in Tanzania?
- Prison population rate in Tanzania was 41 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2023, 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 Tanzania?
- The highest recorded value was 135 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2000.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Tanzania?
- The lowest recorded value was 41 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2023.
- How does Tanzania rank for prison population rate?
- Tanzania ranks 192nd out of 202 countries with data for 2023.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in Tanzania?
- Over the last ten years it is down 39.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Tanzania 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.