Prison population rate in Thailand
Thailand: Prison population rate was 395 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prison population rate in Thailand, 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
The most recent figure for prison population rate in Thailand is 395 prisoners per 100,000 people, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.6% on the previous year and down 14.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in Thailand peaked at 529 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2018 and was at its lowest, 232 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2006.
Thailand ranks 15th of 202 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.
Prison population rate in Thailand, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 354 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2002 | 396 prisoners per 100,000 people | +11.9% |
| 2004 | 257 prisoners per 100,000 people | -35.1% |
| 2006 | 232 prisoners per 100,000 people | -9.7% |
| 2008 | 278 prisoners per 100,000 people | +19.8% |
| 2010 | 313 prisoners per 100,000 people | +12.6% |
| 2012 | 346 prisoners per 100,000 people | +10.5% |
| 2014 | 460 prisoners per 100,000 people | +32.9% |
| 2016 | 437 prisoners per 100,000 people | -5.0% |
| 2018 | 529 prisoners per 100,000 people | +21.1% |
| 2020 | 516 prisoners per 100,000 people | -2.5% |
| 2022 | 374 prisoners per 100,000 people | -27.5% |
| 2024 | 395 prisoners per 100,000 people | +5.6% |
Thailand compared with similar countries
- Thailand's 395 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 216 prisoners per 100,000 people, 1.8× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Thailand's 395 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 170 prisoners per 100,000 people, 2.3× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 303.4 prisoners per 100,000 people | 232 prisoners per 100,000 people | 396 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2010s | 417 prisoners per 100,000 people | 313 prisoners per 100,000 people | 529 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2020s | 428.33 prisoners per 100,000 people | 374 prisoners per 100,000 people | 516 prisoners per 100,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near Thailand
- 12 British Virgin Islands 426 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 13 Brazil 416 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 14 Antigua and Barbuda 400 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 16 Seychelles 392 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 17 Eswatini 369 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 18 Palau 367 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for Thailand
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.7473 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -1.57 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.7473 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.8771 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 67,880 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.0154 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.4671 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.7% (2100)
- Population density 89.17 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.67 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in Thailand?
- Prison population rate in Thailand was 395 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 Thailand?
- The highest recorded value was 529 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2018.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Thailand?
- The lowest recorded value was 232 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2006.
- How does Thailand rank for prison population rate?
- Thailand ranks 15th out of 202 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in Thailand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Thailand 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.