Prison population rate in East Timor
East Timor: Prison population rate was 55 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2021. ▲ Rising
Prison population rate in East Timor, 2008–2021
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 2021, prison population rate in East Timor stood at 55 prisoners per 100,000 people. That is the highest value across all 7 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.8% on the previous year and up 139.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in East Timor peaked at 55 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2021 and was at its lowest, 17 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2008.
That places East Timor 179th out of 202 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Prison population rate in East Timor, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 17 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2011 | 23 prisoners per 100,000 people | +35.3% |
| 2013 | 36 prisoners per 100,000 people | +56.5% |
| 2015 | 47 prisoners per 100,000 people | +30.6% |
| 2017 | 51 prisoners per 100,000 people | +8.5% |
| 2019 | 53 prisoners per 100,000 people | +3.9% |
| 2021 | 55 prisoners per 100,000 people | +3.8% |
East Timor compared with similar countries
- East Timor's 55 prisoners per 100,000 people is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 106 prisoners per 100,000 people, 52% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
- East Timor's 55 prisoners per 100,000 people is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 170 prisoners per 100,000 people, 32% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 17 prisoners per 100,000 people | 17 prisoners per 100,000 people | 17 prisoners per 100,000 people | 1 |
| 2010s | 42 prisoners per 100,000 people | 23 prisoners per 100,000 people | 53 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2020s | 55 prisoners per 100,000 people | 55 prisoners per 100,000 people | 55 prisoners per 100,000 people | 1 |
Countries ranked near East Timor
- 176 Mauritania 57 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 176 Papua New Guinea 57 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 178 Chad 56 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 179 Niger 55 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 181 Afghanistan 54 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 181 Finland 54 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 181 Norway 54 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for East Timor
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.2427 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -1.71 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.2427 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.5654 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3779 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.2% (2100)
- Population density 132.68 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 97,537 people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.2% (2100)
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate 1.71 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in East Timor?
- Prison population rate in East Timor was 55 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2021, 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 East Timor?
- The highest recorded value was 55 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2021.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in East Timor?
- The lowest recorded value was 17 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2008.
- How does East Timor rank for prison population rate?
- East Timor ranks 179th out of 202 countries with data for 2021.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in East Timor?
- Over the last ten years it is up 139.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this East Timor 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.