Prison population rate in Tonga

Tonga: Prison population rate was 516 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2022. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2022)
516 prisoners per 100,000 people
World rank
8th
of 202 countries
All-time high
516 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2022
All-time low
101 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2006
Years of data
8
2000–2022

Prison population rate in Tonga, 2000–2022

1002003004005002000201120222000: 108 prisoners per 100,000 people2002: 111 prisoners per 100,000 people2004: 116 prisoners per 100,000 people2006: 101 prisoners per 100,000 people2008: 103 prisoners per 100,000 people2010: 152 prisoners per 100,000 people2012: 150 prisoners per 100,000 people2022: 516 prisoners per 100,000 people

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 Tonga is 516 prisoners per 100,000 people, measured in 2022. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 244.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prison population rate in Tonga peaked at 516 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2022 and was at its lowest, 101 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2006.

That places Tonga 8th out of 202 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 107.8 prisoners per 100,000 people 101 prisoners per 100,000 people 116 prisoners per 100,000 people 5
2010s 151 prisoners per 100,000 people 150 prisoners per 100,000 people 152 prisoners per 100,000 people 2
2020s 516 prisoners per 100,000 people 516 prisoners per 100,000 people 516 prisoners per 100,000 people 1

Countries ranked near Tonga

  1. 5 American Samoa 538 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
  2. 6 Panama 533 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
  3. 7 Guam 530 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
  4. 9 Turkey 468 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
  5. 10 Cape Verde 467 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
  6. 11 Uruguay 449 prisoners per 100,000 people compare

See the full ranking of 202 places →

More population data for Tonga

All data for Tonga →

Frequently asked questions

What is prison population rate in Tonga?
Prison population rate in Tonga was 516 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2022, 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 Tonga?
The highest recorded value was 516 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2022.
What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Tonga?
The lowest recorded value was 101 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2006.
How does Tonga rank for prison population rate?
Tonga ranks 8th out of 202 countries with data for 2022.
Is prison population rate rising or falling in Tonga?
Over the last ten years it is up 244.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Tonga 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

Indicator
Prison population rate
Unit
prisoners per 100,000 people
Source
Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
202 places, 2,155 data points, 1993–2026
Last refreshed

Prison population (including pre-trial detainees and remand prisoners), per 100,000 population.