Prison population rate in Turkey
Turkey: Prison population rate was 468 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2026. ◆ Volatile
Prison population rate in Turkey, 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
The most recent figure for prison population rate in Turkey is 468 prisoners per 100,000 people, measured in 2026. That is the highest value across all 13 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 86.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in Turkey peaked at 468 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2026 and was at its lowest, 73 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2000.
That places Turkey 9th out of 202 countries with data for 2026, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Prison population rate in Turkey, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 73 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2002 | 85 prisoners per 100,000 people | +16.4% |
| 2004 | 81 prisoners per 100,000 people | -4.7% |
| 2006 | 101 prisoners per 100,000 people | +24.7% |
| 2008 | 144 prisoners per 100,000 people | +42.6% |
| 2010 | 164 prisoners per 100,000 people | +13.9% |
| 2012 | 180 prisoners per 100,000 people | +9.8% |
| 2014 | 204 prisoners per 100,000 people | +13.3% |
| 2016 | 251 prisoners per 100,000 people | +23.0% |
| 2018 | 324 prisoners per 100,000 people | +29.1% |
| 2020 | 319 prisoners per 100,000 people | -1.5% |
| 2022 | 400 prisoners per 100,000 people | +25.4% |
| 2026 | 468 prisoners per 100,000 people | +17.0% |
Turkey compared with similar countries
- Turkey's 468 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 216 prisoners per 100,000 people, 2.2× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Turkey's 468 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 121 prisoners per 100,000 people, 3.9× the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 96.8 prisoners per 100,000 people | 73 prisoners per 100,000 people | 144 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2010s | 224.6 prisoners per 100,000 people | 164 prisoners per 100,000 people | 324 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2020s | 395.67 prisoners per 100,000 people | 319 prisoners per 100,000 people | 468 prisoners per 100,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near Turkey
- 6 Panama 533 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 7 Guam 530 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 8 Tonga 516 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 10 Cape Verde 467 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 11 Uruguay 449 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 12 British Virgin Islands 426 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for Turkey
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.543 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -1 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.1546 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -1 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -1.0% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 2.26 million people (2100)
- Population density 84.9 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -1.0% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.9701 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, per capita 0.1073 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in Turkey?
- Prison population rate in Turkey was 468 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 Turkey?
- The highest recorded value was 468 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2026.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Turkey?
- The lowest recorded value was 73 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2000.
- How does Turkey rank for prison population rate?
- Turkey ranks 9th out of 202 countries with data for 2026.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in Turkey?
- Over the last ten years it is up 86.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Turkey 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.