Prison population rate in United States
United States: Prison population rate was 542 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2023. ▼ Falling
Prison population rate in United States, 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
In 2023, prison population rate in United States stood at 542 prisoners per 100,000 people.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.3% on the previous year and down 23.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison population rate in United States peaked at 755 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2008 and was at its lowest, 505 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2020.
That places United States 4th out of 202 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.
Prison population rate in United States, year by year
| Year | prisoners per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 683 prisoners per 100,000 people | — |
| 2002 | 703 prisoners per 100,000 people | +2.9% |
| 2004 | 725 prisoners per 100,000 people | +3.1% |
| 2006 | 752 prisoners per 100,000 people | +3.7% |
| 2008 | 755 prisoners per 100,000 people | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 731 prisoners per 100,000 people | -3.2% |
| 2012 | 707 prisoners per 100,000 people | -3.3% |
| 2014 | 693 prisoners per 100,000 people | -2.0% |
| 2016 | 666 prisoners per 100,000 people | -3.9% |
| 2018 | 642 prisoners per 100,000 people | -3.6% |
| 2020 | 505 prisoners per 100,000 people | -21.3% |
| 2023 | 542 prisoners per 100,000 people | +7.3% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 542 prisoners per 100,000 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 172.5 prisoners per 100,000 people, 3.1× the median. (80 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 723.6 prisoners per 100,000 people | 683 prisoners per 100,000 people | 755 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2010s | 687.8 prisoners per 100,000 people | 642 prisoners per 100,000 people | 731 prisoners per 100,000 people | 5 |
| 2020s | 523.5 prisoners per 100,000 people | 505 prisoners per 100,000 people | 542 prisoners per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 1 El Salvador 1,659 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 2 Rwanda 620 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 3 Turkmenistan 576 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 5 American Samoa 538 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 6 Panama 533 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
- 7 Guam 530 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
More population data for United States
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.1369 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -2.8 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.1369 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.0241 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 375,392 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.4762 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.1565 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.1% (2100)
- Population density 46.05 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 19.91 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison population rate in United States?
- Prison population rate in United States was 542 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 755 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2008.
- What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 505 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2020.
- How does United States rank for prison population rate?
- United States ranks 4th out of 202 countries with data for 2023.
- Is prison population rate rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States 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.