Prison population rate in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe: Prison population rate was 150 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025. ▬ Flat

Latest (2025)
150 prisoners per 100,000 people
World rank
105th
of 202 countries
All-time high
164 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2000
All-time low
96 prisoners per 100,000 people
in 2010
Years of data
10
2000–2025

Prison population rate in Zimbabwe, 2000–2025

0501001502000201220252000: 164 prisoners per 100,000 people2004: 152 prisoners per 100,000 people2006: 137 prisoners per 100,000 people2008: 103 prisoners per 100,000 people2010: 96 prisoners per 100,000 people2014: 129 prisoners per 100,000 people2017: 137 prisoners per 100,000 people2019: 133 prisoners per 100,000 people2021: 136 prisoners per 100,000 people2025: 150 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 Zimbabwe is 150 prisoners per 100,000 people, measured in 2025.

That represents a change of up 16.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prison population rate in Zimbabwe peaked at 164 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2000 and was at its lowest, 96 prisoners per 100,000 people, in 2010.

Zimbabwe ranks 105th of 202 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 139 prisoners per 100,000 people 103 prisoners per 100,000 people 164 prisoners per 100,000 people 4
2010s 123.75 prisoners per 100,000 people 96 prisoners per 100,000 people 137 prisoners per 100,000 people 4
2020s 143 prisoners per 100,000 people 136 prisoners per 100,000 people 150 prisoners per 100,000 people 2

Countries ranked near Zimbabwe

  1. 102 Cook Islands 156 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
  2. 102 Lithuania 156 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
  3. 104 Philippines 151 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
  4. 105 Uganda 150 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
  5. 107 Slovakia 149 prisoners per 100,000 people compare
  6. 108 Tajikistan 145 prisoners per 100,000 people compare

See the full ranking of 202 places →

More population data for Zimbabwe

All data for Zimbabwe →

Frequently asked questions

What is prison population rate in Zimbabwe?
Prison population rate in Zimbabwe was 150 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2025, 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 Zimbabwe?
The highest recorded value was 164 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2000.
What is the lowest prison population rate recorded in Zimbabwe?
The lowest recorded value was 96 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2010.
How does Zimbabwe rank for prison population rate?
Zimbabwe ranks 105th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
Is prison population rate rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
Over the last ten years it is up 16.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Zimbabwe 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.