Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Hong Kong
Hong Kong: Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population was 40.6% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Hong Kong, 2003–2023
Source: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Hong Kong stood at 40.6%. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 8.4% on the previous year and up 139.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Hong Kong peaked at 40.6% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 10.5%, in 2005.
Hong Kong ranks 47th of 153 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.
Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Hong Kong, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 12.3% | — |
| 2004 | 13.8% | +11.5% |
| 2005 | 10.5% | -23.8% |
| 2006 | 11.0% | +5.1% |
| 2007 | 13.9% | +26.0% |
| 2008 | 14.4% | +3.8% |
| 2009 | 14.7% | +2.2% |
| 2010 | 13.7% | -7.2% |
| 2011 | 14.4% | +5.3% |
| 2012 | 16.8% | +16.5% |
| 2013 | 16.9% | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 17.0% | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 18.8% | +10.7% |
| 2016 | 19.9% | +5.8% |
| 2017 | 20.1% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 25.0% | +24.5% |
| 2019 | 22.9% | -8.4% |
| 2020 | 30.7% | +34.2% |
| 2021 | 32.6% | +6.1% |
| 2022 | 37.5% | +14.9% |
| 2023 | 40.6% | +8.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 13.0% | 10.5% | 14.7% | 7 |
| 2010s | 18.6% | 13.7% | 25.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 35.4% | 30.7% | 40.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Hong Kong
More population data for Hong Kong
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -2.46 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2044)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -2.46 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.3992 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -3.24 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -2.5% (2100)
- Population density 1,981 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 30,373 people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -2.5% (2100)
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate -0.2539 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Hong Kong?
- Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Hong Kong was 40.6% in 2023, according to United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population recorded in Hong Kong?
- The highest recorded value was 40.6% in 2023.
- What is the lowest unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population recorded in Hong Kong?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.5% in 2005.
- How does Hong Kong rank for unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population?
- Hong Kong ranks 47th out of 153 countries with data for 2023.
- Is unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population rising or falling in Hong Kong?
- Over the last ten years it is up 139.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Hong Kong data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population (%).