Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in New Zealand
New Zealand: Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population was 42.3% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in New Zealand, 2003–2024
Source: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in New Zealand is 42.3%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.2% on the previous year and up 100.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in New Zealand peaked at 42.3% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 15.9%, in 2004.
That places New Zealand 44th out of 153 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 New Zealand, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 16.5% | — |
| 2004 | 15.9% | -3.2% |
| 2005 | 17.1% | +7.2% |
| 2006 | 17.8% | +4.0% |
| 2007 | 19.4% | +9.5% |
| 2008 | 20.1% | +3.2% |
| 2009 | 20.3% | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 20.1% | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 20.5% | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 20.2% | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 18.3% | -9.2% |
| 2014 | 21.1% | +15.1% |
| 2015 | 25.0% | +18.6% |
| 2016 | 27.9% | +11.6% |
| 2017 | 28.3% | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 30.5% | +7.8% |
| 2019 | 36.6% | +20.0% |
| 2020 | 35.1% | -4.1% |
| 2021 | 37.4% | +6.6% |
| 2022 | 41.0% | +9.4% |
| 2024 | 42.3% | +3.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 18.1% | 15.9% | 20.3% | 7 |
| 2010s | 24.9% | 18.3% | 36.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.9% | 35.1% | 42.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More population data for New Zealand
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.0744 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -14.71 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.0744 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.0739 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 5,949 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.628 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.191 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.1% (2100)
- Population density 22.07 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 256,010 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in New Zealand?
- Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in New Zealand was 42.3% in 2024, 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 New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 42.3% in 2024.
- What is the lowest unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.9% in 2004.
- How does New Zealand rank for unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population?
- New Zealand ranks 44th out of 153 countries with data for 2024.
- Is unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 100.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this New Zealand 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 (%).