World Prison Population List
eleventh edition

Roy Walmsley

Introduction
This eleventh edition of the World Prison Population List gives details of the
number of prisoners held in 223 prison systems in independent countries and
dependent territories. It shows the differences in the levels of imprisonment
across the world and makes possible an estimate of the world prison population
total. The figures include both pre-trial detainees/remand prisoners and those
who have been convicted and sentenced. The information is the latest available
at the end of October 2015.
The data are presented in two parts. Part one, tables 1-5, sets out prison
population totals, rates and trends for each individual country. Part two, tables
6-8, provides data on prison population totals, rates and trends by continent, and
includes comparison of male and female prison population levels.
The World Prison Population List*, like the World Female Imprisonment List (the
third edition of which was published in September 2015) and the World Pre-trial/
Remand Imprisonment List (second edition published in 2014) complement the
information held on the World Prison Brief. This is an online database available at
www.prisonstudies.org, and is updated monthly.
The World Prison Population List is compiled from a variety of sources. In almost
all cases the original source is the national prison administration of the country
concerned, or else the Ministry responsible for the prison administration. Most
of the figures are recent and efforts are continually made to update them and to
obtain information on the number of prisoners in the countries on which figures
are not currently available (Eritrea, Somalia and the Democratic People’s Republic
of (North) Korea) or are incomplete. We welcome the assistance of readers in
notifying us of the latest figures. Care has been taken to ensure that the List is as
accurate as possible but we cannot guarantee the reliability of every figure and
readers are also invited to draw attention to any errors they notice and, if possible,
to supply corrections.
It is hoped that this edition of the World Prison Population List will be useful for
policy makers, prison administrators, academic criminologists, non-governmental
organisations, other criminal justice experts and everyone who is interested in the
extent of imprisonment. The information may prompt fresh thought about the size
of prison populations, given the high costs and disputed efficacy of imprisonment
and the fact that prison overcrowding is widespread.
More information on prison population rates and trends, alongside discussion of
the ethical challenges and imperatives of prisons policy in the 21st century, will
be presented in the forthcoming book Imprisonment Worldwide (Andrew Coyle,
Helen Fair, Jessica Jacobson and Roy Walmsley), to be published by Policy Press
in summer 2016.
*	The first five editions of the World Prison Population List were published by the Research and Statistics
Directorate of the United Kingdom Home Office; the next five were published by the International Centre for
Prison Studies (ICPS). Following the merger in November 2014 of ICPS with the Institute for Criminal Policy
Research (ICPR), this eleventh edition is the first to be published by ICPR.

1

World Prison Population List (eleventh edition)
Key points
CC This report shows that more than 10.35
million people are held in penal institutions
throughout the world, either as pre-trial
detainees/remand prisoners or having
been convicted and sentenced. Figures
for Eritrea, Somalia and the Democratic
People’s Republic of (North) Korea are not
available and those for China and Guinea
Bissau are incomplete (see footnote to
Table 3 concerning China). Also missing
are prisoners held in some jurisdictions that
are not fully recognised internationally and
those pre-trial prisoners who are held in
police facilities and not included in published
national prison population totals. The full
total is therefore higher than 10.35 million
and may well be in excess of 11 million.

••in Africa the median rate for western African
countries is 52 whereas for southern African
countries it is 188;

CC There are more than 2.2 million prisoners in
the United States of America, more than 1.65
million in China (plus an unknown number
in pre-trial detention or ‘administrative
detention’), 640,000 in the Russian
Federation, 607,000 in Brazil, 418,000 in
India, 311,000 in Thailand, 255,000 in Brazil
and 225,000 in Iran.

CC Since about the year 2000 the world prison
population total has grown by almost 20%,
which is slightly above the estimated 18%
increase in the world’s general population
over the same period. There are considerable
differences between the continents, and
variation within continents. The total prison
population in Oceania has increased by almost
60% and that in the Americas by over 40%; in
Europe, by contrast, the total prison population
has decreased by 21%. The European figure
reflects large falls in prison populations in
Russia and in central and eastern Europe.
In the Americas, the prison population has
increased by 14% in the USA, by over 80%
in central American countries and by 145% in
south American countries.

••in the Americas the median rate for south
American countries is 242 whereas for
Caribbean countries it is 347;
••in Asia the median rate for south central
Asian countries (mainly the Indian subcontinent) is 74 whereas for central Asian
countries it is 166.
••in Europe the median rate for western
European countries is 84 whereas for the
countries spanning Europe and Asia (e.g.
Russia and Turkey) it is 236.
••in Oceania the median rate is 155.

CC The countries with the highest prison
population rate – that is, the number of
prisoners per 100,000 of the national
population – are Seychelles (799 per 100,000),
followed by the United States (698), St. Kitts
& Nevis (607), Turkmenistan (583), U.S. Virgin
Islands (542), Cuba (510), El Salvador (492),
Guam – U.S.A. (469), Thailand (461), Belize
(449), Russian Federation (445), Rwanda (434)
and British Virgin Islands (425).

CC The female prison population total has
increased by 50% since about 2000, while
the equivalent figure for the male prison
population is 18%.

CC However, more than half of all countries and
territories (55%) have rates below 150 per
100,000.

CC The female total has increased
proportionately more than the male total in
every continent. Consequently the proportion
of women and girls in the total world prison
population has risen from 5.4% in about
2000 to 6.8% in the latest figures available.
(For more information on female prison
populations, see the third edition of the World
Female Imprisonment List.)

CC The world prison population rate, based
on United Nations estimates of national
population levels, is 144 per 100,000.
CC Prison population rates vary considerably
between different regions of the world,
and between different parts of the same
continent. For example:

2

World Prison Population List (eleventh edition)
Part 1: Prison population totals, rates and trends per country
Table 1	

AFRICA
Prison
population
total

Date

Estimated
national
population

Prison
population
rate

Trend information
year

total

rate

Northern Africa
Algeria

60,220

31.12.13

37.28m

162

2000
2005
2010

33,992
43,797
58,000

111
132
164

Egypt

62,000

.13

82.06m

76

2001
2006
2011

56,587
64,378
c. 66,000

84
87
c. 83

Libya

6,187

4.14

6.24m

99

2004
2010

9,763
13,242

178
220

Morocco

76,000

4.15

34.28m

222

2000
2005
2010

54,288
50,933
64,877

187
167
201

Sudan

19,101

.13

37.96m

50

2002
2009

12,809
19,144

44
55

Tunisia

23,686

10.14

11.15m

212

2004
2009

c. 26,000
26,319

c. 261
250

Benin

7,247

10.12

9.42m

77

2000
2006
2010

4,961
5,834
6,908

76
74
78

Burkina Faso

6,251

30.6.14

18.41m

34

2000
2005
2010

2,204
3,315
5,198

18
23
31

Cape Verde

1,434

.13

501,000

286

1999
2010

755
1,226

172
251

c. 10,850

30.11.14

21.01m

c. 52

2002
2008

10,355
11,143

62
61

Gambia

1,121

11.14

1.93m

58

1999
2002
2009

478
450
780

40
34
47

Ghana

14,297

6.15

26.96m

53

2000
2005
2010

9,507
12,371
13,507

51
58
56

3,110

.14

12.12m

26

2002
2008

3,070
2,780

34
27

Western Africa

Cote d’Ivoire

Guinea (Rep. of)

92*

31.12.13

1.725m

–

Liberia

1,719

.14

4.40m

39

2007
2011

1,022
1,601

29
39

Mali

5,209

.14

15.77m

33

2002
2009

4,040
6,700

38
49

Mauritania

1,768

1.10.14

4.01m

44

2001
2005
2010

1,413
c. 815
1,700

50
c. 26
47

Niger

7,424

12.14

18.87m

39

2002
2006
2010

c. 6,000
7,381
5,337

c. 51
53
33

Nigeria

56,620

12.14

180.81m

31

2000
2005
2010

44,450
39,006
46,586

36
28
29

Senegal

8,630

11.14

13.86m

62

2000
2005
2010

4,894
6,417
7,300

51
59
59

Sierra Leone

3,488

27.10.15

6.36m

55

2004
2010

c. 1,400
2,237

c. 28
39

Togo

4,493

.14

6.99m

64

2003
2010

3,200
4,116

61
65

Angola

22,826

31.12.14

21.45m

106

2001
2005
2009

4,000
c. 8,300
16,183

28
c. 50
87

Cameroon

25,914

31.12.13

22.54m

115

2002
2005
2009

20,000
22,734
23,368

119
127
115

764

.15

4.80m

16

2005
2010

c. 1,000
1,320

c. 25
c. 29

Guinea Bissau

not available

Central Africa

Central African Rep

3

World Prison Population List (eleventh edition)
Table 1 (continued)	

AFRICA
Prison
population
total

Date

Estimated
national
population

Prison
population
rate

Trend information
year

total

rate

2,385
3,416
4,775

29
34
41

4,831

31.12.11

12.26m

39

2000
2005
2010

c. 1,240

8.9.14

4.58m

c. 27

2005
2009

1,550
2,410

44
60

21,722

31.8.13

67.82m

32

2004
2010

c. 30,000
c. 22,000

c. 58
c. 35

Equatorial Guinea

c. 1,000

.14

778,000

c. 129

Gabon

c. 3,500

.13

1.67m

c. 210

2006

c. 2,750

c. 195

201

8.10.14

199,000

101

2002
2006
2010

130
160
305

90
101
171

c. 7,500

31.12.13

11.52m

c. 65

2011

c. 8,000

c. 77

8,646

8.10.14

9.28m

93

2001
2005
2010

9,013
7,167
9,481

139
99
113

233

10.14

756,000

31

2009

c. 150

c. 22

Djibouti

c. 600

.14

886,000

c. 68

2000
2010

c. 200
c. 600

c. 27
c. 72

Ethiopia

c. 111,050

2011-12

86.47m

c. 128

2000-01
2005-06
2010-11

62,597
72,211
104,467

94
96
124

Kenya

54,154

4.15

45.80m

118

2000
2005
2010

40,010
50,000
49,757

129
141
122

Madagascar

18,719

.13

22.48m

83

1999
2005
2010

20,109
20,294
18,647

135
112
90

Malawi

12,156

25.7.14

16.73m

73

2000
2005
2010

7,728
9,656
11,672

69
75
78

2,072

21.9.15

1.34m

155

2000
2005
2010

1,635
2,547
2,449

136
203
188

Mozambique

15,430

.14

25.38m

61

1999
2004
2010

8,812
c. 10,000
15,249

49
c. 49
65

Rwanda

54,279

9.15

12.50m

434

2000
2005
2010

c. 115,000**
c. 67,000**
55,000**

c. 1,369**
c. 702**
507**

735

9.14

92,000

799

2000
2005
2010

c. 166
162
432

c. 205
196
486

Tanzania

34,196

3.14

49.72m

69

2000
2005
2009

45,611
46,416
40,111

135
118
92

Uganda

45,092

8.15

39.19m

115

2000
2005
2010

c. 21,700
26,126
30,312

c. 92
93
91

Zambia

18,560

4.15

14.82m

125

2000
2005
2010

11,999
14,207
16,666

116
124
128

Zimbabwe

18,857

9.1.15

13.01m

145

2000
2005
2010

20,567
18,033
13,361

164
144
107

Mayotte (France)

173

1.7.15

234,000

74

2003
2010

163
155

100
109

Reunion (France)

1,022

1.7.15

895,000

114

2001
2006
2011

1,079
962
1,078

144
120
127

3,826

31.12.13

2.03m

188

2000
2005
2010

6,742
6,259
c. 5,063

381
333
c. 256

Chad
Congo (Rep of)
Dem. Rep. of Congo

Sao Tome e Principe
South Sudan

not available

Eastern Africa
Burundi
Comoros

Mauritius

Seychelles

Southern Africa
Botswana

4

World Prison Population List (eleventh edition)
Table 1 (continued)	

AFRICA
Prison
population
total

Date

Estimated
national
population

Prison
population
rate

Trend information
year

total

rate

2,908
2,712
2,498

147
130
115

Lesotho

2,073

30.8.14

2.26m

92

2000
2005
2010

Namibia

3,560

10.4.15

2.48m

144

2000
2004
2010

4,883
4,442
4,251

254
218
185

159,241

31.3.15

54.57m

292

2000
2005
2010

171,462
187,394
163,312

394
400
328

3,616

21.3.14

1.25m

289

2000
2005
2009

2,745
2,667
2,713

256
242
232

South Africa
Swaziland

* The figure for Guinea Bissau is for the two prisons only. Figures for the detention centres are not available.
** The prison population of Rwanda includes many thousands detained in connection with the genocide of 1994.
Figures are not available for:
Eastern Africa: Eritrea, Somalia.

Table 2	

AMERICAS
Prison
population
total

Date

Estimated
national
population

Prison
population
rate

Trend information
year

total

rate

Northern America
37,864

2013-14

35.68m

106

2000-01
2005-06
2010-11

35,533
35,436
39,916

115
110
117

2,217,000

.13

317.76m

698

2000
2005
2010

1,937,482
2,195,471
2,270,142

683
739
731

Bermuda (UK)

230

31.7.14

65,000

354

2000
2004
2010

298
364
277

473
569
426

Greenland (Denm’k)

116

21.7.15

55,700

208

2000
2005
2010

88
114
171

157
200
302

1,545

9.1.15

344,000

449

2000
2005
2010

765
1,234
1,420

320
454
460

Costa Rica

17,440

30.9.14

4.95m

352

2000
2005
2010

7,575
9,053
12,110

193
210
259

El Salvador

31,686

26.10.15

6.44m

492

2000
2005
2010

7,754
12,525
24,662

130
206
395

Guatemala

19,810

30.10.15

16.39m

121

2000
2005
2010

6,974
8,247
11,148

62
65
78

Honduras

16,331

11.14

8.32m

196

1999
2005
2010

10,869
11,589
11,846

178
167
154

255,138

30.6.15

120.20m

212

2000
2005
2010

154,765
205,821
219,027

156
195
194

Nicaragua

10,569

10.14

6.19m

171

2000
2005
2010

6,539
6,382
c. 6,500

128
117
c. 112

Panama

15,508

9.1.15

3.96m

392

2000
2005
2010

8,652
11,571
12,293

280
340
333

Canada
U.S.A.

Central America
Belize

Mexico

5

World Prison Population List (eleventh edition)
Table 2 (continued)	

AMERICAS
Prison
population
total

Date

Estimated
national
population

Prison
population
rate

Trend information
year

total

rate

Caribbean
343

6.15

92,000

373

2000
2005
2010

c. 170
194
295

c. 218
234
339

Bahamas

1,396

10.14

385,000

363

2000
2005
2010

c. 1,400
1,500
1,322

c. 470
453
367

Barbados

924

5.15

286,900

322

2000
2005
2010

1,411
997
910

527
365
324

57,337

5.12

11.25m

510

2003
2006

c. 55,000
c. 60,000

c. 487
c. 531

219

7.15

73,000

300

1999
2005
2010

298
282
295

426
397
415

24,832

29.5.15

10.64m

233

2000
2005
2010

14,995
12,495
20,743

173
133
206

424

1.15

106,500

398

2002
2006
2010

297
334
432

291
324
411

10,266

30.1.15

10.54m

97

2000
2005
2010

4,219
3,670
5,331

49
39
54

4,050

10.11.14

2.79m

145

2003
2007
2011

4,744
4,709
4,457

178
174
161

St Kitts & Nevis

334

.14

55,000

607

1999
2005
2010

135
209
256

300
422
488

St Lucia

646

1.15

185,000

349

1999
2005
2010

373
503
526

241
303
296

St Vincent & the
Grenadines

412

28.7.14

109,000

378

1999
2005
2010

405
364
413

375
334
379

3,481

.14

1.35m

258

2000
2005
2010

4,633
3,683
3,766

365
283
283

Anguilla (UK)

46

30.10.15

15,000

307

2004
2007
2010

41
56
58

342
431
414

Aruba (Neth)

170

23.10.14

103,000

165

2005
2011

231
246

232
241

Cayman Is (UK)

205

1.15

54,600

375

2000
2005
2010

227
190
212

565
393
382

Curacao (Neth)

348

23.10.14

154,650

225

1999
2006
2010

434
578
541

306
412
365

Guadeloupe (Fr)

913

1.7.15

468,000

195

2001
2006
2011

628
718
784

144
158
171

Martinique (Fr)

949

1.7.15

396,000

240

2001
2006
2011

608
649
885

156
163
224

Puerto Rico (USA)

12,327

31.12.14

3.52m

350

2000
2005
2010

14,691
14,263
10,878

384
364
294

Sint Maarten (Neth)

c. 161

23.10.14

46,400

c. 347

2002
2006
2011

129
141
138

396
362
319

Virgin Is. (UK)

119

4.14

28,000

425

1999
2005
2010

43
105
117

215
457
433

Virgin Is. (USA)

577

3.13

106,700

542

2000
2005
2010

518
596
577

475
554
544

Antigua & Barbuda

Cuba
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Grenada
Haiti
Jamaica

Trinidad & Tobago

6

World Prison Population List (eleventh edition)
Table 2 (continued)	

AMERICAS

South America
Prison
population
total

Date

Estimated
national
population

Prison
population
rate

Trend information
year

total

rate

Argentina

69,060

31.12.14

43.20m

160

1999
2005
2010

38,604
63,357
65,095

105
161
157

Bolivia

13,468

10.15

11.08m

122

2000
2005
2010

8,151
6,793
9,406

95
72
92

Brazil

607,731

6.14

202.03m

301

2000
2005
2010

232,755
361,402
496,251

133
193
253

Chile

44,238

30.9.15

17.90m

247

2000
2005
2010

33,050
37,033
53,410

215
228
313

Colombia

121,389

30.9.15

49.68m

244

2000
2005
2010

51,518
66,829
84,444

128
154
181

Ecuador

25,902

14.9.14

16.03m

162

2000
2005
2010

8,029
11,971
11,800

64
87
79

Guyana

1,967

31.12.14

758,500

259

2001
2005
2010

1,507
1,524
2,160

205
204
286

Paraguay

10,949

7.8.14

6.93m

158

2000
2005
2010

3,219
6,282
6,197

60
105
95

Peru

75,379

31.7.15

31.19m

242

2000
2005
2010

27,734
33,010
45,464

107
119
155

c. 1,000

11.14

547,000

c. 183

2000
2005
2009

786
820
915

168
164
175

9,996

31.10.15

3.43m

291

2000
2005
2010

4,469
6,211
8,700

135
187
257

55,007

.14

30.85m

178

2000
2005
2010

14,196
19,853
40,825

58
74
140

726

1.7.15

262,000

277

2001
2005
2010

423
600
715

256
296
310

Suriname
Uruguay
Venezuela
Fr. Guiana/ Guyane (Fr)

7

World Prison Population List (eleventh edition)
Table 3	

ASIA
Prison
population
total

Date

Estimated
national
population

Prison
population
rate

Trend information
year

total

rate

Western Asia
4,028

12.13

1.34m

301

2003
2010

437
1,100

57
88

Iraq

42,880

.14

34.77m

123

2004
2007
2010

c. 7,000
26,472
39,130

c. 26
91
125

Israel

20,245

4.15

7.90m

256

2000
2005
2010

9,421
16,059
20,164

158
240
270

Jordan

10,089

9.14

6.72m

150

2001
2005
2010

5,621
6,378
8,434

114
120
136

Kuwait

c. 3,200

.14

3.48m

c. 92

2000
2005
2010

c. 3,100
c. 3,500
4,179

c. 162
c. 152
140

Lebanon

6,012

11.11.14

5.02m

120

2000
2005
2010

4,917
6,921
5,189

154
173
120

Oman

1,300

.13

3.63m

36

2000
2002

2,020
1,403

92
61

Qatar

c. 1,150

.13

2.17m

c. 53

2000
2004
2008

570
465
551

96
60
38

Saudi Arabia

47,000

2.13

29.17m

161

2000
2002
2009

23,720
28,612
44,600

116
131
165

Syria

10,599

.04

17.68m

60

2003

11,829

68

United Arab Emirates

11,193

.06

4.88m

229

2001
2006

c. 11,000
11,193

c. 351
229

c. 14,000

7.13

26.23m

c. 53

2003
2006
2010

16,252
10,415
12,409

84
49
52

Kazakhstan

41,333

1.10.15

17.68m

234

2000
2005
2010

78,029
52,608
63,643

520
342
393

Kyrgyzstan

9,729

25.7.14

5.85m

166

2000
2005
2010

20,000
16,662
9,923

402
327
183

Tajikistan

9,317

12.10

7.70m

121

2001
2006

c. 11,000
10,804

c. 175
157

30,568

.13

5.24m

583

2000
2005
2010

c. 22,000
13,462
c. 26,500

c. 488
283
c. 522

c. 43,900

.14

29.33m

c. 150

2000
2003
2009

63,900
48,000
c. 42,000

257
188
c. 153

Afghanistan

26,519

.14

35.60m

74

2004
2007
2010

5,262
10,590
18,283

20
36
58

Bangladesh

69,719

8.15

160.65m

43

2000
2005
2010

62,669
74,766
69,650

47
52
46

1,119

12.14

772,000

145

2011

1,001

137

India

418,536

31.12.14

1,275.00m

33

2000
2005
2010

272,079
358,368
368,998

26
32
30

Iran

225,624

12.14

78.59m

287

2001
2005
2010

158,000
134,384
204,365

237
192
275

1,200

.14

352,000

341

2000
2005
2010

2,166
983
830

793
330
255

16,813

10.14

28.27m

59

2000
2005
2010

6,000
7,135
10,739

25
28
40

Bahrain

Yemen

Central Asia

Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan

South Central Asia

Bhutan

Maldives
Nepal

8

World Prison Population List (eleventh edition)
Table 3 (continued)	

ASIA
Prison
population
total

Date

Estimated
national
population

Prison
population
rate

Trend information
year

total

rate

78,938
89,370
75,586

56
57
43

Pakistan

80,169

4.15

187.52m

43

2000
2005
2010

Sri Lanka

19,774

mid-14

21.45m

92

2000
2005
2010

16,412
22,114
26,984

87
111
130

554

22.9.14

418,500

132

2000
2005
2010

333
492
379

101
136
96

Cambodia

16,497

15.7.15

15.69m

105

2000
2005
2010

5,502
8,160
14,043

45
61
97

Indonesia

161,692

8.14

253.18m

64

2000
2005
2010

53,399
97,671
117,863

26
44
49

4,020

mid-04

5.70m

71

Malaysia

51,946

10.15

30.45m

171

2000
2005
2010

27,358
35,644
38,387

116
138
137

Myanmar

c. 60,000

.13

53.26m

c. 113

2001
2004
2009

31,648
c. 60,000
60,053

64
c. 120
117

Philippines

120,076

.14

99.165m

121

2000
2005
2010

79,299
90,492
95,390

102
105
103

Singapore

12,596

31.12.14

5.56m

227

2000
2005
2010

13,791
13,644
12,852

352
299
250

311,036

15.10.15

67.45m

461

2000
2005
2010

223,406
162,293
210,855

357
247
317

581

8.15

1.17m

50

2003
2009

c. 320
223

c. 35
21

142,636

mid-14

92.55m

154

2005
2010

88,414
108,557

104
122

China

1,657,812*

mid-14

1,393.78m

119*

2000
2005
2010

1,427,407*
1,565,771*
1,656,773*

111*
118*
121*

Japan

60,486

31.12.14

127.02m

48

2000
2005
2010

61,242
79,052
72,975

48
62
57

Korea (Rep of)

50,800

31.7.14

50.09m

101

2000
2005
2010

62,959
52,403
47,471

136
110
97

7,773

10.9.14

2.92m

266

2001
2005
2010

6,656
6,998
7,044

275
277
260

63,734

31.8.15

23.47m

272

2000
2005
2010

56,676
60,122
65,311

254
264
282

Hong Kong (China)

8,284

30.6.15

7.29m

114

2000
2005
2010

12,017
11,311
9,988

180
165
142

Macau (China)

1,258

31.7.15

646,700

195

2000
2005
2010

847
897
929

196
185
172

South Eastern Asia
Brunei Darussalam

Laos

Thailand
Timor-Leste
Vietnam

not available

Eastern Asia

Mongolia
Taiwan

* The China figures are for sentenced prisoners only. Figures for pre-trial detention and other forms of detention are not available but more
than 650,000 were so held in 2009 (Supreme People’s Procuratorate).
Figures are not available for:
Eastern Asia: Democratic People’s Republic of (North) Korea

9

World Prison Population List (eleventh edition)
Table 4	

EUROPE
Prison
population
total

Date

Estimated
national
population

Prison
population
rate

Trend information
year

total

rate

Northern Europe
Denmark

3,481

1.5.15

5.67m

61

2000
2005
2010

3,382
4,041
3,965

63
75
71

Estonia

2,830

26.10.15

1.31m

216

2000
2005
2010

4,712
4,565
3,555

343
337
266

Finland

3,105

16.5.15

5.47m

57

2000
2005
2010

2,855
3,888
3,291

55
74
61

Iceland

147

1.1.14

325,700

45

2000
2005
2010

78
119
165

28
40
52

Ireland

3,733

30.10.15

4.64m

80

2000
2005
2010

2,948
3,151
4,290

77
76
94

Latvia

4,745

31.12.14

1.99m

239

2000
2005
2010

8,815
7,646
7,055

370
340
333

Lithuania

7,810

1.9.15

2.91m

268

2000
2005
2010

14,412
8,125
8,655

410
242
275

Norway

3,710

13.5.15

5.19m

71

2000
2005
2010

2,548
3,124
3,624

57
68
74

Sweden

5,400

1.1.15

9.75m

55

2000
2005
2010

5,326
7,008
6,902

60
78
74

UK: England & Wales

85,843

30.10.15

58.02m

148

2000
2005
2010

64,602
75,979
84,725

124
142
153

UK: Northern Ireland

1,607

23.10.15

1.85m

87

2000
2005
2010

1,068
1,301
1,465

64
76
81

UK: Scotland

7,692

30.10.15

5.37m

143

2000
2005
2010

5,869
6,792
7,806

116
133
150

Faeroes (Denmark)

11

avrge 14

48,480

23

2000
2005
2010

9
10
10

20
21
21

Guernsey (UK)

83

2.10.15

65,450

127

2000
2005
2010

59
105
75

94
164
114

Isle of Man (UK)

80

26.10.15

87,000

92

2000
2005
2010

54
60
97

70
75
115

154

21.10.15

101,500

152

2000
2005
2010

130
172
177

150
190
183

Albania

5,455

9.15

2.89m

189

2001
2005
2010

3,053
4,356
4,750

99
139
148

Andorra

55

8.14

76,250

72

2001
2006
2010

48
30
61

72
37
78

Bosnia & Herzegovina Federation

1,722

31.12.14

2.35m

73

2000
2005
2010

1,041
1,435
1,714

45
62
75

Bosnia & Herzegovina Republika Srpska

940

31.12.14

1.32m

71

2001
2005
2010

849
955
1,046

61
68
75

3,763

31.12.14

4.23m

89

2000
2005
2010

2,027
3,022
4,891

45
68
110

Jersey (UK)

Southern Europe

Croatia

10

World Prison Population List (eleventh edition)
Table 4 (continued)	

EUROPE
Prison
population
total

Date

Estimated
national
population

Prison
population
rate

Trend information
year

total

rate

312
536
637

45
70
76

811

1.9.13

860,600

94

2000
2005
2010

Greece

11,798

1.1.15

10.81m

109

2000
2005
2010

7,625
8,722
11,364

70
79
102

Italy

52,434

31.10.15

60.81m

86

2000
2005
2010

53,165
59,523
67,961

93
101
112

Kosovo

1,816

1.10.14

1.81m

100

2000
2005
2010

227
1,199
1,333

11
58
61

Macedonia (FYROM)

3,034

10.14

2.07m

147

2000
2005
2010

1,178
1,844
2,516

59
90
122

582

31.1.15

429,740

135

2001
2005
2010

257
294
583

65
73
141

1,083

9.14

621,900

174

2000
2005
2010

664
812
1,457

108
130
235

14,238

15.10.15

10.33m

138

2000
2005
2010

12,944
12,889
11,613

126
123
110

2

1.9.13

33,700

–

1999
2005
2010

2
1
0

–
–
–

10,500

4.15

7.10m

148

2000
2005
2010

6,160
8,078
11,211

82
109
155

1,511

25.5.15

2.06m

73

2000
2005
2010

1,148
1,159
1,304

58
58
64

63,025

30.10.15

46.38m

136

2000
2005
2010

45,309
60,707
76,701

113
139
165

48

31.12.13

32,730

147

2000
2005
2010

18
27
53

67
94
180

Austria

8,188

1.1.15

8.58m

95

2000
2005
2010

6,862
8,869
8,597

86
108
102

Belgium

11,769

1.3.14

11.24m

105

2000
2005
2010

8,688
9,375
10,561

85
90
97

France*

60,896

1.9.15

64.39m

95

2000
2005
2010

48,049
55,302
61,430

82
91
98

Germany

63,628

31.3.15

81.29m

78

2000
2005
2010

70,252
78,664
69,385

85
95
85

8

1.1.15

37,370

21

1999
2005
2010

24
10
14

74
29
39

631

1.1.15

562,400

112

2000
2005
2010

394
693
690

90
149
136

28

1.1.15

37,800

74

2000
2005
2010

18
26
12

51
74
34

Netherlands

11,603

30.9.14

16.88m

69

2000
2005
2010

13,847
21,826
15,235

87
134
92

Switzerland

6,923

3.9.14

8.20m

84

2000
2005
2010

5,760
6,137
6,181

80
82
79

Cyprus*

Malta
Montenegro
Portugal
San Marino*
Serbia
Slovenia
Spain
Gibraltar (UK)

Western Europe

Liechtenstein*
Luxembourg
Monaco*

11

World Prison Population List (eleventh edition)
Table 4 (continued)	

EUROPE
Prison
population
total

Date

Estimated
national
population

Prison
population
rate

Trend information
year

total

rate

Central & Eastern Europe
Belarus

c. 29,000

10.14

9.47m

c. 306

2000
2005
2009

56,590
41,538
41,525

566
426
438

Bulgaria

9,028

10.14

7.21m

125

2000
2005
2010

10,147
10,871
9,006

124
140
119

Czech Republic

20,628

30.10.15

10.56m

195

2000
2005
2010

21,538
18,937
21,900

210
185
209

Hungary

18,424

13.10.15

9.83m

187

2000
2005
2010

15,539
15,720
16,328

152
156
163

Moldova*

7,643

1.7.15

3.55m

215

2000
2005
2010

9,449
9,377
6,535

260
260
183

Poland

72,609

30.9.15

37.99m

191

2000
2005
2010

70,544
82,955
80,728

184
217
210

Romania

28,383

27.10.15

19.79m

143

2000
2005
2010

48,267
36,700
28,244

215
173
140

Slovakia

9,991

1.10.15

5.43m

184

2000
2005
2010

6,941
8,897
10,031

129
165
186

Ukraine*

71,046

1.10.15

c. 36.5m

c. 195

2000
2005
2010

218,800
188,465
147,716

443
400
323

3,880

1.1.15

2.99m

130

2000
2005
2010

7,281
2,673
4,807

236
89
162

Azerbaijan

22,526

.14

9.54m

236

2000
2005
2010

23,504
18,656
21,971

291
221
241

Georgia*

10,236

30.9.15

3.73m

274

2000
2005
2010

8,349
9,688
23,684

190
220
530

Russian Federation

642,470

1.10.15

144.4m

445

2000
2005
2010

1,060,404
763,115
864,197

729
532
609

Turkey

172,562

5.10.15

78.47m

220

2000
2005
2010

49,512
55,870
120,814

73
77
164

Europe/Asia
Armenia

*	 The figures for Cyprus do not include prisoners in the internationally unrecognised Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). There were
249 prisoners in TRNC in August 2014.
The figures for France are those for Metropolitan France. Those for French departments and territories in Africa, the Americas and Oceania
are shown under those continents in tables 1, 2 and 5.
The figures for Georgia do not include prisoners in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which have declared independence from Georgia.
By agreement with Austria, some persons imprisoned by Liechtenstein may be held in Austrian prisons.
The figures for Moldova do not include prisoners in the internationally unrecognised territory that has declared independence from Moldova
and is known variously as Transdniestria, Transnistria or Pridnestrovie. The territory is reported to have contained 2,840 prisoners in 2014.
By agreement with France, some persons imprisoned by Monaco may be held in French prisons.
The figures for San Marino do not show prison population rates because, by agreement with Italy, most persons imprisoned by San Marino
are held in Italian prisons and the number of such prisoners is not available.
The 2015 figures for Ukraine do not include prisoners in Crimea and Sebastopol and those areas of Donetsk and Luhansk that are not under
the control of the Ukrainian authorities.

12

World Prison Population List (eleventh edition)
Table 5	

OCEANIA
Prison
population
total

Date

Estimated
national
population

Prison
population
rate

Trend information
year

total

rate

Oceania
35,949

4.15-6.15

23.75m

151

2000
2005
2010

21,714
25,353
29,700

114
126
135

1,555

9.15

894,000

174

2000
2005
2010

1,185
1,113
1,097

146
135
127

141

9.14

104,000

136

2000
2005
2010

57
74
90

69
82
92

35

9.14

53,000

66

2003
2006
2010

c. 20
47
43

c. 38
90
83

132

31.12.14

104,000

127

2000
2005
2010

91
72
100

85
68
97

14

11.14

10,000

140

2003
2005
2010

6
3
20

60
30
200

8,906

29.6.15

4.60m

194

2000
2005
2010

5,720
7,100
8,604

148
171
198

72

.14

21,000

343

2001
2005
2010

70
97
79

368
485
395

4,580

5.11.14

7.53m

61

2000
2005
2010

3,531
4,056
4,268

65
67
61

Samoa

481

10.14

192,500

250

2000
2005
2009

173
247
c. 300

99
137
c. 162

Solomon Is.

323

9.14

575,000

56

1999
2005
2010

134
295
268

33
63
51

Tonga

176

7.14

106,000

166

2000
2005
2010

106
128
159

108
127
152

Tuvalu

11

8.14

10,000

110

2000
2005
2010

6
7
8

67
70
80

c. 230

.15

265,000

c. 87

1999
2005
2010

46
138
187

25
66
80

214

9.13

56,000

382

2000
2005
2011

140
222
167

241
376
304

25

21.11.11

23,000

109

2000
2005
2010

23
27
40

128
142
200

Fr. Polynesia (Fr)

451

1.7.15

283,000

159

2001
2004
2007

275
327
404

114
129
155

Guam (USA)

797

30.3.15

170,000

469

2000
2005
2010

684
505
559

440
320
352

New Caledonia (Fr)

459

1.7.15

263,000

175

2001
2006
2011

329
316
438

154
136
175

Northern Mariana Is.
(USA)

175

31.12.14

65,500

267

2000
2005
2011

97
149
162

141
223
263

Australia
Fiji
Kiribati
Marshall Is.
Federated States of
Micronesia
Nauru
New Zealand
Palau
Papua New Guinea

Vanuatu
American Samoa (USA)
Cook Is. (NZ)

Sources The figures in the above tables originate almost always from the national prison administrations. Some
were obtained indirectly, via the Ministry responsible for prisons, via national statistical offices, via United Nations
surveys, via surveys for the annual meetings of the Asian and Pacific Conference of Correctional Administrators,
via the Council of Europe Annual Penal Statistics (SPACE) and via U.S. State Department human rights reports.

13

World Prison Population List (eleventh edition)
Part 2: Prison population totals, rates and trends by continent and gender

Table 6	

World prison population levels – continental totals and rates
Prison population
totals
(latest available
at 31.10.2015)

National
populations
(at dates of prison
population totals)

Prison
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national populations)

AFRICA

1,038,735

1,102m

94

AMERICAS

3,780,528

977m

387

ASIA

3,897,797

4,227m

92

EUROPE

1,585,348

827m

192

OCEANIA

54,726

39m

140

WORLD

10,357,134

7,172m

144

Table 7	

World prison population levels – change since about the year 2000*

AFRICA
without Rwanda1

AMERICAS
without U.S.A.2

ASIA
without China & India3

EUROPE

Estimated prison
population total at
about 2000**

Latest available
prison population total
(at 31.10.2015)

Change in prison
population total
since about 2000

Change in national populations
mid-2000 to start of
2015 (United Nations)

902,500

1,038,735

+15.1%

+ 43.8%

787,500

984,456

+ 25.0%

2,690,300

3,780,528

+40.5%

752,818

1,563,528

+ 107.7%

3,023,500

3,897,797

+28.9%

1,324,014

1,821,449

+ 37.6%

+ 17.3%
+ 17.5%

2,013,600

1,585,348

-21.3%

without Russia4

953,196

942,878

- 1.1%

OCEANIA5

34,400

54,726

+59.1%

+ 25.2%

WORLD

8,664,300

10,357,134

+19.5%

+18.2%

+ 3.3%

*	 Does not include estimates in respect of the number of prisoners in Eritrea, Somalia and Democratic People’s Republic of (North) Korea and
for China includes only the numbers of sentenced prisoners.
** 	Some of the figures on which the totals for about the year 2000 are based are estimates and so the continental totals have been rounded to
the nearest 100.

1.	The growth in the African prison population is considerably less than the increase in the population of the
continent. However the size of this difference is heavily influenced by the figures for Rwanda. Rwanda’s prison
population is still inflated by the many thousands detained in connection with the genocide in 1994, but the
numbers have more than halved since 2000. Without the figures for Rwanda the prison population in Africa has
increased by 25% since 2000.
2.	The change in the prison population in the Americas since 2000 is greatly influenced by the prison population in
the United States, which is by far the largest but which has grown much less than that of many other countries
in the continent. Without the figures for the United States, the prison population in the Americas has increased
by 108% since 2000, the increase being over 80% in central America and 145% in south America.
3.	Prison population change since 2000 in Asia has varied greatly between the different parts of the continent: the
totals in south eastern Asia and in western Asia (Middle East) both rose by 75% while the total in central Asia fell
by 31%. China and India with their high national populations strongly influence the overall Asian prison population

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World Prison Population List (eleventh edition)
level, but in opposite directions – the Chinese prison population rose by 16% while the Indian prison population
rose by 54%. Without the figures for these two countries the Asian prison population has risen by 38%.
4.	Europe is the only continent that has seen a fall in prisoner numbers since 2000. The size of the decrease is
heavily influenced by the figures for the Russian Federation: Russia’s prison population is by far the largest in
Europe and has fallen by almost 40%. Without the figures for the Russian Federation, the prison population in
Europe has fallen by 1% since 2000. Russia is not the only part of Europe that has seen a large fall in the prison
population: the prison population in central and eastern Europe without Russia has fallen by almost 42% since
2000. By contrast there has been growth in the other regions of Europe: 6% in western Europe, 12% in northern
Europe and 27% in southern Europe.
5.	The growth in the prison population of Oceania is higher than in any other continent. It is of course dominated
by the figures for Australia, whose prison population rose by 66% between 2000 and 2015, and New Zealand
whose total rose by 56%.

Table 8	
	

World prison population levels –
change in male and female levels since about the year 2000
Change in male
prison population total
since about 2000

Change in female prison
population total since
about 2000*

Change in
overall prison
population total
since about 2000

Women & girls
as % of prison
population
– about 2000

Women & girls
as % of prison
population
– latest figures

AFRICA

+14.5%

+27.8%

+14.9%**

2.7%

3.0%

without Rwanda

+ 24.7%

+ 28.8%

+ 24.8%

2.7%

2.8%

AMERICAS

+39.8%

+51.9%

+40.7%**

7.4%

8.0%

without U.S.A.

+ 110.6%

+ 146.9%

+ 112.5%**

5.3%

6.1%

ASIA

+27.5%

+83.6%

+30.2%**

4.9%

6.9%

without China & India

+ 39.5%

+ 62.3%

+ 41.1%**

7.0%

8.0%

EUROPE

-22.6%

+3.4%

-21.3%

5.0%

6.5%

- 1.7%

+ 12.4%

- 1.1%

4.7%

5.3%

OCEANIA

+56.7%

+99.5%

+59.1%

5.5%

6.9%

WORLD

+18.1%

+50.2%

+19.8%**

5.4%

6.8%

without Russia

*	 The percentage changes in the female prison population totals for each continent differ slightly from those shown in table 7 of the third
edition of the World Female Imprisonment List. This is because the accuracy of some of the estimates for the number of female prisoners in
about 2000 has been improved.
**	These percentage changes in the overall prison population totals for Africa, America and Asia and in the world total differ slightly from those
shown in table 7 and mentioned in the accompanying commentary. This is because table 8 does not include the seven countries on which
information on female prison population levels is not available (Africa: Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon and Somalia. Americas: Cuba. Asia:
Democratic People’s Republic of (North) Korea, Uzbekistan).

As with table 7, the continental figures in table 8 are heavily influenced by the figures for Rwanda, the U.S.A,
China, India and Russia but this does not affect the fact that, throughout the world, the female prison population
has increased proportionately more than the male prison population.

Roy Walmsley is Director of the World Prison Brief, a comprehensive online database of information on the prison systems of the
world, which can be accessed free of charge at www.prisonstudies.org. He also researches and compiles the World Female
Imprisonment List and the World Pre-trial/Remand Imprisonment List.

Institute for Criminal Policy Research
www.prisonstudies.org
www.icpr.org.uk

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