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Crime > Prisoners > Per capita: Countries Compared

DEFINITION: Data for 2003. Number of prisoners held per 100,000 population.

CONTENTS

# COUNTRY AMOUNT DATE GRAPH
1 United States 715 per 100,000 people 2003
2 Russia 584 per 100,000 people 2003
3 Belarus 554 per 100,000 people 2003
4 Palau 523 per 100,000 people 2003
5 Belize 459 per 100,000 people 2003
6 Suriname 437 per 100,000 people 2003
7 Dominica 420 per 100,000 people 2003
8 Ukraine 416 per 100,000 people 2003
9 The Bahamas 410 per 100,000 people 2003
10 South Africa 402 per 100,000 people 2003
11 Kyrgyzstan 390 per 100,000 people 2003
12 Singapore 388 per 100,000 people 2003
13 Kazakhstan 386 per 100,000 people 2003
14 Barbados 367 per 100,000 people 2003
15 Panama 354 per 100,000 people 2003
16 Trinidad and Tobago 351 per 100,000 people 2003
17 Thailand 340 per 100,000 people 2003
=18 Estonia 339 per 100,000 people 2003
=18 Latvia 339 per 100,000 people 2003
20 Saint Kitts and Nevis 338 per 100,000 people 2003
21 Grenada 333 per 100,000 people 2003
22 Botswana 327 per 100,000 people 2003
23 Swaziland 324 per 100,000 people 2003
24 Mongolia 303 per 100,000 people 2003
Former Soviet republics average (profile) 287.5 per 100,000 people 2003
25 Antigua and Barbuda 278 per 100,000 people 2003
26 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 270 per 100,000 people 2003
27 Namibia 267 per 100,000 people 2003
28 Tunisia 253 per 100,000 people 2003
29 Taiwan 250 per 100,000 people 2003
30 Saint Lucia 243 per 100,000 people 2003
31 Lithuania 234 per 100,000 people 2003
32 Costa Rica 229 per 100,000 people 2003
33 Iran 226 per 100,000 people 2003
34 Mauritius 214 per 100,000 people 2003
Latin America and Caribbean average (profile) 211.85 per 100,000 people 2003
35 Poland 210 per 100,000 people 2003
36 Uruguay 209 per 100,000 people 2003
37 Seychelles 207 per 100,000 people 2003
38 Chile 204 per 100,000 people 2003
39 Azerbaijan 198 per 100,000 people 2003
Group of 7 countries (G7) average (profile) 196 per 100,000 people 2003
Emerging markets average (profile) 195.84 per 100,000 people 2003
40 Romania 193 per 100,000 people 2003
41 Uzbekistan 184 per 100,000 people 2003
42 Czech Republic 178 per 100,000 people 2003
Former British colonies average (profile) 176.29 per 100,000 people 2003
=43 Morocco 176 per 100,000 people 2003
=43 Jamaica 176 per 100,000 people 2003
Heavily indebted countries average (profile) 175.54 per 100,000 people 2003
45 Guyana 175 per 100,000 people 2003
46 Israel 174 per 100,000 people 2003
47 Libya 173 per 100,000 people 2003
48 Honduras 172 per 100,000 people 2003
=49 Mexico 169 per 100,000 people 2003
=49 Brazil 169 per 100,000 people 2003
=51 Slovakia 165 per 100,000 people 2003
=51 Hungary 165 per 100,000 people 2003
=53 Tajikistan 161 per 100,000 people 2003
=53 Malaysia 161 per 100,000 people 2003
55 New Zealand 160 per 100,000 people 2003
56 El Salvador 158 per 100,000 people 2003
57 Dominican Republic 157 per 100,000 people 2003
58 Bahrain 155 per 100,000 people 2003
Europe average (profile) 150.47 per 100,000 people 2003
59 Georgia 148 per 100,000 people 2003
60 Lebanon 146 per 100,000 people 2003
61 Spain 144 per 100,000 people 2003
=62 Lesotho 143 per 100,000 people 2003
=62 Nicaragua 143 per 100,000 people 2003
High income OECD countries average (profile) 140.82 per 100,000 people 2003
Former Spanish colonies average (profile) 137.16 per 100,000 people 2003
NATO countries average (profile) 135.42 per 100,000 people 2003
European Union average (profile) 133.54 per 100,000 people 2003
=64 Madagascar 130 per 100,000 people 2003
=64 Portugal 130 per 100,000 people 2003
=66 Cameroon 129 per 100,000 people 2003
=66 Burundi 129 per 100,000 people 2003
68 Bulgaria 127 per 100,000 people 2003
Eurozone average (profile) 126.71 per 100,000 people 2003
69 Colombia 126 per 100,000 people 2003
Middle Eastern and North Africa average (profile) 122.53 per 100,000 people 2003
70 Zambia 121 per 100,000 people 2003
71 China 119 per 100,000 people 2003
72 Fiji 117 per 100,000 people 2003
=73 Canada 116 per 100,000 people 2003
=73 Tanzania 116 per 100,000 people 2003
=73 Australia 116 per 100,000 people 2003
76 Netherlands 112 per 100,000 people 2003
=77 Luxembourg 111 per 100,000 people 2003
=77 Kenya 111 per 100,000 people 2003
Non-religious countries average (profile) 110.5 per 100,000 people 2003
=79 Central African Republic 110 per 100,000 people 2003
=79 Saudi Arabia 110 per 100,000 people 2003
=79 Algeria 110 per 100,000 people 2003
82 Rwanda 109 per 100,000 people 2003
83 Argentina 107 per 100,000 people 2003
=84 Jordan 106 per 100,000 people 2003
=84 Tonga 106 per 100,000 people 2003
=86 Albania 105 per 100,000 people 2003
=86 Sri Lanka 105 per 100,000 people 2003
88 Peru 104 per 100,000 people 2003
Muslim countries average (profile) 102.53 per 100,000 people 2003
=89 Bolivia 102 per 100,000 people 2003
=89 Kuwait 102 per 100,000 people 2003
=91 Italy 100 per 100,000 people 2003
=91 Austria 100 per 100,000 people 2003
OPEC countries average (profile) 96.9 per 100,000 people 2003
93 Germany 96 per 100,000 people 2003
=94 France 95 per 100,000 people 2003
=94 Qatar 95 per 100,000 people 2003
96 Philippines 94 per 100,000 people 2003
97 Syria 93 per 100,000 people 2003
=98 Turkey 92 per 100,000 people 2003
=98 Armenia 92 per 100,000 people 2003
100 Andorra 90 per 100,000 people 2003
101 Belgium 88 per 100,000 people 2003
=102 Greece 83 per 100,000 people 2003
=102 Yemen 83 per 100,000 people 2003
Former French colonies average (profile) 81.64 per 100,000 people 2003
=104 Oman 81 per 100,000 people 2003
=104 Benin 81 per 100,000 people 2003
106 Sao Tome and Principe 79 per 100,000 people 2003
107 Venezuela 76 per 100,000 people 2003
=108 Paraguay 75 per 100,000 people 2003
=108 Sweden 75 per 100,000 people 2003
=110 Denmark 72 per 100,000 people 2003
=110 Switzerland 72 per 100,000 people 2003
=110 Malta 72 per 100,000 people 2003
=113 Finland 71 per 100,000 people 2003
=113 Vietnam 71 per 100,000 people 2003
115 Malawi 70 per 100,000 people 2003
116 Guatemala 68 per 100,000 people 2003
117 Papua New Guinea 66 per 100,000 people 2003
=118 Norway 64 per 100,000 people 2003
=118 Croatia 64 per 100,000 people 2003
120 Djibouti 61 per 100,000 people 2003
=121 Ecuador 59 per 100,000 people 2003
=121 Slovenia 59 per 100,000 people 2003
=121 Pakistan 59 per 100,000 people 2003
=124 Tuvalu 56 per 100,000 people 2003
=124 Kiribati 56 per 100,000 people 2003
=126 Senegal 54 per 100,000 people 2003
=126 Japan 54 per 100,000 people 2003
=128 Liechtenstein 53 per 100,000 people 2003
=128 Haiti 53 per 100,000 people 2003
130 Ghana 52 per 100,000 people 2003
=131 Bangladesh 50 per 100,000 people 2003
=131 Cyprus 50 per 100,000 people 2003
=131 Mozambique 50 per 100,000 people 2003
=134 Nauru 48 per 100,000 people 2003
=134 Mauritania 48 per 100,000 people 2003
=136 Togo 46 per 100,000 people 2003
=136 Chad 46 per 100,000 people 2003
138 Cambodia 45 per 100,000 people 2003
=139 Vanuatu 44 per 100,000 people 2003
=139 Angola 44 per 100,000 people 2003
=139 Marshall Islands 44 per 100,000 people 2003
142 Iceland 40 per 100,000 people 2003
143 Monaco 39 per 100,000 people 2003
=144 Indonesia 38 per 100,000 people 2003
=144 Democratic Republic of the Congo 38 per 100,000 people 2003
146 Guinea 37 per 100,000 people 2003
=147 Federated States of Micronesia 34 per 100,000 people 2003
=147 Mali 34 per 100,000 people 2003
149 Nigeria 33 per 100,000 people 2003
150 The Gambia 32 per 100,000 people 2003
151 Solomon Islands 31 per 100,000 people 2003
=152 Nepal 29 per 100,000 people 2003
=152 India 29 per 100,000 people 2003
154 Burkina Faso 23 per 100,000 people 2003
=155 Turkmenistan 0.0 2003
=155 Ethiopia 0.0 2003
=155 Sudan 0.0 2003
=155 Zimbabwe 0.0 2003
=155 United Arab Emirates 0.0 2003
=155 Cuba 0.0 2003
=155 Uganda 0.0 2003
=155 Niger 0.0 2003
=155 Egypt 0.0 2003
=155 Comoros 0.0 2003

Citation

Crime > Prisoners > Per capita: Countries Compared Map

NationMaster

Interesting observations about Crime > Prisoners > Per capita

0

New and updated data on prisons from 34 countries in the Western Hemisphere:
The Organization of American States (OAS) Inter-American Observatory on Public Security (www.alertamerica.org) has just released new and updated regional, sub regional and national information on prisons from 34 OAS Member Countries. The Observatory collects official data and works together with UNODC in the implementation of the CTS process. The Observatory has posted new data on adults held in prisons; children deprived of liberty; untried persons held; prisoners sentenced for illicit drugs, robbery and homicide; and occupancy rates, by gender and age for all 34 countries of North, South, Central America and the Caribbean.
For more data and information please visit the following URL:
http://www.oas.org/dsp/observatorio/database/indicators.aspx?lang=en

Do nor hesitate to contact me in case you need more information.

Kind regards,

Luiz O. Coimbra
Head, Information on Public Security Unit
Department of Public Security
Organization of American States
1889 F Street, NW, 20006
Washington, DC
Office phone: +1 (202) 370 5083
Cell phone: +1 (202) 538 0515
Email: lcoimbra@oas.org
Visit the OAS Inter-American Observatory on Public Security

Posted on 17 Dec 2013

Luiz O. Coimbra

Luiz O. Coimbra

0

In answer to all of those questions about Cuba, there were 57,337 prisoners in Cuba in May 2010 according to the Cuban Ministry responsible.

These are figures compiled by the respected International Centre for Prison Studies in London in association with University of Essex and can be accessed here: http://www.prisonstudies.org/info/worldbrief/wpb_country.php?country=61

In a population of 11,250,000 that equates to 0.5 persons per 100,000.

Statisticians among you may be able to explain why only whole numbers are reported in the data.

That puts the US figure of 715 into stark relief.

Posted on 17 Jul 2013

SMcG

SMcG

0

The number 1 thru 3 reasons
1/ Differences in drug laws many are misdemeanors in Canada
2/ Minimum sentencing means longer prison stays for lessor crimes.
3/ Privatization of the prison system these have to produce a profit so the large companies are promoting longer prison terms and more minimum sentencing for minor crimes etc

bob

Posted on 28 Oct 2011

bob

bob

0

I am wondering why there is so big difference between USA and Canada.
What is the main cause of this difference?

Posted on 25 Sep 2011

AR-15

AR-15

0

For more current data, look at http://www.prisonstudies.org/info/worldbrief/wpb_stats.php which is where this info originally came from

Posted on 06 Apr 2011

Jason Henwood

Jason Henwood

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