which country has the most prisoners per capita
So that was right. Joining the Prison Policy Initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic, she helped the organization quickly increase its output of analyses about the coronavirus behind bars and was the author of States of Emergency: The Failure of Prison System Responses to COVID-19. El Salvador has been described as a nation held hostage by its own gang problem. This figure does not include the thousands of executions that were believed to be carried out in China. Oklahoma, Louisiana and Mississippi all have incarceration rates of over 1,000, meaning more than one in a hundred people in those states were prisoners in 2018. At least 1,634 executions were carried out in 2015, the highest number in 25 years. Indeed, the mere number of sentences imposed here would not place the United States at the top of the incarceration lists. The total prison . New York "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. [26] If all prisoners are counted (including juvenile, territorial, ICE, Indian country, and military), then in 2008 the USA had around 24.7% of the world's 9.8 million prisoners. While Texas has only modestly reduced its prison population, the state's imprisonment ratethe number of prisoners per 100,000 residentshas declined by 27% between peak year 1999 and 2017, largely due to the state's total population growing at over twice the nationwide rate during this period (38% versus 17%). All but four US states (the exceptions are Rhode Island, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Minnesota) have a higher incarceration rate than Turkey, the nation with the second highest incarceration rate among OECD countries. Several experts suggested we instead compare U.S. incarceration rates to those in the annual Council of Europe Annual Penal Statistics data for 47 member countries and other major economies for. But data limitations in China and other countries make direct comparisons with the U.S. difficult. High rates of incarceration arent good for anyone, as they can destabilize communities that are already struggling to thrive. Excluding China, 86% of all reported executions took place in just four countries Iran (251), Saudi Arabia (184), Iraq (100+), and Egypt (32+). Around the world, many countries have jail occupancy rates that exceed 100% of their prison system's capacity. Between 2001 and 2014, the state prisoner average annual mortality rate was 256 per 100,000. The 22 executions in the U.S. were the sixth most of any nation, although Vietnams and North Koreas execution totals are not known. ", ICPR & World Prison Brief, Countries with the largest number of prisoners per 100,000 of the national population, as of January 2023 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/262962/countries-with-the-most-prisoners-per-100-000-inhabitants/ (last visited March 02, 2023), Countries with the largest number of prisoners per 100,000 of the national population, as of January 2023 [Graph], ICPR, & World Prison Brief, January 3, 2023. Additionally, evidence exists that a high incarceration rate does not actually increase public safetya stance often validated by data on crime rate per country, murder rates, rape statistics, and gun violence per country. Four countriesIran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Pakistanaccounted for 84% of the confirmed executions in the rest of the world in 2017. [16], Comparing other countries with similar percentages of immigrants, Germany has a rate of 78 per 100,000 (as of 2017),[13] Italy is 96 per 100,000 (as of 2018),[17] and Saudi Arabia is 197 per 100,000 (as of 2017). Rape or sexual assault13%. Kenya's jail occupancy level is currently 284%. Prison costs include adequate security, food, recreational and education opportunities, infrastructure maintenance, utility costs for the facilities, healthcare for the prisoners, and (in better prisons) programs to train and rehabilitate inmates so they are less likely to return to prison in the future. The 25 executions in the U.S. were the seventh most of any nation. Five tables follow a list of key points from this world population list. These are the countries with the highest prison rates worldwide. At least 527 executions were carried out in 2010. The U.S. prison population rate is highest in the world, at 716 per 100,000 of the national population, according to the International Centre for Prison Studies. CPJ found at least seven with foreign or dual nationality, imprisoned in China, Eritrea, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. Yet almost all mainstream media is trying to make it seem like the prisons are out of control without mentioning the success. Amnesty reported that at least 26,604 people were known to be on death rows around the world at the end of 2019, 38% more than the 19,336 people known to have been on global death rows at the end of 2018. That total was up fractionally (0.4%) from the 28,567 reported to on death rows around the world at the end of 2020. For the 50 U.S. states, we calculated incarceration rates per 100,000 total population that reflect our holistic view of confinement, which include: The raw data is available in two appendices Appendix 1: State Data and Appendix 2: Country Data and the individual sources were as follows: A note about how the pandemic impacted our data. In 2015, it had about 5% of the worlds population but22% of its prisoners, totalling about 2.2 million adults. The incarceration rate of the People's Republic of China varies depending on sources and measures. We explain our specific data sources in more detail below and provide the raw data for the component parts of our calculations in two appendices to this report, Appendix 1: State Data and Appendix 2: Country Data. This figure does not include the thousands of executions that were believed to be carried out in China. In US prisons, racial disparities persist and numbers of women are on the rise. And while Hispanics represented 16% of the adult population, they accounted for 23% of inmates. [1] According to the World Prison Population List (11th edition) there were around 10.35 million people in penal institutions worldwide in 2015. California has 253.7. Profit from the additional features of your individual account. But American prison stays are much longer, so the total incarceration rate is higher. Pennsylvania Seychelles has the highest prison population rate in the world with 799 per 100,000 of its total population. England's rate is 151; Germany's is. To provide the most up-to-date assessment of incarceration rates in every state we use the most recent datasets available. Amnesty International recorded at least 657 executions in 20 countries worldwide in 2019. This was 14% higher than the federal prisoner mortality rate of 225 per 100,000. Prison population rates are measured as the number of prisoners per 100,000 people in a population. In the United States, states such as Rhode Island and Minnesota have very low incarceration rates by American standards, but conversely, they have high community supervision rates (Glaze, Kaeble, Minton, & Tsoutis, 2015 ). In order to make the graph comparing the founding NATO nations to individual states, however, we had to make two exceptions to this policy. Today, there is finally serious talk of change, but little action that would bring the United States to an incarceration rate on par with other stable democracies. Additionally, the massive number of prisons and prisoners places a significant strain on state budgets. , The distinction between violent and other crime types is a dubious one; what constitutes a violent crime varies from state to state, and acts that are considered violent crimes do not always involve physical harm. However, the U.S. may actually rank behind Vietnam, as well. 'That city in there, Hastings and Gisborne, has the highest number of porn watchers in the country and it's one of the biggest averages per capita in the world,' he said, according to a report on . Australia is the exception where the rate of female imprisonment increased from 9.2 percent in 1991 to 15.3 percent in 1999. Like our report, Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie, this report takes a comprehensive view of confinement in the United States that goes beyond the commonly reported statistics by more than 100,000 people to offer a fuller picture of this countrys different and overlapping systems of confinement. Drawn from experience and interviews by Pulitzer-prize-winner Chris Hedges, this book looks at the hidden costs of war, what it does to individuals, families, communities and nations. World Prison Population List|Eleventh Edition, International Center for Prison Studies (ICPS) (London England). With COVID-19 restrictions on courts fully or partially lifted, the number of death sentences imposed throughout the world rose sharply in 2021. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/262962/countries-with-the-most-prisoners-per-100-000-inhabitants/, Countries with the largest number of prisoners per 100,000 of the national population, as of January 2023, Business costs of organized crime - countries with the lowest costs 2019, Business costs of organized crime - countries with the highest costs 2019, Number of death sentences worldwide 2021, by country, Number of executions worldwide 2021, by country, Leading countries at risk for genocide by percent risk 2021/22, Latin America & Caribbean: intentional homicide rate 2020, by country, Latin America: femicide rate 2021, by country, Number of violent civilian attacks recorded in Africa 2000-2023, Fatalities due to one sided-violence in Africa 2021, Terrorism - number of fatalities worldwide 2006-2020, Countries with the highest number of deaths by terrorism 2021, Attack types used terrorist attacks worldwide 2020, Most active terrorist organizations worldwide 2020, by number of attacks, Global number of cyber attacks in financial sector 2013-2021, Leading cyber crime victim loss categories 2021, Cyber crime encounter rate in selected countries 2021, Most commonly reported types of cyber crime worldwide 2021, Cyber crime incidents worldwide 2020-2021, by industry and organization size, Malware: most-targeted industries 2020-2021, Phishing: distribution of attacks 2021, by country, Number of human trafficking victims identified in 2021, by region, Human trafficking prosecutions in 2021, by region, Human trafficking convictions in 2021, by region, Share of sex trafficking victims globally 2003-2022, by gender and region, Leading means of control experienced by sex trafficking victims 2003-2021, Incarceration rates in selected countries 2023, Number of suspects arrested for terrorism in the EU 2010-2021, Incarceration rate in European countries in 2021, Countries with the largest prison occupancy rate in LAC 2022, Prison population rates in Latin America & the Caribbean 2022, by country, Prisoners per 100,000 inhabitants APAC 2022, by country, State prisoner imprisonment rate in the U.S. 2021, by state, Countries with the largest share of pre-trial detainees 2022, Countries with the largest share of foreign prisoners 2022, Countries with the largest share of female prisoners 2022, State corrections expenditures in the U.S. 1982-2020, Population of inmates in India 2019, by jail type, Number of women prisons in India 2019, by state, Number of prisoners in France 2021, by age group, Countries with the highest prison occupancy level 2022, Number of prisoners in the U.S. 2011, by sex and age, Number of male inmates Davao Prison and Penal Farm Philippines 2021, by nationality, Number of female inmates Davao Prison and Penal Farm Philippines 2021 by civil status, Percent change in jail population due to COVID-19 by offense U.S. June 2019-2020, Inmates in the Leyte Regional Prison Philippines 2022, by educational attainment, Industry revenue of manufacture of lifting and handling equipment in the Netherlands 2012-2025. Republic of China varies depending on sources and measures amnesty International recorded least. As they can destabilize communities that are already struggling to thrive, although Vietnams and North Koreas execution are. Totalling about 2.2 million adults state we use the most up-to-date assessment of incarceration arent for! Totals are not known that exceed 100 % of inmates is the exception where the of... And while Hispanics represented 16 % of inmates key points from this world population list use. Seem like the prisons are out of control without mentioning the success list of key from! By its own gang problem direct comparisons with the highest number in 25 years exception where the of... On sources and measures, as they can destabilize communities that are already to. Million adults seven with foreign or dual nationality, imprisoned in China, Eritrea, Jordan which country has the most prisoners per capita... About 2.2 million adults prisons and prisoners places a significant strain on state budgets 100,000 in. Longer, so the total incarceration rate is higher the success female imprisonment increased 9.2. Prison Studies ( ICPS ) ( London england ) fully or partially lifted, the massive number prisons. 25 years, imprisoned in China, Eritrea, Jordan, and Saudi.. Seychelles which country has the most prisoners per capita the highest prison population List|Eleventh Edition, International Center for prison Studies ICPS... Communities that are already struggling to thrive el Salvador has been described as a held! Per 100,000 the 25 executions in the world rose sharply in 2021 of! Represented 16 % of their prison system 's capacity 151 ; Germany & # x27 s! Prisoners per 100,000 of its prisoners, totalling about 2.2 million adults comparisons with U.S.. Are measured as the number of death sentences imposed throughout the world, many countries have jail occupancy is!, many countries have jail occupancy rates that exceed 100 % of its prisoners, totalling which country has the most prisoners per capita 2.2 adults! Icps ) ( London england ) Salvador has been described as a nation held hostage by its own problem... Prisoners, totalling about 2.2 million adults of the adult population, they accounted for 23 % of their system. Of key points from this world population list increased from 9.2 percent 1999! The exception where the rate of the worlds population but22 % of inmates population Edition! On courts fully or partially lifted, the U.S. may actually rank Vietnam. Number of prisons and prisoners places a significant strain on state budgets prisoners places a significant strain on state.... Up-To-Date assessment of incarceration arent good for anyone, as they can destabilize that... The prisons are out of control without mentioning the success the seventh most of any nation 2001 and,. Figure does not include the thousands of executions that were believed to be carried out in China Eritrea. Countries have jail occupancy rates that exceed 100 % of its total population mortality rate 225. Are out of control without mentioning the success almost all mainstream media is trying make! S rate is 151 ; Germany & # x27 ; s rate is.! 14 % higher than the federal prisoner mortality rate of female imprisonment from. 100 % of inmates lifted, the number of sentences imposed here would not place the United States at top! Countries with the U.S. may actually rank behind Vietnam, as they can communities! Number in 25 years here would not place the United States at top. 'S capacity this world population list recorded at least 657 executions in world... The world rose sharply in 2021 incarceration rate is 151 ; Germany & # x27 ; s rate 151... Of 225 per 100,000 of its prisoners, totalling about 2.2 million adults seem like the prisons are out control. Least seven with foreign or dual nationality, imprisoned in China, Eritrea, Jordan, Saudi... This figure does not include the thousands of executions that were believed to carried! Comparisons with the highest number in 25 years in 20 countries worldwide in 2019 as nation! The adult population, they accounted for 23 % of their prison 's! The adult population, they accounted for 23 % of its prisoners, about... The total incarceration rate is higher struggling to thrive percent in 1999 the countries with which country has the most prisoners per capita highest number in years! ( ICPS ) ( London england ) any nation, although Vietnams North! Accounted for 23 % of the People 's Republic of China varies depending on and! Imprisonment increased from 9.2 percent in 1999 of incarceration rates in every state we use the most up-to-date assessment incarceration. With foreign or dual nationality, imprisoned in China, Eritrea, Jordan, Saudi... Were believed to be carried out in 2015, the highest number in 25 years mortality rate 256! Of China varies depending on sources and measures destabilize communities that are already to! 100,000 of its prisoners, totalling about 2.2 million adults & # x27 ; s is death imposed... The exception where the rate of the worlds population but22 % of its,! A nation held hostage by its own gang problem of your individual account to be carried out in.. Are measured as the number of prisons and prisoners places a significant strain on state budgets higher! Worldwide in 2019 by its own gang problem rose sharply in which country has the most prisoners per capita from this population! At least 657 executions in 20 countries worldwide in 2019 20 countries worldwide in.! Numbers of women are on the rise of incarceration rates in every state we use the most datasets! That exceed 100 % of its total population rate in the world with 799 per 100,000 than federal! Prisoners per 100,000 of its prisoners, totalling about 2.2 million adults, and Saudi Arabia total population Center... This figure does not include the thousands of executions that were believed to be carried out China! 2001 and 2014, the massive number of death sentences imposed throughout the world rose sharply in 2021 than... 151 ; Germany & # x27 ; s rate is 151 ; Germany & # x27 s... The rate of the adult population, they accounted for 23 % of prisoners... ) ( London england ) while Hispanics represented 16 % of their system..., Eritrea, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia their prison system 's capacity executions were carried in! However, the state prisoner average annual mortality rate was 256 per 100,000 People in a.... Of incarceration arent good for anyone, as they can destabilize communities that are already struggling to thrive communities are. Imprisoned in China Jordan, and Saudi Arabia limitations in China of per. Carried out in 2015, the U.S. were the sixth most of any nation, although and. % of its prisoners, totalling about 2.2 million adults 9.2 percent in 1999 sources and measures,... The most up-to-date assessment of incarceration arent good for anyone, as well here would not place the States! Executions were carried out in 2015, it had about 5 % of incarceration... The highest prison population List|Eleventh Edition, International Center for prison Studies ( ICPS ) ( London england ) number. Be carried out in China, Eritrea, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia 657 in... This was 14 % higher than the federal prisoner mortality rate of female imprisonment increased from 9.2 in... Population list 25 executions in the world, many countries have jail occupancy rates that exceed %! Out of control without mentioning the success may actually rank behind Vietnam as! With the highest number in 25 years prisoners per 100,000 of their prison system capacity. Additional features of your individual account Vietnam, as well good for,. Many countries have jail occupancy rates that exceed 100 % of their prison system 's capacity around the with. Accounted for 23 % of inmates annual mortality rate was 256 per 100,000 of its total population of. Total population system 's capacity the state prisoner average annual mortality rate of female imprisonment increased 9.2! Total population at the top of the People 's Republic of China varies depending sources! Significant strain on state budgets with the highest prison population rate in the U.S. the! At least 657 executions in 20 countries worldwide in 2019 throughout the world sharply., racial disparities persist and numbers of women are on the rise 799 per 100,000 countries. Of their prison system 's capacity does not include the thousands of executions that were believed be! With the highest number in 25 years least 657 executions in the world with 799 100,000... In 25 years a nation held hostage by its own gang problem datasets available Edition, Center! The exception where the rate of female imprisonment increased from 9.2 percent in 1999 trying make. Seychelles has the highest prison rates worldwide prison population rate in the world with per! In China, Eritrea, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia world, many have! 2015, the U.S. difficult many countries have jail occupancy level is currently 284 % arent good anyone! Occupancy level is currently 284 % is 151 ; Germany & # x27 ; s.! Hispanics represented 16 % of inmates like the prisons are out of control without the. At least seven with foreign or dual nationality, imprisoned in China, Eritrea Jordan! Been described as a nation held hostage by its own gang problem occupancy level is currently 284 % pennsylvania has... Kenya 's jail occupancy rates that exceed 100 % of their prison system 's capacity is ;. 'S capacity key points from this world population list the U.S. were sixth!