Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population (%) by country
Countries reporting
165
Highest
83.6%
Haiti
Lowest
0.3%
Algeria
Median
29.0%
Years covered
22
2003–2024
Data points
3,134
What the numbers show
Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population (%) is currently reported for 165 countries. The highest value is 83.6% in Haiti; the lowest is 0.3% in Algeria.
The median across all reporting countries is 29.0%, and the mean is 33.0%.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 279.
Over the past decade 88 countries rose and 77 fell. The largest increase was in Slovenia (up 1,001.4%), and the largest decrease in Algeria (down 95.5%).
Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population (%): full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Haiti | 83.6% | 2024 | up 18.4% | falling |
| 2 | Bangladesh | 75.6% | 2022 | up 10.7% | rising |
| 3 | India | 73.5% | 2023 | up 8.8% | rising |
| 4 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 69.9% | 2024 | up 200.1% | rising |
| 5 | Pakistan | 69.0% | 2024 | down 0.3% | rising |
| 6 | Nigeria | 66.8% | 2024 | down 3.0% | flat |
| 7 | Sri Lanka | 66.2% | 2024 | up 81.8% | rising |
| 8 | Philippines | 65.2% | 2022 | up 4.9% | flat |
| 9 | Paraguay | 63.9% | 2024 | down 15.7% | flat |
| 10 | Faroe Islands | 63.6% | 2020 | up 409.1% | volatile |
| 11 | Trinidad and Tobago | 62.3% | 2020 | up 37.2% | rising |
| 12 | Saint Lucia | 62.1% | 2024 | up 53.5% | rising |
| 13 | Albania | 62.0% | 2024 | up 20.7% | rising |
| 14 | Dominican Republic | 62.0% | 2024 | up 15.5% | falling |
| 15 | Niger | 62.0% | 2024 | up 29.9% | rising |
| 16 | Grenada | 61.0% | 2024 | up 305.2% | volatile |
| 17 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 60.6% | 2022 | up 94.0% | rising |
| 18 | Liberia | 60.5% | 2021 | down 22.7% | falling |
| 19 | Benin | 59.9% | 2021 | down 20.1% | falling |
| 20 | Yemen | 59.0% | 2017 | up 72.6% | rising |
| 21 | Bolivia (Plurinational State of) | 58.7% | 2024 | down 28.3% | falling |
| 22 | Barbados | 57.9% | 2024 | up 47.5% | rising |
| 23 | Dominica | 55.9% | 2023 | up 147.8% | volatile |
| 24 | Guinea | 55.5% | 2024 | down 4.7% | falling |
| 25 | Cameroon | 55.5% | 2024 | down 9.3% | falling |
| 26 | Tunisia | 54.9% | 2021 | up 5.2% | rising |
| 27 | Montenegro | 54.3% | 2024 | up 155.3% | rising |
| 28 | Burundi | 53.1% | 2024 | up 0.3% | falling |
| 29 | Armenia | 52.2% | 2024 | up 81.8% | rising |
| 30 | Switzerland | 51.9% | 2024 | up 22.2% | rising |
| 31 | Sierra Leone | 51.1% | 2024 | down 12.3% | rising |
| 32 | Canada | 49.9% | 2023 | up 56.9% | rising |
| 33 | Honduras | 49.2% | 2023 | down 4.9% | falling |
| 34 | Angola | 48.5% | 2024 | down 3.9% | falling |
| 35 | Luxembourg | 48.3% | 2024 | down 0.5% | flat |
| 36 | Senegal | 48.0% | 2024 | up 11.8% | rising |
| 37 | State of Palestine | 47.7% | 2024 | down 13.1% | falling |
| 38 | Uganda | 47.2% | 2024 | down 12.9% | falling |
| 39 | Mauritius | 46.1% | 2024 | up 30.3% | rising |
| 40 | Lebanon | 43.4% | 2023 | down 1.2% | falling |
| 41 | Papua New Guinea | 42.9% | 2023 | up 20.9% | rising |
| 42 | Iceland | 42.6% | 2024 | up 404.7% | volatile |
| 43 | Croatia | 42.4% | 2024 | up 96.7% | rising |
| 44 | New Zealand | 42.3% | 2024 | up 100.3% | rising |
| 45 | Monaco | 41.9% | 2024 | down 44.7% | falling |
| 46 | Kenya | 41.0% | 2022 | down 4.4% | falling |
| 47 | Australia and New Zealand | 40.3% | 2024 | up 74.2% | rising |
| 48 | Australia | 39.9% | 2024 | up 68.7% | rising |
| 49 | Slovenia | 39.8% | 2024 | up 1,001.4% | rising |
| 50 | Madagascar | 39.3% | 2024 | down 25.6% | falling |
| 51 | Jamaica | 39.2% | 2023 | up 131.3% | rising |
| 52 | Caribbean | 38.8% | 2024 | up 1.1% | rising |
| 53 | Argentina | 38.8% | 2024 | down 23.7% | falling |
| 54 | Guyana | 38.7% | 2024 | up 8.8% | rising |
| 55 | United Arab Emirates | 38.2% | 2016 | down 16.7% | falling |
| 56 | Antigua and Barbuda | 38.2% | 2022 | down 17.1% | rising |
| 57 | Malta | 38.2% | 2024 | up 60.7% | rising |
| 58 | Peru | 38.0% | 2024 | down 24.3% | falling |
| 59 | South Africa | 38.0% | 2024 | up 39.8% | rising |
| 60 | Andorra | 37.2% | 2024 | down 51.8% | falling |
| 61 | Jordan | 36.9% | 2019 | down 21.5% | falling |
| 62 | United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) | 36.8% | 2024 | up 50.9% | rising |
| 63 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 36.6% | 2024 | up 201.2% | rising |
| 64 | Chile | 36.5% | 2024 | up 50.3% | rising |
| 65 | Mexico | 36.3% | 2024 | down 25.3% | falling |
| 66 | Kosovo | 35.2% | 2020 | down 7.0% | falling |
| 67 | Panama | 35.2% | 2024 | down 37.7% | falling |
| 68 | South Korea | 35.0% | 2024 | down 1.2% | rising |
| 68 | Republic of Korea | 35.0% | 2024 | down 1.2% | rising |
| 70 | Ukraine | 34.9% | 2024 | up 66.3% | rising |
| 71 | Belize | 34.7% | 2024 | down 35.0% | rising |
| 72 | Ecuador | 34.6% | 2024 | down 12.5% | falling |
| 73 | Cote d'Ivoire | 33.7% | 2024 | down 13.7% | rising |
| 73 | Côte d'Ivoire | 33.7% | 2024 | down 13.7% | rising |
| 75 | Sao Tome and Principe | 32.8% | 2018 | down 27.1% | volatile |
| 76 | Solomon Islands | 32.7% | 2024 | down 0.9% | rising |
| 77 | Bahamas | 32.7% | 2023 | down 42.9% | rising |
| 78 | Malaysia | 32.6% | 2024 | up 43.6% | rising |
| 79 | Vanuatu | 32.3% | 2021 | up 51.1% | rising |
| 80 | Seychelles | 31.6% | 2024 | up 59.3% | rising |
| 81 | United Republic of Tanzania | 31.4% | 2023 | down 33.4% | falling |
| 82 | Burkina Faso | 29.0% | 2024 | down 34.7% | falling |
| 82 | Libya | 29.0% | 2023 | down 65.2% | falling |
| 84 | Latvia | 28.6% | 2024 | down 7.8% | falling |
| 85 | Guatemala | 28.3% | 2024 | down 43.7% | falling |
| 86 | Mozambique | 27.9% | 2024 | down 15.1% | falling |
| 87 | Finland | 27.4% | 2024 | up 37.2% | rising |
| 88 | Brazil | 27.3% | 2024 | down 33.8% | falling |
| 89 | Netherlands (Kingdom of the) | 27.1% | 2024 | up 12.2% | falling |
| 90 | Germany | 27.0% | 2024 | up 31.5% | rising |
| 91 | Sweden | 27.0% | 2024 | up 5.2% | rising |
| 92 | United States | 26.7% | 2023 | up 24.2% | rising |
| 93 | Cambodia | 26.6% | 2024 | down 54.4% | falling |
| 94 | Iraq (Central Iraq) | 26.5% | 2013 | down 45.4% | falling |
| 95 | El Salvador | 26.0% | 2019 | down 19.7% | falling |
| 96 | United Kingdom (Scotland) | 25.9% | 2024 | up 31.4% | rising |
| 97 | France | 25.8% | 2024 | up 3.2% | falling |
| 98 | Israel | 25.8% | 2016 | down 6.6% | flat |
| 99 | Kyrgyzstan | 25.6% | 2022 | up 22.4% | rising |
| 100 | Greece | 25.5% | 2024 | up 21.6% | falling |
| 101 | Eswatini | 24.5% | 2022 | up 34.9% | falling |
| 102 | Cyprus | 24.4% | 2024 | up 28.3% | rising |
| 103 | Denmark | 23.9% | 2024 | down 19.7% | flat |
| 104 | East Timor | 23.8% | 2017 | down 44.1% | falling |
| 104 | Timor-Leste | 23.8% | 2017 | down 44.1% | falling |
| 106 | Costa Rica | 23.7% | 2024 | up 11.4% | flat |
| 106 | Guernsey | 23.7% | 2024 | up 14.7% | falling |
| 108 | Belgium | 23.6% | 2024 | down 13.9% | falling |
| 109 | Qatar | 23.6% | 2019 | up 349.0% | volatile |
| 110 | Zimbabwe | 23.5% | 2024 | up 37.7% | falling |
| 111 | Botswana | 22.5% | 2021 | up 0.8% | falling |
| 112 | Norway | 22.4% | 2024 | down 9.4% | rising |
| 113 | Myanmar | 22.0% | 2020 | up 103.1% | rising |
| 114 | Portugal | 21.7% | 2024 | up 32.3% | falling |
| 115 | Colombia | 21.6% | 2024 | down 35.4% | falling |
| 116 | Serbia | 21.5% | 2024 | up 38.9% | falling |
| 117 | Indonesia | 21.3% | 2024 | down 35.7% | falling |
| 118 | Azerbaijan | 20.7% | 2024 | up 23.4% | rising |
| 119 | Hungary | 20.7% | 2024 | down 15.9% | falling |
| 120 | Kazakhstan | 20.3% | 2022 | up 31.2% | rising |
| 121 | Isle of Man | 20.2% | 2021 | down 30.1% | volatile |
| 122 | Estonia | 20.2% | 2024 | down 14.2% | falling |
| 123 | Fiji | 19.9% | 2021 | down 28.3% | rising |
| 124 | Austria | 19.6% | 2024 | down 7.2% | falling |
| 125 | Lesotho | 19.5% | 2016 | up 2.6% | flat |
| 126 | Suriname | 19.4% | 2024 | down 51.7% | falling |
| 127 | Ireland | 19.3% | 2024 | up 27.4% | rising |
| 128 | Georgia | 19.3% | 2024 | up 33.0% | volatile |
| 129 | Mongolia | 18.9% | 2024 | up 27.4% | flat |
| 130 | Puerto Rico | 18.8% | 2024 | up 27.3% | rising |
| 131 | Zambia | 18.1% | 2024 | down 22.1% | falling |
| 132 | Spain | 17.7% | 2024 | up 33.7% | falling |
| 133 | Malawi | 17.6% | 2020 | up 56.9% | falling |
| 134 | Moldova | 17.0% | 2024 | up 54.1% | rising |
| 134 | Republic of Moldova | 17.0% | 2024 | up 54.1% | rising |
| 136 | Italy | 16.9% | 2024 | down 10.2% | volatile |
| 137 | Japan | 15.5% | 2024 | up 34.6% | flat |
| 138 | Russia | 15.4% | 2024 | up 72.4% | rising |
| 138 | Russian Federation | 15.4% | 2024 | up 72.4% | rising |
| 140 | Kuwait | 14.6% | 2021 | up 46.0% | rising |
| 141 | Turkey | 14.4% | 2024 | up 2.9% | volatile |
| 141 | Türkiye | 14.4% | 2024 | up 2.9% | volatile |
| 143 | Liechtenstein | 14.3% | 2024 | down 81.1% | volatile |
| 144 | Nicaragua | 14.3% | 2018 | down 31.5% | flat |
| 145 | North Macedonia | 14.0% | 2024 | up 37.2% | falling |
| 146 | Singapore | 13.1% | 2024 | up 23.5% | rising |
| 147 | Lithuania | 13.0% | 2024 | up 29.5% | falling |
| 148 | Slovakia | 13.0% | 2024 | down 1.2% | falling |
| 149 | Bermuda | 12.6% | 2019 | up 7.3% | falling |
| 150 | Vietnam | 11.5% | 2022 | down 1.2% | falling |
| 150 | Viet Nam | 11.5% | 2022 | down 1.2% | falling |
| 152 | Poland | 10.9% | 2024 | up 38.2% | falling |
| 152 | United Kingdom (England and Wales) | 10.9% | 2022 | up 21.9% | falling |
| 154 | Ghana | 10.5% | 2024 | down 51.0% | falling |
| 155 | Morocco | 10.5% | 2024 | down 75.3% | falling |
| 156 | Romania | 9.2% | 2024 | up 73.6% | falling |
| 157 | Belarus | 9.2% | 2018 | down 9.6% | falling |
| 158 | Thailand | 8.9% | 2024 | down 57.7% | falling |
| 159 | Bulgaria | 8.8% | 2024 | up 3.4% | falling |
| 160 | Czechia | 8.2% | 2024 | down 29.9% | falling |
| 161 | Brunei | 7.1% | 2016 | down 17.1% | flat |
| 161 | Brunei Darussalam | 7.1% | 2016 | down 17.1% | flat |
| 163 | Uruguay | 6.3% | 2023 | down 90.1% | falling |
| 164 | Namibia | 3.2% | 2016 | down 60.1% | volatile |
| 165 | Algeria | 0.3% | 2024 | down 95.5% | volatile |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- Southern Asia 61.8%
- Central and Southern Asia 57.8%
- Sub-Saharan Africa 41.0%
- China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region 40.6%
- Oceania 39.1%
- Least Developed Countries (LDCs) 38.5%
- Small Island Developing States (SIDS) 36.8%
- Africa 34.3%
- Oceania (exc. Australia and New Zealand) 33.9%
- Landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) 33.6%
- Asia 33.3%
- Central America 31.3%
- World 30.9%
- Latin America and the Caribbean 30.7%
- South America 29.5%
- Americas 29.3%
- Northern America 28.0%
- Eastern Asia 27.8%
- Western Asia 27.8%
- Eastern and South-Eastern Asia 27.0%
- United States of America 26.7%
- South-eastern Asia 25.3%
- Europe and Northern America 24.6%
- Northern Africa and Western Asia 23.8%
- Central Asia 22.9%
- Europe 18.4%
- Northern Africa 17.9%
- China, Macao Special Administrative Region 17.6%
- Other non-specified areas in Eastern Asia 6.8%
- Iraq (Kurdistan Region) 4.1%