Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Africa
Africa: Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population was 34.3% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Africa, 2003–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Africa is 34.3%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 2.0% on the previous year and down 3.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Africa peaked at 43.1% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 33.0%, in 2017.
That places Africa 7th out of 28 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 42.4% | — |
| 2004 | 41.5% | -2.0% |
| 2005 | 43.1% | +3.6% |
| 2006 | 41.5% | -3.5% |
| 2007 | 41.4% | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 39.4% | -4.9% |
| 2009 | 39.5% | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 37.8% | -4.3% |
| 2011 | 36.9% | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 37.3% | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 36.1% | -3.1% |
| 2014 | 35.5% | -1.7% |
| 2015 | 34.8% | -2.1% |
| 2016 | 34.6% | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 33.0% | -4.6% |
| 2018 | 33.9% | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 34.0% | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 36.0% | +5.6% |
| 2021 | 36.7% | +2.2% |
| 2022 | 35.8% | -2.6% |
| 2023 | 35.0% | -2.1% |
| 2024 | 34.3% | -2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 41.3% | 39.4% | 43.1% | 7 |
| 2010s | 35.4% | 33.0% | 37.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 35.6% | 34.3% | 36.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Africa
- 4 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 69.9% compare
- 5 Pakistan 69.0% compare
- 6 Nigeria 66.8% compare
- 7 Sri Lanka 66.2% compare
- 8 Philippines 65.2% compare
- 8 Timor-Leste 23.8% compare
- 9 Paraguay 63.9% compare
- 10 Faroe Islands 63.6% compare
- 10 Türkiye 14.4% compare
More infrastructure data for Africa
- Proportion of children moderately or severely stunted 30.3% (2024)
- Proportion of children moderately or severely overweight 4.5% (2024)
- Proportion of the target population who received 3 doses of 76.0% (2024)
- Developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global 2.9% (2024)
- Developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global 2.6% (2024)
- Developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global 2.7% (2024)
- Developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global 1.8% (2024)
- Total official flows for infrastructure, by recipient countries 17,916 (2024)
- Total reserves in months of imports 8.09 (2024)
- Proportion of the target population who received 57.0% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Africa?
- Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Africa was 34.3% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population recorded in Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 43.1% in 2005.
- What is the lowest unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population recorded in Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.0% in 2017.
- How does Africa rank for unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population?
- Africa ranks 7th out of 28 groups with data for 2024.
- Is unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population rising or falling in Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, 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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