Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Iceland

Iceland: Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population was 42.6% in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
42.6%
Change on year
up 20.1%
World rank
40th
of 147 countries
All-time high
42.6%
in 2024
All-time low
7.3%
in 2003
Years of data
22
2003–2024

Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Iceland, 2003–2024

102030402003201320242003: 7.32004: 7.82005: 15.12006: 15.12007: 10.42008: 102009: 16.92010: 7.82011: 82012: 172013: 8.22014: 8.42015: 17.32016: 12.12017: 12.42018: 7.32019: 20.92020: 14.22021: 18.32022: 28.32023: 35.52024: 42.6

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

In 2024, unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Iceland stood at 42.6%. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 20.1% on the previous year and up 404.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Iceland peaked at 42.6% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 7.3%, in 2003.

That places Iceland 40th out of 147 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Iceland, year by year

Annual values for Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population (%) in Iceland, 2003 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2003 7.3%
2004 7.8% +6.7%
2005 15.1% +93.2%
2006 15.1% +0.0%
2007 10.4% -31.1%
2008 10.0% -4.1%
2009 16.9% +68.9%
2010 7.8% -53.9%
2011 8.0% +2.8%
2012 17.0% +112.4%
2013 8.2% -52.0%
2014 8.4% +3.6%
2015 17.3% +104.4%
2016 12.1% -30.1%
2017 12.4% +2.8%
2018 7.3% -40.8%
2019 20.9% +184.2%
2020 14.2% -32.1%
2021 18.3% +29.1%
2022 28.3% +54.3%
2023 35.5% +25.7%
2024 42.6% +20.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 11.8% 7.3% 16.9% 7
2010s 11.9% 7.3% 20.9% 10
2020s 27.8% 14.2% 42.6% 5

Countries ranked near Iceland

  1. 37 Mauritius 46.1% compare
  2. 38 Lebanon 43.4% compare
  3. 39 Papua New Guinea 42.9% compare
  4. 41 Croatia 42.4% compare
  5. 42 New Zealand 42.3% compare
  6. 43 Monaco 41.9% compare

See the full ranking of 186 places →

More infrastructure data for Iceland

All data for Iceland →

Frequently asked questions

What is unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Iceland?
Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Iceland was 42.6% 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 Iceland?
The highest recorded value was 42.6% in 2024.
What is the lowest unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population recorded in Iceland?
The lowest recorded value was 7.3% in 2003.
How does Iceland rank for unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population?
Iceland ranks 40th out of 147 countries with data for 2024.
Is unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population rising or falling in Iceland?
Over the last ten years it is up 404.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Iceland 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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Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Iceland. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 30 August 2026, from https://infrastructure.statizoid.com/stat/unsentenced-detainees-as-a-proportion-of-overall-prison-population-percent/iceland/

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About this data

Indicator
Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population (%)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
186 places, 3,007 data points, 2003–2024
Last refreshed