Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Jamaica

Jamaica: Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population was 39.2% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
39.2%
Change on year
up 47.8%
World rank
49th
of 147 countries
All-time high
39.2%
in 2023
All-time low
11.4%
in 2009
Years of data
18
2003–2023

Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Jamaica, 2003–2023

102030402003201320232003: 11.52005: 16.62007: 152009: 11.42010: 23.62011: 17.52012: 20.42013: 16.92014: 22.32015: 23.52016: 25.62017: 31.52018: 29.82019: 27.72020: 25.82021: 25.32022: 26.52023: 39.2

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

In 2023, unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Jamaica stood at 39.2%. That is the highest value across all 18 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 47.8% on the previous year and up 131.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Jamaica peaked at 39.2% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 11.4%, in 2009.

That places Jamaica 49th out of 147 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 18 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population (%) in Jamaica, 2003 to 2023.
Year Value Change
2003 11.5%
2005 16.6% +43.8%
2007 15.0% -9.7%
2009 11.4% -23.9%
2010 23.6% +106.8%
2011 17.5% -25.8%
2012 20.4% +16.8%
2013 16.9% -17.1%
2014 22.3% +31.6%
2015 23.5% +5.5%
2016 25.6% +8.7%
2017 31.5% +23.2%
2018 29.8% -5.5%
2019 27.7% -7.1%
2020 25.8% -6.6%
2021 25.3% -2.2%
2022 26.5% +4.9%
2023 39.2% +47.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 13.6% 11.4% 16.6% 4
2010s 23.9% 16.9% 31.5% 10
2020s 29.2% 25.3% 39.2% 4

Countries ranked near Jamaica

  1. 46 Australia 39.9% compare
  2. 47 Slovenia 39.8% compare
  3. 48 Madagascar 39.3% compare
  4. 50 Argentina 38.8% compare
  5. 51 Guyana 38.7% compare
  6. 52 United Arab Emirates 38.2% compare

See the full ranking of 186 places →

More infrastructure data for Jamaica

All data for Jamaica →

Frequently asked questions

What is unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Jamaica?
Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Jamaica was 39.2% in 2023, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population recorded in Jamaica?
The highest recorded value was 39.2% in 2023.
What is the lowest unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population recorded in Jamaica?
The lowest recorded value was 11.4% in 2009.
How does Jamaica rank for unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population?
Jamaica ranks 49th out of 147 countries with data for 2023.
Is unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population rising or falling in Jamaica?
Over the last ten years it is up 131.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Jamaica 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 Jamaica. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://infrastructure.statizoid.com/stat/unsentenced-detainees-as-a-proportion-of-overall-prison-population-percent/jamaica/

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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