Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Malawi

Malawi: Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population was 17.6% in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
17.6%
Change on year
down 2.0%
World rank
123rd
of 147 countries
All-time high
28.8%
in 2005
All-time low
10.8%
in 2017
Years of data
6
2005–2020

Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Malawi, 2005–2020

01020302005201220202005: 28.82010: 11.22015: 16.12017: 10.82018: 17.92020: 17.6

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

The most recent figure for unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Malawi is 17.6%, measured in 2020.

The figure is down 2.0% on the previous year and up 56.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Malawi peaked at 28.8% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 10.8%, in 2017.

That places Malawi 123rd out of 147 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.

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

Annual values for Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population (%) in Malawi, 2005 to 2020.
Year Value Change
2005 28.8%
2010 11.2% -61.1%
2015 16.1% +44.0%
2017 10.8% -33.1%
2018 17.9% +66.2%
2020 17.6% -2.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 28.8% 28.8% 28.8% 1
2010s 14.0% 10.8% 17.9% 4
2020s 17.6% 17.6% 17.6% 1

Countries ranked near Malawi

  1. 120 Puerto Rico 18.8% compare
  2. 121 Zambia 18.1% compare
  3. 122 Spain 17.7% compare
  4. 124 Italy 16.9% compare
  5. 125 Japan 15.5% compare
  6. 126 Russian Federation 15.4% compare

See the full ranking of 186 places →

More infrastructure data for Malawi

All data for Malawi →

Frequently asked questions

What is unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Malawi?
Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Malawi was 17.6% in 2020, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population recorded in Malawi?
The highest recorded value was 28.8% in 2005.
What is the lowest unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population recorded in Malawi?
The lowest recorded value was 10.8% in 2017.
How does Malawi rank for unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population?
Malawi ranks 123rd out of 147 countries with data for 2020.
Is unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population rising or falling in Malawi?
Over the last ten years it is up 56.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Malawi 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 Malawi. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 27 August 2026, from https://infrastructure.statizoid.com/stat/unsentenced-detainees-as-a-proportion-of-overall-prison-population-percent/malawi/

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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