Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in New Zealand

New Zealand: Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population was 42.3% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
42.3%
Change on year
up 3.2%
World rank
44th
of 164 countries
All-time high
42.3%
in 2024
All-time low
15.9%
in 2004
Years of data
21
2003–2024

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

0102030402003201320242003: 16.5 %2004: 15.9 %2005: 17.1 %2006: 17.8 %2007: 19.4 %2008: 20.1 %2009: 20.3 %2010: 20.1 %2011: 20.5 %2012: 20.2 %2013: 18.3 %2014: 21.1 %2015: 25 %2016: 27.9 %2017: 28.3 %2018: 30.5 %2019: 36.6 %2020: 35.1 %2021: 37.4 %2022: 41 %2024: 42.3 %

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in New Zealand is 42.3%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.

That represents a change of up 3.2% on the previous year and up 100.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in New Zealand peaked at 42.3% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 15.9%, in 2004.

That places New Zealand 44th out of 164 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population (%) in New Zealand, 2003 to 2024.
Year % Change
2003 16.5%
2004 15.9% -3.2%
2005 17.1% +7.2%
2006 17.8% +4.0%
2007 19.4% +9.5%
2008 20.1% +3.2%
2009 20.3% +1.0%
2010 20.1% -0.9%
2011 20.5% +2.1%
2012 20.2% -1.6%
2013 18.3% -9.2%
2014 21.1% +15.1%
2015 25.0% +18.6%
2016 27.9% +11.6%
2017 28.3% +1.4%
2018 30.5% +7.8%
2019 36.6% +20.0%
2020 35.1% -4.1%
2021 37.4% +6.6%
2022 41.0% +9.4%
2024 42.3% +3.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 18.1% 15.9% 20.3% 7
2010s 24.9% 18.3% 36.6% 10
2020s 38.9% 35.1% 42.3% 4

Countries ranked near New Zealand

  1. 41 Papua New Guinea 42.9% compare
  2. 42 Iceland 42.6% compare
  3. 43 Croatia 42.4% compare
  4. 45 Monaco 41.9% compare
  5. 46 Kenya 41.0% compare
  6. 47 Australia and New Zealand 40.3% compare

See the full ranking of 195 places →

More infrastructure data for New Zealand

All data for New Zealand →

Frequently asked questions

What is unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in New Zealand?
Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in New Zealand was 42.3% 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 New Zealand?
The highest recorded value was 42.3% in 2024.
What is the lowest unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population recorded in New Zealand?
The lowest recorded value was 15.9% in 2004.
How does New Zealand rank for unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population?
New Zealand ranks 44th out of 164 countries with data for 2024.
Is unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population rising or falling in New Zealand?
Over the last ten years it is up 100.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this New Zealand 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 New Zealand. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://infrastructure.statizoid.com/stat/unsentenced-detainees-as-a-proportion-of-overall-prison-population-percent/new-zealand/

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About this data

Indicator
Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population (%)
Unit
%
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
195 places, 3,134 data points, 2003–2024
Last refreshed