Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Nigeria

Nigeria: Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population was 66.8% in 2024. ▬ Flat

Latest (2024)
66.8%
Change on year
down 7.7%
World rank
6th
of 147 countries
All-time high
77.9%
in 2020
All-time low
62.4%
in 2015
Years of data
12
2005–2024

Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Nigeria, 2005–2024

0204060802005201420242005: 72.72008: 70.72009: 71.42010: 71.82011: 72.82013: 68.92015: 62.42017: 67.82020: 77.92021: 72.42022: 72.42024: 66.8

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

The most recent figure for unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Nigeria is 66.8%, measured in 2024.

That represents a change of down 7.7% on the previous year and down 3.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Nigeria peaked at 77.9% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 62.4%, in 2015.

That places Nigeria 6th out of 147 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.

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

Annual values for Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population (%) in Nigeria, 2005 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2005 72.7%
2008 70.7% -2.7%
2009 71.4% +0.9%
2010 71.8% +0.6%
2011 72.8% +1.4%
2013 68.9% -5.3%
2015 62.4% -9.5%
2017 67.8% +8.8%
2020 77.9% +14.9%
2021 72.4% -7.1%
2022 72.4% +0.0%
2024 66.8% -7.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 71.6% 70.7% 72.7% 3
2010s 68.7% 62.4% 72.8% 5
2020s 72.4% 66.8% 77.9% 4

Countries ranked near Nigeria

  1. 3 India 73.5% compare
  2. 4 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 69.9% compare
  3. 5 Pakistan 69.0% compare
  4. 7 Sri Lanka 66.2% compare
  5. 8 Philippines 65.2% compare
  6. 8 Timor-Leste 23.8% compare
  7. 9 Paraguay 63.9% compare

See the full ranking of 186 places →

More infrastructure data for Nigeria

All data for Nigeria →

Frequently asked questions

What is unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Nigeria?
Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Nigeria was 66.8% 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 Nigeria?
The highest recorded value was 77.9% in 2020.
What is the lowest unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population recorded in Nigeria?
The lowest recorded value was 62.4% in 2015.
How does Nigeria rank for unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population?
Nigeria ranks 6th out of 147 countries with data for 2024.
Is unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population rising or falling in Nigeria?
Over the last ten years it is down 3.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Nigeria 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 Nigeria. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 31 August 2026, from https://infrastructure.statizoid.com/stat/unsentenced-detainees-as-a-proportion-of-overall-prison-population-percent/nigeria/

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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