Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Northern Africa

Northern Africa: Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population was 17.9% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
17.9%
Change on year
down 14.3%
Rank
28th
of 31 groups
All-time high
37.7%
in 2003
All-time low
17.9%
in 2024
Years of data
22
2003–2024

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

0102030402003201320242003: 37.7 %2004: 33.3 %2005: 34.9 %2006: 32.5 %2007: 32.9 %2008: 26.9 %2009: 27.6 %2010: 27.3 %2011: 24.3 %2012: 26.3 %2013: 24.9 %2014: 24.9 %2015: 24.4 %2016: 23.6 %2017: 18.8 %2018: 20.6 %2019: 21.8 %2020: 24.4 %2021: 25.8 %2022: 24 %2023: 20.9 %2024: 17.9 %

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 Northern Africa is 17.9%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 22 years on record.

That represents a change of down 14.3% on the previous year and down 28.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Northern Africa peaked at 37.7% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 17.9%, in 2024.

That places Northern Africa 28th out of 31 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population (%) in Northern Africa, 2003 to 2024.
Year % Change
2003 37.7%
2004 33.3% -11.7%
2005 34.9% +4.8%
2006 32.5% -6.7%
2007 32.9% +1.2%
2008 26.9% -18.3%
2009 27.6% +2.5%
2010 27.3% -1.0%
2011 24.3% -11.1%
2012 26.3% +8.4%
2013 24.9% -5.4%
2014 24.9% +0.1%
2015 24.4% -2.4%
2016 23.6% -3.2%
2017 18.8% -20.1%
2018 20.6% +9.1%
2019 21.8% +6.0%
2020 24.4% +12.0%
2021 25.8% +5.8%
2022 24.0% -7.2%
2023 20.9% -12.6%
2024 17.9% -14.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 32.3% 26.9% 37.7% 7
2010s 23.7% 18.8% 27.3% 10
2020s 22.6% 17.9% 25.8% 5

Countries ranked near Northern Africa

  1. 25 Cameroon 55.5% compare
  2. 26 Tunisia 54.9% compare
  3. 27 Montenegro 54.3% compare
  4. 28 Burundi 53.1% compare
  5. 29 Armenia 52.2% compare
  6. 30 Switzerland 51.9% compare
  7. 31 Sierra Leone 51.1% compare

See the full ranking of 195 places →

More infrastructure data for Northern Africa

All data for Northern Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Northern Africa?
Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in Northern Africa was 17.9% 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 Northern Africa?
The highest recorded value was 37.7% in 2003.
What is the lowest unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population recorded in Northern Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 17.9% in 2024.
How does Northern Africa rank for unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population?
Northern Africa ranks 28th out of 31 groups with data for 2024.
Is unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population rising or falling in Northern Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 28.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Northern Africa 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 Northern Africa. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://infrastructure.statizoid.com/stat/unsentenced-detainees-as-a-proportion-of-overall-prison-population-percent/northern-africa/

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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