Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)

United Kingdom (Northern Ireland): Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population was 36.8% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
36.8%
Change on year
up 3.9%
World rank
61st
of 164 countries
All-time high
38.5%
in 2021
All-time low
23.7%
in 2016
Years of data
20
2005–2024

Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in United Kingdom (Northern Ireland), 2005–2024

0102030402005201420242005: 32.72006: 35.62007: 34.72008: 332009: 33.82010: 33.52011: 34.92012: 28.42013: 24.32014: 24.42015: 24.92016: 23.72017: 26.42018: 31.12019: 342020: 38.22021: 38.52022: 37.12023: 35.42024: 36.8

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) recorded 36.8% for unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in 2024.

That represents a change of up 3.9% on the previous year and up 50.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) peaked at 38.5% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 23.7%, in 2016.

That places United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) 61st 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 20 years of available data.

Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in United Kingdom (Northern Ireland), year by year

Annual values for Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population (%) in United Kingdom (Northern Ireland), 2005 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2005 32.7%
2006 35.6% +8.8%
2007 34.7% -2.4%
2008 33.0% -5.1%
2009 33.8% +2.5%
2010 33.5% -0.9%
2011 34.9% +4.4%
2012 28.4% -18.6%
2013 24.3% -14.4%
2014 24.4% +0.3%
2015 24.9% +2.3%
2016 23.7% -5.1%
2017 26.4% +11.7%
2018 31.1% +17.7%
2019 34.0% +9.3%
2020 38.2% +12.3%
2021 38.5% +0.8%
2022 37.1% -3.5%
2023 35.4% -4.6%
2024 36.8% +3.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 33.9% 32.7% 35.6% 5
2010s 28.6% 23.7% 34.9% 10
2020s 37.2% 35.4% 38.5% 5

Countries ranked near United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)

  1. 58 South Africa 38.0% compare
  2. 59 Andorra 37.2% compare
  3. 60 Jordan 36.9% compare
  4. 62 Bosnia and Herzegovina 36.6% compare
  5. 63 Chile 36.5% compare
  6. 64 Mexico 36.3% compare

See the full ranking of 195 places →

More infrastructure data for United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)

All data for United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) →

Frequently asked questions

What is unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)?
Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) was 36.8% 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 United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)?
The highest recorded value was 38.5% in 2021.
What is the lowest unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population recorded in United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)?
The lowest recorded value was 23.7% in 2016.
How does United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) rank for unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population?
United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) ranks 61st out of 164 countries with data for 2024.
Is unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population rising or falling in United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)?
Over the last ten years it is up 50.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) 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 United Kingdom (Northern Ireland). Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://infrastructure.statizoid.com/stat/unsentenced-detainees-as-a-proportion-of-overall-prison-population-percent/united-kingdom-northern-ireland/

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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
195 places, 3,134 data points, 2003–2024
Last refreshed