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

United Kingdom (Scotland): Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population was 25.9% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
25.9%
Change on year
down 5.2%
World rank
95th
of 164 countries
All-time high
28.5%
in 2021
All-time low
17.5%
in 2015
Years of data
22
2003–2024

Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in United Kingdom (Scotland), 2003–2024

01020302003201320242003: 18.7 %2004: 18.1 %2005: 18.2 %2006: 21.9 %2007: 21.2 %2008: 21.4 %2009: 19.1 %2010: 18.8 %2011: 19.6 %2012: 18.2 %2013: 18.7 %2014: 19.7 %2015: 17.5 %2016: 18.2 %2017: 18.1 %2018: 19.1 %2019: 19 %2020: 26.1 %2021: 28.5 %2022: 28.3 %2023: 27.3 %2024: 25.9 %

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

Analysis

United Kingdom (Scotland) recorded 25.9% for unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.2% on the previous year and up 31.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in United Kingdom (Scotland) peaked at 28.5% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 17.5%, in 2015.

That places United Kingdom (Scotland) 95th 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 22 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population (%) in United Kingdom (Scotland), 2003 to 2024.
Year % Change
2003 18.7%
2004 18.1% -3.6%
2005 18.2% +1.0%
2006 21.9% +20.0%
2007 21.2% -3.2%
2008 21.4% +1.4%
2009 19.1% -10.9%
2010 18.8% -1.8%
2011 19.6% +4.3%
2012 18.2% -6.8%
2013 18.7% +2.4%
2014 19.7% +5.7%
2015 17.5% -11.5%
2016 18.2% +4.4%
2017 18.1% -0.4%
2018 19.1% +5.1%
2019 19.0% -0.4%
2020 26.1% +37.1%
2021 28.5% +9.4%
2022 28.3% -0.6%
2023 27.3% -3.5%
2024 25.9% -5.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 19.8% 18.1% 21.9% 7
2010s 18.7% 17.5% 19.7% 10
2020s 27.2% 25.9% 28.5% 5

Countries ranked near United Kingdom (Scotland)

  1. 92 Cambodia 26.6% compare
  2. 93 Iraq (Central Iraq) 26.5% compare
  3. 94 El Salvador 26.0% compare
  4. 96 France 25.8% compare
  5. 97 Israel 25.8% compare
  6. 98 Kyrgyzstan 25.6% compare

See the full ranking of 195 places →

More infrastructure data for United Kingdom (Scotland)

All data for United Kingdom (Scotland) →

Frequently asked questions

What is unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in United Kingdom (Scotland)?
Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population in United Kingdom (Scotland) was 25.9% 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 United Kingdom (Scotland)?
The highest recorded value was 28.5% in 2021.
What is the lowest unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population recorded in United Kingdom (Scotland)?
The lowest recorded value was 17.5% in 2015.
How does United Kingdom (Scotland) rank for unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population?
United Kingdom (Scotland) ranks 95th out of 164 countries with data for 2024.
Is unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population rising or falling in United Kingdom (Scotland)?
Over the last ten years it is up 31.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this United Kingdom (Scotland) 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 (Scotland). Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://infrastructure.statizoid.com/stat/unsentenced-detainees-as-a-proportion-of-overall-prison-population-percent/united-kingdom-scotland/

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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