Countries with the Highest Prison Population Rate

About This Dataset

Countries ranked by prison population rate per 100,000 of the national population. The United States has historically had the world's highest incarceration rate among large nations, with approximately 2 million people incarcerated — more than any other country in absolute numbers.

✨ AI Insight

El Salvador's incarceration rate of 1,086 prisoners per 100,000 stands out dramatically, more than double that of the United States, which has historically led in absolute numbers. This stark difference may stem from El Salvador's ongoing struggles with gang violence and crime, prompting harsh penal policies. Meanwhile, Cuba and Rwanda, with rates of 510 and 434 respectively, reflect different socio-political contexts that influence their incarceration practices. In contrast, larger countries like China and Russia exhibit significantly lower rates, at 161 and 328 respectively, suggesting that systemic factors such as legal frameworks and societal attitudes towards crime play crucial roles in shaping prison populations.

Source: Wikipedia

Key Findings

Auto-computed highlights from this dataset

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El Salvador leads with 1,086 in 2024.

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Average value in 2024: 470 · median: 412.

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Gap in 2024: El Salvador is 6.7× larger than China.