Einar H. Dyvik
Research expert covering Nordics and global data for society, economy, and politics
Get in touch with us nowIncarceration rates in selected countries 2024
As of January 2024, El Salvador had the highest prisoner rate worldwide, with over 1,000 prisoners per 100,000 of the national population. Cuba, Rwanda, Turkmenistan, and American Samoa, rounded out the top five countries with the highest rate of incarceration.
Prisoners in the United States
The United States is home to the largest number of prisoners worldwide. Roughly 1.8 million people were incarcerated in the U.S. at the end of 2023. In China, the estimated prison population totaled to 1.69 million people that year. Other nations had far fewer prisoners.
The largest share of the U.S. prisoners in federal correctional facilities were of African-American origin. As of 2020, there were 345,500 black, non-Hispanic prisoners, compared to 327,300 white, non-hispanic inmates. The U.S. states with the largest number of prisoners in 2022 were Texas, California and Florida.
Over 160,000 prisoners in state facilities were sentenced for rape or sexual assault, which was the most common cause of imprisonment. Second most common were murder, followed by aggravated or simple assault.
Homicides in El Salvador
El Salvador is not only the country with the highest prison rate worldwide, but also the country with the highest murder rate, reaching over 50 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2023. A high number of the countries with the highest homicide rate are located in Latin America.Prisoners in the United States
The United States is home to the largest number of prisoners worldwide. Roughly 1.8 million people were incarcerated in the U.S. at the end of 2023. In China, the estimated prison population totaled to 1.69 million people that year. Other nations had far fewer prisoners.
The largest share of the U.S. prisoners in federal correctional facilities were of African-American origin. As of 2020, there were 345,500 black, non-Hispanic prisoners, compared to 327,300 white, non-hispanic inmates. The U.S. states with the largest number of prisoners in 2022 were Texas, California and Florida.
Over 160,000 prisoners in state facilities were sentenced for rape or sexual assault, which was the most common cause of imprisonment. Second most common were murder, followed by aggravated or simple assault.
