Site Network:Prison Policy Initiative|Prisoners of the Census

Section IV: Global Comparisons

Crime and incarceration around the world:

Incarceration

  • Number of prisoners per 100,000 population in the United States574: 700
  • Number of prisoners per 100,000 population in Russia575: 665
  • Number of prisoners per 100,000 population in Mexico576: 150
  • Number of prisoners per 100,000 population in Canada577: 105
  • Number of prisoners per 100,000 population in Demark578: 60
  • Number of prisoners per 100,000 population in Finland579: 50
  • Number of prisoners per 100,000 population in Iceland580: 30
  • Number of prisoners per 100,000 population in Norway581: 60
  • Number of prisoners per 100,000 population in Sweden582: 65
  • Number of prisoners per 100,000 population in England and Wales583: 125
  • Number of prisoners per 100,000 population in Ireland584: 80
  • Number of prisoners per 100,000 population in Italy585: 95
  • Number of prisoners per 100,000 population in France586: 80
  • Number of prisoners per 100,000 population in Germany587: 95
  • Number of prisoners per 100,000 population in Portugal588: 130
  • Number of prisoners per 100,000 population in Estonia589: 330
  • Number of prisoners per 100,000 population in Latvia590: 355
  • Number of prisoners per 100,000 population in Japan591: 45
  • Number of prisoners per 100,000 population in Saudi Arabia592: 45
  • Number of prisoners per 100,000 population in China593: 110
  • Number of prisoners per 100,000 population in Australia594: 110

This page is an excerpt from The Prison Index: Taking the Pulse of the Crime Control Industry (2003) by Peter Wagner, published by the Western Prison Project and the Prison Policy Initiative..