World Prisons Populations

[Bald Bouncer]

Half of the world's prison population of about nine million is held in the US, China or Russia.

Prison rates in the US are the world's highest, at 724 people per 100,000. In Russia the rate is 581.

At 145 per 100,000, the imprisonment rate of England and Wales is at about the midpoint worldwide.

Many of the lowest rates are in developing countries, but overcrowding can be a serious problem. Kenyan prisons have an occupancy level of 343.7%

Country	Prison population	Population per 100,000	Jail occupancy level %	Un-sentenced prisoners %	Women prisoners %
US	2,193,798	737	107.6	21.2	8.9
CHINA	1,548,498	118	N/A	N/A	4.6
RUSSIA	874,161	615	79.5	16.9	6.8
BRAZIL	371,482	193	150.9	33.1	5.4
INDIA	332,112	30	139	70.1	3.7
MEXICO	214,450	196	133.9	43.2	5
UKRAINE	162,602	350	101.3	19.5	6.1
SOUTH AFRICA	158,501	334	138.6	27.5	2.1
POLAND	89,546	235	124.4	16.8	3
ENGLAND/WALES	80,002	148	112.7	16.4	5.5
JAPAN	79,052	62	105.9	14.7	5.9
KENYA	47,036	130	284.3	45.6	42
TURKEY	65,458	91	77.4	47.7	3.3
NIGERIA	40,444	30	101.5	64.3	1.9
AUSTRALIA	25,790	125	105.9	21.6	7.1
SCOTLAND	6,872	134	107.5	21	4.4
N IRELAND	1,375	79	91.5	37.4	2.2

SOURCE: International Centre for Prison Studies

England and Wales have the highest per capita prison population in Western Europe - 143 people per 100,000.

Scotland, where 135 people out of every 100,000 are in jail, is also above average. Northern Ireland, however, is among those countries with the lowest rates of imprisonment.

Italy's prisons are the most crowded, with an occupancy level of 131.5%. Belgium has the most un-sentenced prisoners and the Netherlands has the most women prisoners.

To see how the UK compares to the rest of the world, click on the tab at the top of this page

Country	Prison population	Population per 100,000	Jail occupancy level %	Un-sentenced prisoners %	Women prisoners %
ENGLAND/WALES	80,002	148	112.7	16.4	5.5
GERMANY	77,166	94	96.5	17.1	5.3
SPAIN	63,991	144	129.5	23.5	8
ITALY	61,721	104	131.5	35.9	4.8
FRANCE	52,009	85	109.9	31.5	3.6
NETHERLANDS	21,013	128	95.6	30	8.7
PORTUGAL	12,765	120	103.7	23.8	7
BELGIUM	9,597	91	110.6	37.2	4.2
AUSTRIA	8,766	105	107.2	22.6	5.3
SWEDEN	7,450	82	102.7	20.3	5.2
SCOTLAND	6,872	134	107.5	21	4.4
SWITZERLAND	6,111	83	93.4	39	5.4
FINLAND	3,954	75	112.4	11.6	6.3
NORWAY	3,048	66	92.1	15.9	4.8
N IRELAND	1,375	79	91.5	37.4	2.2

SOURCE: International Centre for Prison Studies

Found this quite interesting so thought I would share

Source

[Ganty]

I read somewhere that if all American atheists die, they'd lose 95% of their leading scientists.

If all Christians were to die, they'd lose 80% of the prison population...

Will try and find the source.

[Bald Bouncer]

I read somewhere that if all American atheists die, they'd lose 95% of their leading scientists.

If all Christians were to die, they'd lose 80% of the prison population...

Will try and find the source.

Sounds about right