Countries With the Highest Pre-trial Detainee Shares
Every country with a figure for pre-trial detainee share, ranked from highest to lowest. The top three are Haiti (83.6%), Bangladesh (75.6%) and India (73.5%). The middle country of the 182 has 31.3%.
What this measures
Unsentenced detainees as a share of the prison population, in % of prisoners. Source: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. For this measure, higher is worse.
Prisoners who have not been sentenced, as a share of everyone held. It measures how long justice takes, not how much crime there is. A country can imprison few people and hold most of them for years without trial. The site has no prison population rate, because the only series that compares countries is a private collection, not UN data.
The full ranking
Each country’s latest figure, from 2011–2024. The year beside each value says when it was measured.
| Rank | Country | Pre-trial detainee share | Year | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Haiti | 83.6% | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 2 | Bangladesh | 75.6% | 2022 | South Asia |
| 3 | India | 73.5% | 2023 | South Asia |
| 4 | Congo, Dem. Rep. | 70% | 2022 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 5 | Gabon | 70% | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 6 | St. Vincent and the Grenadines | 69.9% | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 7 | Pakistan | 69% | 2024 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 8 | Nigeria | 66.8% | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 9 | Sri Lanka | 66.2% | 2024 | South Asia |
| 10 | Philippines | 65.2% | 2022 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 11 | Paraguay | 63.9% | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 12 | Faroe Islands | 63.6% | 2020 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 13 | Venezuela, RB | 62.5% | 2020 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 14 | Trinidad and Tobago | 62.3% | 2020 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 15 | St. Lucia | 62.1% | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 16 | Albania | 62% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 17 | Dominican Republic | 62% | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 18 | Niger | 62% | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 19 | Grenada | 61% | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 20 | St. Kitts and Nevis | 60.6% | 2022 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 21 | Liberia | 60.5% | 2021 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 22 | Togo | 60% | 2021 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 23 | Benin | 59.9% | 2021 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 24 | Yemen, Rep. | 59% | 2017 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 25 | Bolivia | 58.7% | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 26 | Barbados | 57.9% | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 27 | Dominica | 55.9% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 28 | Gambia, The | 55.6% | 2021 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 29 | Guinea | 55.5% | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 30 | Guinea-Bissau | 55.5% | 2017 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 31 | Cameroon | 55.5% | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 32 | Tunisia | 54.9% | 2021 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 33 | Montenegro | 54.3% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 34 | Guam | 54.3% | 2022 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 35 | Burundi | 53.1% | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 36 | Nepal | 53% | 2022 | South Asia |
| 37 | Armenia | 52.2% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 38 | Switzerland | 51.9% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 39 | Sierra Leone | 51.1% | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 40 | Mauritania | 50% | 2022 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 41 | Canada | 49.9% | 2023 | North America |
| 42 | St. Martin (French part) | 49.3% | 2011 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 43 | Honduras | 49.2% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 44 | Angola | 48.5% | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 45 | Luxembourg | 48.3% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 46 | Senegal | 48% | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 47 | West Bank and Gaza | 47.7% | 2024 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 48 | Uganda | 47.2% | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 49 | Mauritius | 46.1% | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 50 | Lebanon | 43.4% | 2023 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 51 | Papua New Guinea | 42.9% | 2023 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 52 | Iceland | 42.6% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 53 | Croatia | 42.4% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 54 | New Zealand | 42.3% | 2024 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 55 | Monaco | 41.9% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 56 | Kenya | 41% | 2022 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 57 | Hong Kong SAR, China | 40.6% | 2023 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 58 | Australia | 39.9% | 2024 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 59 | Slovenia | 39.8% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 60 | Madagascar | 39.3% | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 61 | Jamaica | 39.2% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 62 | Argentina | 38.8% | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 63 | Guyana | 38.7% | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 64 | United Arab Emirates | 38.2% | 2016 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 65 | Antigua and Barbuda | 38.2% | 2022 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 66 | Malta | 38.2% | 2024 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 67 | Peru | 38% | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 68 | South Africa | 38% | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 69 | Andorra | 37.3% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 70 | Jordan | 36.9% | 2019 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 71 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 36.6% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 72 | Chile | 36.5% | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 73 | Mexico | 36.3% | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 74 | Djibouti | 35.8% | 2018 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 75 | Kosovo | 35.2% | 2020 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 76 | Panama | 35.2% | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 77 | Korea, Rep. | 35% | 2024 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 78 | Ukraine | 34.9% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 79 | Belize | 34.7% | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 80 | Ecuador | 34.6% | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 81 | Naoero | 34.2% | 2023 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 82 | Cote d'Ivoire | 33.7% | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 83 | Tonga | 33% | 2022 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 84 | Sao Tome and Principe | 32.8% | 2018 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 85 | Solomon Islands | 32.7% | 2024 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 86 | Bahamas, The | 32.7% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 87 | Malaysia | 32.6% | 2024 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 88 | Vanuatu | 32.3% | 2021 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 89 | Seychelles | 31.6% | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 90 | Tanzania | 31.4% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 91 | Cabo Verde | 31.3% | 2018 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 92 | Afghanistan | 31.3% | 2014 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 93 | Burkina Faso | 29% | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 94 | Libya | 29% | 2023 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 95 | Latvia | 28.6% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 96 | Guatemala | 28.3% | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 97 | Mozambique | 27.9% | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 98 | Finland | 27.4% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 99 | Brazil | 27.3% | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 100 | Netherlands | 27.1% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 101 | Aruba | 27% | 2022 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 102 | Germany | 27% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 103 | Sweden | 27% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 104 | United States | 26.7% | 2023 | North America |
| 105 | Cambodia | 26.6% | 2024 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 106 | El Salvador | 26% | 2019 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 107 | France | 25.8% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 108 | Israel | 25.8% | 2016 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 109 | Cayman Islands | 25.7% | 2016 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 110 | Kyrgyz Republic | 25.6% | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 111 | Greece | 25.5% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 112 | Iran, Islamic Rep. | 25.1% | 2014 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 113 | Eswatini | 24.5% | 2022 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 114 | Cyprus | 24.4% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 115 | Denmark | 23.9% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 116 | Timor-Leste | 23.8% | 2017 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 117 | Costa Rica | 23.7% | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 118 | Belgium | 23.6% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 119 | Qatar | 23.6% | 2019 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 120 | Zimbabwe | 23.5% | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 121 | Samoa | 23.2% | 2019 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 122 | Botswana | 22.5% | 2021 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 123 | Norway | 22.4% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 124 | Myanmar | 22% | 2020 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 125 | Portugal | 21.7% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 126 | Colombia | 21.6% | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 127 | Serbia | 21.5% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 128 | Indonesia | 21.3% | 2024 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 129 | Azerbaijan | 20.7% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 130 | Hungary | 20.7% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 131 | Greenland | 20.6% | 2020 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 132 | French Polynesia | 20.4% | 2020 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 133 | Sudan | 20.4% | 2014 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 134 | Kazakhstan | 20.3% | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 135 | Isle of Man | 20.2% | 2021 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 136 | Estonia | 20.2% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 137 | Saudi Arabia | 20% | 2019 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 138 | Fiji | 19.9% | 2021 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 139 | Austria | 19.6% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 140 | Lesotho | 19.5% | 2016 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 141 | Suriname | 19.4% | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 142 | Ireland | 19.3% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 143 | Georgia | 19.3% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 144 | Mongolia | 18.9% | 2024 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 145 | Puerto Rico (US) | 18.8% | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 146 | Zambia | 18.1% | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 147 | Spain | 17.7% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 148 | Malawi | 17.6% | 2020 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 149 | Macao SAR, China | 17.6% | 2024 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 150 | Moldova | 17% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 151 | Italy | 16.9% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 152 | Japan | 15.5% | 2024 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 153 | Russian Federation | 15.4% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 154 | Kuwait | 14.6% | 2021 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 155 | Turkiye | 14.4% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 156 | Liechtenstein | 14.3% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 157 | Nicaragua | 14.3% | 2018 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 158 | Bhutan | 14.2% | 2019 | South Asia |
| 159 | North Macedonia | 14% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 160 | Bahrain | 13.8% | 2022 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 161 | Singapore | 13.1% | 2024 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 162 | Lithuania | 13% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 163 | Slovak Republic | 13% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 164 | Bermuda | 12.6% | 2019 | North America |
| 165 | American Samoa | 11.9% | 2017 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 166 | Viet Nam | 11.5% | 2022 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 167 | Poland | 10.9% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 168 | Ghana | 10.5% | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 169 | Morocco | 10.5% | 2024 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 170 | Egypt, Arab Rep. | 9.9% | 2016 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 171 | Romania | 9.22% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 172 | Belarus | 9.17% | 2018 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 173 | Rwanda | 9.01% | 2020 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 174 | Thailand | 8.94% | 2024 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 175 | Bulgaria | 8.79% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 176 | Czechia | 8.21% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 177 | Brunei Darussalam | 7.08% | 2016 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 178 | Uruguay | 6.29% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 179 | Kiribati | 5.4% | 2016 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 180 | Gibraltar | 3.88% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 181 | Namibia | 3.16% | 2016 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 182 | Algeria | 0.3% | 2024 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
More on pre-trial detainee share
- Countries With the Lowest Pre-trial Detainee Shares
- Pre-trial detainee share by country: trend over time and what it goes with
Related rankings
- Countries With the Highest Corruption Perceptions Index
- Countries With the Highest Political Rights (FH)
- Countries With the Highest Civil Liberties (FH)
- Countries With the Highest Trust in Government
- Countries With the Highest Refugees Originating
- Countries With the Highest Electoral Democracy
- Countries With the Highest Liberal Democracy
- Countries With the Highest Participatory Democracy
A ranking describes countries, not the people in them, and a high or low place does not by itself say why. All country rankings.