For better or worse, crime is still a real problem in almost every country around the world. Whether it’s a crime not involving harm to anyone or one that directly affects many people, a crime is still a crime. Because so much crime still exists, so do prisons for those convicted in a court of law.
While it is no surprise that the United States has the largest prisoner count, there may be a surprise or two on this list. We’ll rank these countries in descending order based on the data set provided by PrisonStudies.org, which ranked each country based on its total prison population.
25. United Kingdom: England & Wales
![An aerial view of a HMP prison taken from a helicopter in the United Kingdom. The old grey Her Majesties Prison has fences and barbed wire preventing the escape of the jails inmates](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/shutterstock-1704084094-huge-licensed-scaled-1200x800.jpg)
©Britain from Above/Shutterstock.com
- Prison population: 87,177
- Number of prisons: 120
24. Pakistan
![A fence with barbed wire against the background of a colorful sky and a flagpole with the flag of Pakistan protects the state's border from illegal migration.](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/shutterstock-2076733594-huge-licensed-scaled-1200x906.jpg)
©Millenius/Shutterstock.com
- Prison population: 87,712
- Number of prisons: 116
23. Rwanda
![Flag with original proportions. Flag of the Rwanda](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/shutterstock-749185645-huge-licensed-scaled-1200x799.jpg)
©Greens and Blues/Shutterstock.com
- Prison population: 89,034
- Number of prisons: 14
22. Cuba
![Flag with original proportions. Closeup of grunge flag of Cuba](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/shutterstock-749190217-huge-licensed-scaled-1200x799.jpg)
©U__Photo/Shutterstock.com
- Prison population: 90,000
- Number of prisons: 200
21. Algeria
![](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/shutterstock-2080711639-huge-licensed-scaled-1200x906.jpg)
©Millenius/Shutterstock.com
- Prison population: 94,749
- Number of prisons: 162
20. Peru
![A steel mesh against the background of the flag Peru](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/shutterstock-2381847925-huge-licensed-scaled-1200x800.jpg)
©Aleksandrkozak/Shutterstock.com
- Prison population: 94,911
- Number of prisons: 68
19. Myanmar
![The Myanmar flag hangs in the cloudy sky outside the prison's barbed wire. waving in the sky](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/shutterstock-2269914917-huge-licensed-scaled-1200x900.jpg)
©Andy.LIU/Shutterstock.com
- Prison population: 100,324
- Number of prisons: 96
18. Colombia
![A fence with barbed wire against the background of a colorful sky and a flagpole with the flag of Colombia protects the state's border from illegal migration.](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/shutterstock-2076733561-huge-licensed-scaled-1200x906.jpg)
©Millenius/Shutterstock.com
- Prison population: 102,414
- Number of prisons: 125
17. Morocco
![Close-up of barbed wire. In the background, out of focus, a Moroccan village.](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/shutterstock-2366300633-huge-licensed-scaled-1200x800.jpg)
©Stefan Pinter/Shutterstock.com
- Prison population: 103,302
- Number of prisons: 78
16. Ethiopia
![Flag with original proportions. Flag of the Ethiopia](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/shutterstock-749190106-huge-licensed-scaled-1200x811.jpg)
©Greens and Blues/Shutterstock.com
- Prison population: 110,000
- Number of prisons: 126
15. Argentina
![Flag of Argentina and police handcuffs. Crime and offenses in country Concept](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/shutterstock-2444540289-huge-licensed-scaled-1200x792.jpg)
©GagoDesign/Shutterstock.com
- Prison population: 117,810
- Number of prisons: 330
14. Egypt
![A fence with barbed wire against the background of a colorful sky and a flagpole with the flag of Egypt protects the state's border from illegal migration.](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/shutterstock-2076733624-huge-licensed-scaled-1200x906.jpg)
©Millenius/Shutterstock.com
- Prison population: 120,000
- Number of prisons: 78
13. Vietnam
![barbed wire fence in vietnam prison](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/shutterstock-1057427876-huge-licensed-scaled-1200x800.jpg)
©Rozhkova Irina/Shutterstock.com
- Prison population: 133,986
- Number of prisons: 54
12. South Africa
![Prison on the Robben Island, South Africa, where the President of South Africa Nelson Mandela was imprisoned. UNESCO World heritage](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/shutterstock-154206062-huge-licensed-scaled-1200x801.jpg)
©Anton_Ivanov/Shutterstock.com
- Prison population: 157,056
- Number of prisons: 235
11. Philippines
![Aerial of Camp Sampaguita, a medium security prison. Part of New Bilibid Prison, Muntinlupa, Philippines.](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/shutterstock-1757773838-huge-licensed-scaled-1200x799.jpg)
©MDV Edwards/Shutterstock.com
- Prison population: 180,826
- Number of prisons: 440
10. Iran
![](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/shutterstock-749189701-huge-licensed-scaled.jpg)
©U__Photo/Shutterstock.com
- Prison population: 189,000
- Number of prisons: 253
9. Mexico
![The Mexican flag hangs in the cloudy sky outside the prison's barbed wire. waving in the sky](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/shutterstock-2202130981-huge-licensed-scaled-1200x900.jpg)
©Andy.LIU/Shutterstock.com
- Prison population: 232,730
- Number of prisons: 278
8. Indonesia
![Prison tower with barbed wires in Jakarta Indonesia Rutan lapas](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/shutterstock-2301963581-huge-licensed-scaled-1200x800.jpg)
©hasanbaban/Shutterstock.com
- Prison population: 263,940
- Number of prisons: 526
7. Thailand
![Exterior view of Sinop Fortress Prison,a stonemasonry prison is situated in inside of the Sinop Fortress in Sinop, Turkey.](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/shutterstock-791918581-huge-licensed-scaled-1200x800.jpg)
©epic_images/Shutterstock.com
- Prison population: 274,277
- Number of prisons: 143
6. Turkey
![Exterior view of Sinop Fortress Prison,a stonemasonry prison is situated in inside of the Sinop Fortress in Sinop, Turkey.](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/shutterstock-791918581-huge-licensed-scaled-1200x800.jpg)
©epic_images/Shutterstock.com
- Prison population: 337,760
- Number of prisons: 396
5. Russian Federation
![The concept of European and US sanctions pressure on the Russian Federation government. flag of the Russian Federation in barbed wire, sanctions and aggression of Russia. Russian prison](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/shutterstock-2146303019-huge-licensed-scaled-1200x799.jpg)
©Melnikov Dmitriy/Shutterstock.com
- Prison population: 433,006
- Number of prisons: 872
4. India
![The Indian flag hangs in the cloudy sky outside the prison's barbed wire. waving in the sky](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/shutterstock-2269879223-huge-licensed-scaled-1200x900.jpg)
©Andy.LIU/Shutterstock.com
- Prison population: 573,220
- Number of prisons: 1,330
3. Brazil
![Tower of the Penitentiary in the city of Avaré, located in the state of São Paulo, Brazil.](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/shutterstock-2261697737-huge-licensed-scaled-1200x800.jpg)
©Andrea Cirillo Lopes/Shutterstock.com
- Prison population: 839,672
- Number of prisons: 1,384
2. China
![The Chinese flag hangs in the cloudy sky outside the prison's barbed wire. waving in the sky](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/shutterstock-2269760967-huge-licensed-scaled-1200x900.jpg)
©Andy.LIU/Shutterstock.com
- Prison population: 1,690,000
- Number of prisons: 683
1. United States
![Concept of political isolationism and economic slowdown in the United States of America. Flag behind barbed wire.](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/shutterstock-1874012896-huge-licensed-scaled-1200x800.jpg)
©RuslanKphoto/Shutterstock.com
- Prison population: 1,767,200
- Number of prisons: 4,455
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Aerial Film Studio/Shutterstock.com.