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These Countries Have the Most People in Prison

Alcatraz prison corridor with rusted beige bars on cells marked by numbers like 402 in San Francisco, USA. Historical decay evident in peeling paint.

These Countries Have the Most People in Prison

Published: by David Beren

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
The United Kingdom only has 120 prisons across the area.
©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.
Pakistan has a large number of prisoners and a small number of prisons.
©Millenius/Shutterstock.com
  • Prison population: 87,712
  • Number of prisons: 116

23. Rwanda

Flag with original proportions. Flag of the Rwanda
The Rwanda prison system is busy but small.
©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
Cuba has 200 prisons across the entire island.
©U__Photo/Shutterstock.com
  • Prison population: 90,000
  • Number of prisons: 200

21. Algeria

Algeria has many high-security prisons available.
©Millenius/Shutterstock.com
  • Prison population: 94,749
  • Number of prisons: 162

20. Peru

A steel mesh against the background of the flag Peru
Peru’s prisons are overcrowded, and disease easily spreads.
©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
Prisons in Myanmar suffer from overcrowding.
©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.
Colombian prisons are known for their violence.
©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.
The prison system in Morocco is believed to be quite challenging.
©Stefan Pinter/Shutterstock.com
  • Prison population: 103,302
  • Number of prisons: 78

16. Ethiopia

Flag with original proportions. Flag of the Ethiopia
There is severe overcrowding in Ethiopian prisons.
©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
Overcrowding is the biggest challenge in Argentina.
©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.
Egyptian prisoners are believed to have difficult access to legal counsel.
©Millenius/Shutterstock.com
  • Prison population: 120,000
  • Number of prisons: 78

13. Vietnam

barbed wire fence in vietnam prison
Vietnamese prisons have recently been under fire for prisoner treatment.
©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
South African prisons are overcrowded and understaffed.
©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.
Living conditions in Philippines prisons are believed to be poor.
©MDV Edwards/Shutterstock.com
  • Prison population: 180,826
  • Number of prisons: 440

10. Iran

Iranian prisons have often been used to silence political opposition.
©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
Mexican prisons are said to be understaffed for the number of prisoners.
©Andy.LIU/Shutterstock.com
  • Prison population: 232,730
  • Number of prisons: 278

8. Indonesia

Prison tower with barbed wires in Jakarta Indonesia Rutan lapas
Indonesian prisoners are often subject to tough conditions.
©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.
Thailand’s prisons are said to be operating well above capacity.
©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.
Turkish prisons are believed to have libraries and arts and crafts courses.
©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
Russian prisons are notoriously some of the most difficult on the planet.
©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
The Indian prison system is overcrowded, with many prisoners awaiting trial.
©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.
Brazil has the third-largest prison system in the world.
©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
The second-highest prison population in the world belongs to China.
©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.
The United States has the largest prison population in the world.
©RuslanKphoto/Shutterstock.com
  • Prison population: 1,767,200
  • Number of prisons: 4,455

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The image featured at the top of this post is ©Aerial Film Studio/Shutterstock.com.

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