The United States has the largest prison population in the world, with more than 2.2 million people incarcerated as of 2019. This blog will help us to understand in which country has the largest number of prisoners. China is a distant second, with 1.6 million prisoners. But there are other countries with large prison populations as well. Here are the top 10 countries with the most prisoners.
10. Philippines
No of prisoners in Philippines: 215,000
Phillippines is 10th of the Top 10 countries with the largest number of prisoners 2021. The Philippines has the largest prison population in the world, with a total of 215,000 prisoners as of 2021. This is a significant increase from the 193,000 prisoners in 2015. The majority of prisoners in the Philippines are male (85%), and the average age of prisoners is 34 years old.
The most common type of offense committed by prisoners in the Philippines is robbery (22%), followed by drug offenses (21%), murder (12%), and rape (5%).
9. Mexico
No of prisoners in Mexico: 215,232
Mexico is 9th of the Top 10 countries with the largest number of prisoners 2021. With a prison population of over 215,232, Mexico has the dubious distinction of being the country with the third largest number of prisoners in the world. While this represents a decrease from the previous year, when the prison population was over 400,000, it is still a very high number. The vast majority of prisoners in Mexico are men (93%), and most are between the ages of 18 and 30 (60%).
The Mexican prison system is notoriously overcrowded, with an average occupancy rate of 150%. This means that prisons designed for a capacity of 10,000 inmates are often holding 15,000 or more. Overcrowding is especially severe in federal prisons, which are at nearly 200% occupancy. These conditions lead to widespread human rights abuses, as prisoners are often forced to live in unsanitary and dangerous conditions.
In addition to overcrowding, the Mexican prison system suffers from a lack of resources. Prisons often do not have enough food or clean water for inmates, and medical care is often inadequate or nonexistent. These conditions have led to multiple riots and uprisings in Mexican prisons in recent years.
8. Indonesia
No of prisoners in Indonesia: 274,043
Indonesia is 8th of the Top 10 countries with the largest number of prisoners 2021. Indonesia has the largest number of prisoners in Southeast Asia, with a total prison population of over 274,043. The majority of these prisoners are male (85%), and most are held in pre-trial detention (75%).
The Indonesian prison system is overcrowded, with an occupancy rate of 150%. This means that prisons are holding 1.5 times the number of prisoners they were designed for. This leads to poor conditions and a lack of access to basic amenities and healthcare.
Indonesia has a high rate of crime, especially drug-related offences. The death penalty is still in place for certain crimes, and this contributes to the country’s high prison population.
7. Turkey
No of prisoners in Turkey: 281,094
Turkey is 7th of the Top 10 countries with the largest number of prisoners 2021. Turkey has the highest number of prisoners in the world, with over 281,094 people behind bars. The majority of these inmates are serving time for nonviolent offenses.
The Turkish prison system is overcrowded and often dangerous. Inmates are often subject to violence from both guards and other prisoners. Conditions are unsanitary, and medical care is inadequate.
Turkey’s prison population has been growing in recent years, due in part to the government’s crackdown on dissent. Political prisoners are especially vulnerable to abuse.
Despite the challenges, there are some bright spots in the Turkish prison system. Prisoners have access to education and work opportunities, which can help reduce recidivism rates.
6. Thailand
No of prisoners in Thailand: 309,282
Thailand is 6th of the Top 10 countries with the largest number of prisoners 2021. Thailand has the largest number of prisoners in the world, with over 309,282 people behind bars. The majority of these prisoners are in for drug-related offenses, and the country has some of the toughest drug laws in the world. While Thailand does have a problem with drugs, many believe that the government’s approach to incarceration is too harsh. There are calls for reform, but for now, Thailand remains one of the most prison-heavy countries in the world.
5. Russia
No of prisoners in Russia: 475,009
Russia is 5th of the Top 10 countries with the largest number of prisoners 2021. Russia, with a population of 143 million, has the third-largest number of prisoners in the world. As of 2021, there were approximately 475,009 inmates in Russian prisons. This is equivalent to about 468 inmates per 100,000 people.
The high incarceration rate in Russia is largely attributed to the country’s “war on drugs.” In recent years, the Russian government has been cracking down on drug use and possession, leading to a large number of arrests and prison sentences. The vast majority of prisoners in Russia are serving time for drug-related offenses.
Other crimes that result in imprisonment in Russia include murder, theft, and robbery. The average prison sentence in Russia is about 3 years. However, many prisoners serve much longer sentences due to the country’s stringent laws on early release.
4. India
No of prisoners in India: 478,600
India is 4th of the Top 10 countries with the largest number of prisoners 2021. India is the second most populous country in the world with over 1.3 billion people, and it has the fourth highest number of prisoners. There are currently over four million people incarcerated in India, which is about 31 per 100,000 of the population. The vast majority of prisoners in India are male, and most are between the ages of 18 and 30. The Indian prison system is overcrowded, and conditions are often poor. Inmates typically do not have access to adequate medical care or sanitation, and violence is common.
The Indian criminal justice system is plagued by a number of problems, including a huge backlog of cases, police corruption, and a lack of resources. This means that many people who are arrested are unable to get a fair trial, and they can end up spending years in prison even if they are ultimately found innocent. There are also a large number of child prisoners in India; estimates suggest that there are over 20,000 children incarcerated in the country. Many of these children have been convicted of crimes such as begging or petty theft, and they often end up spending more time in prison than adults who have been convicted of more serious offenses.
3. Brazil
No of prisoners in Brazil: 759,518
Brazil is 3rd of the Top 10 countries with the largest number of prisoners 2021. Brazil has the third largest prison population in the world, with over 759,518 people behind bars as of 2021. That’s about one in every 190 citizens. The country’s prison population has more than doubled since 2000, largely due to tough-on-crime policies and mandatory minimum sentences that were enacted in the 1990s.
Overcrowding is a serious problem in Brazilian prisons, with an occupancy rate of nearly 200 percent. This often leads to poor conditions, violence, and the spread of disease. Inmates have staged multiple riots and mass escapes in recent years in protest of the conditions.
The Brazilian prison system is also plagued by corruption. Guards often accept bribes to smuggle drugs and other contraband into prisons, and there have been numerous reports of sexual abuse by staff.
Despite these challenges, Brazil has made some progress in recent years towards reforming its prison system. In 2016, the government approved a new law that reduces mandatory minimum sentences and gives judges more discretion in sentencing offenders. Brazil has with over 622,000 people behind bars as of 2016. The hope is that this will relieve overcrowding and help reduce recidivism rates.
2. China
No of prisoners in China: 1,710,000
China is 2nd of the Top 10 countries with the largest number of prisoners 2021. China is home to the world’s largest prison population, with over 1.7 million people behind bars. The Chinese prison system is notoriously arsh,with inmates often facing brutal conditions and lengthy sentences. Most prisoners are incarcerated for non-violent offenses, such as drug crimes or political dissent.
China’s large prison population is a reflection of the country’s strict laws and policies. Drug offenders, for example, can be sentenced to death or life in prison. China also has a history of detaining political dissidents without trial. These factors contribute to overcrowding in prisons, which can lead to poor conditions and human rights abuses.
1. United States of America
No of prisoners in Philippines: 2,094,000
United States of America is 10th of the Top 10 countries with the largest number of prisoners 2021. As of 2016, the United States of America had the highest number of prisoners in the world, with over 2.2 million people incarcerated. This is more than quadruple the number of prisoners in China, which has the next highest number of prisoners at just over 1 million. The high rate of incarceration in the United States is largely due to its policies on drug offenses; approximately half of all federal inmates are serving time for drug-related offenses.
The high rate of imprisonment in the United States has been criticized by human rights organizations as cruel and unusual punishment, as well as a violation of the Eighth Amendment to the US Constitution, which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment. In recent years, there have been calls for reform to reduce the prison population and address conditions within prisons that many believe are inhumane. However, any significant changes to sentencing laws or prison conditions would need to be passed by Congress, which has been unwilling to make such changes thus far.
Read our previous blog which is about top innovative states of India, top countries with highest external debt and so on…
Source: Countries with Most Prisoners
