Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Belgium
Belgium: Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees was 32.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Belgium, 2000–2025
Source: Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Belgium stood at 32.6%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Belgium peaked at 37.9% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 31.7%, in 2015.
That places Belgium 67th out of 150 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Belgium, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 34.8% | — |
| 2005 | 37.9% | +8.9% |
| 2010 | 35.1% | -7.4% |
| 2015 | 31.7% | -9.7% |
| 2020 | 37.1% | +17.0% |
| 2024 | 32.6% | -12.1% |
| 2025 | 32.6% | +0.0% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 32.6% is above the median for high income countries, which is 26.6%, 1.2× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 32.6% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 24.9%, 1.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 36.3% | 34.8% | 37.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 33.4% | 31.7% | 35.1% | 2 |
| 2020s | 34.1% | 32.6% | 37.1% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More social development data for Belgium
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 186,393 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 113 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 113 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0156 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Belgium?
- Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Belgium was 32.6% in 2025, according to Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 37.9% in 2005.
- What is the lowest share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.7% in 2015.
- How does Belgium rank for share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees?
- Belgium ranks 67th out of 150 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Pre-trial detainees and remand prisoners as a percentage of the total prison population.