Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees was 21.5% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Bulgaria, 2000–2024
Source: Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Bulgaria is 21.5%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 22.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Bulgaria peaked at 23.4% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 17.6%, in 2016.
Bulgaria ranks 111th of 150 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 20.8% | — |
| 2005 | 18.3% | -12.0% |
| 2010 | 19.6% | +7.1% |
| 2016 | 17.6% | -10.2% |
| 2020 | 23.4% | +33.0% |
| 2023 | 21.5% | -8.1% |
| 2024 | 21.5% | +0.0% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 21.5% is below the median for high income countries, which is 26.6%, 81% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 21.5% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 24.9%, 86% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 19.6% | 18.3% | 20.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 18.6% | 17.6% | 19.6% | 2 |
| 2020s | 22.1% | 21.5% | 23.4% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
More social development data for Bulgaria
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 105,596 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 533 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0001 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 533 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0164 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 Bulgaria?
- Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Bulgaria was 21.5% in 2024, 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 Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 23.4% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.6% in 2016.
- How does Bulgaria rank for share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees?
- Bulgaria ranks 111th out of 150 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Bulgaria 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.