Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Canada
Canada: Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees was 46.6% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Canada, 2001–2023
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 Canada is 46.6%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 15.3% on the previous year and up 33.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Canada peaked at 46.6% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 24.6%, in 2001.
Canada ranks 35th of 150 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Canada, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 24.6% | — |
| 2006 | 33.7% | +37.0% |
| 2011 | 35.0% | +3.9% |
| 2016 | 37.6% | +7.4% |
| 2021 | 40.4% | +7.4% |
| 2023 | 46.6% | +15.3% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 46.6% is above the median for high income countries, which is 26.6%, 1.7× the median. (62 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 29.2% | 24.6% | 33.7% | 2 |
| 2010s | 36.3% | 35.0% | 37.6% | 2 |
| 2020s | 43.5% | 40.4% | 46.6% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Canada
- 32 Montenegro 47.4% compare
- 33 Luxembourg 47.3% compare
- 34 Guatemala 47.2% compare
- 36 Uganda 45.8% compare
- 37 Antigua and Barbuda 43.3% compare
- 38 Mauritius 43.2% compare
More social development data for Canada
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 416,028 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 360 (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 360 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.01 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 Canada?
- Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Canada was 46.6% in 2023, 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 Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 46.6% in 2023.
- What is the lowest share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.6% in 2001.
- How does Canada rank for share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees?
- Canada ranks 35th out of 150 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 33.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Canada 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 6 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Pre-trial detainees and remand prisoners as a percentage of the total prison population.