Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Eswatini
Eswatini: Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees was 24.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Eswatini, 2002–2025
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 Eswatini stood at 24.5%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 16.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Eswatini peaked at 49.6% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 21.0%, in 2020.
Eswatini ranks 92nd of 150 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Eswatini, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 49.6% | — |
| 2005 | 42.8% | -13.7% |
| 2009 | 27.5% | -35.7% |
| 2020 | 21.0% | -23.6% |
| 2022 | 24.5% | +16.7% |
| 2025 | 24.5% | +0.0% |
Eswatini compared with similar countries
- Eswatini's 24.5% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 40.2%, 61% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
- Eswatini's 24.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 34.0%, 72% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 40.0% | 27.5% | 49.6% | 3 |
| 2020s | 23.3% | 21.0% | 24.5% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Eswatini
- 89 Russia 25.5% compare
- 89 United States 25.5% compare
- 91 Israel 25.2% compare
- 92 Seychelles 24.5% compare
- 94 Azerbaijan 24.3% compare
- 94 Mongolia 24.3% compare
- 94 Portugal 24.3% compare
More social development data for Eswatini
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1,414 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 220 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 7 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 7 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0002 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 220 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0011 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 Eswatini?
- Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Eswatini was 24.5% 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 Eswatini?
- The highest recorded value was 49.6% in 2002.
- What is the lowest share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees recorded in Eswatini?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.0% in 2020.
- How does Eswatini rank for share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees?
- Eswatini ranks 92nd out of 150 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees rising or falling in Eswatini?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Eswatini 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.