Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees was 14.9% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Ethiopia, 2000–2020
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 Ethiopia is 14.9%, measured in 2020.
That represents a change of up 6.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Ethiopia peaked at 56.6% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 14.0%, in 2010.
That places Ethiopia 136th out of 150 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 56.6% | — |
| 2005 | 30.4% | -46.3% |
| 2010 | 14.0% | -53.9% |
| 2012 | 14.9% | +6.4% |
| 2020 | 14.9% | +0.0% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 14.9% is below the median for low income countries, which is 42.7%, 35% of the median. (12 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 14.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 34.0%, 44% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 43.5% | 30.4% | 56.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 14.4% | 14.0% | 14.9% | 2 |
| 2020s | 14.9% | 14.9% | 14.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More social development data for Ethiopia
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1.01 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 164,215 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 6 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 6 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0012 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 164,215 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0075 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 Ethiopia?
- Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Ethiopia was 14.9% in 2020, 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 Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 56.6% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.0% in 2010.
- How does Ethiopia rank for share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees?
- Ethiopia ranks 136th out of 150 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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.