Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in France
France: Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees was 31.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in France, 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 France stood at 31.5%.
That represents a change of up 19.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in France peaked at 35.7% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 25.0%, in 2010.
That places France 70th 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 France, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 33.9% | — |
| 2005 | 35.7% | +5.3% |
| 2010 | 25.0% | -30.0% |
| 2015 | 26.3% | +5.2% |
| 2020 | 34.0% | +29.3% |
| 2025 | 31.5% | -7.4% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 31.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 26.6%, 1.2× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- France's 31.5% 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 | 34.8% | 33.9% | 35.7% | 2 |
| 2010s | 25.6% | 25.0% | 26.3% | 2 |
| 2020s | 32.8% | 31.5% | 34.0% | 2 |
Countries ranked near France
More social development data for France
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 788,419 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 166 (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 166 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0115 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 France?
- Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in France was 31.5% 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 France?
- The highest recorded value was 35.7% in 2005.
- What is the lowest share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.0% in 2010.
- How does France rank for share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees?
- France ranks 70th out of 150 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this France 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.