Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Gambia
Gambia: Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees was 55.6% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Gambia, 1999–2021
Source: Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Gambia recorded 55.6% for share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in 2021. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
The figure is up 21.1% on the previous year and up 85.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Gambia peaked at 55.6% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 18.5%, in 1999.
Gambia ranks 19th of 150 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Gambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 18.5% | — |
| 2009 | 30.0% | +62.2% |
| 2014 | 22.2% | -26.0% |
| 2019 | 45.9% | +106.8% |
| 2021 | 55.6% | +21.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 18.5% | 18.5% | 18.5% | 1 |
| 2000s | 30.0% | 30.0% | 30.0% | 1 |
| 2010s | 34.0% | 22.2% | 45.9% | 2 |
| 2020s | 55.6% | 55.6% | 55.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Gambia
More social development data for Gambia
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 4,108 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 6,728 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 4 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 4 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0024 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 6,728 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0015 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 Gambia?
- Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Gambia was 55.6% in 2021, 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 Gambia?
- The highest recorded value was 55.6% in 2021.
- What is the lowest share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees recorded in Gambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.5% in 1999.
- How does Gambia rank for share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees?
- Gambia ranks 19th out of 150 countries with data for 2021.
- Is share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees rising or falling in Gambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 85.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Gambia 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.