Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Germany
Germany: Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees was 26.3% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Germany, 2000–2024
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 Germany is 26.3%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 46.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Germany peaked at 26.3% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 15.2%, in 2010.
That places Germany 86th out of 150 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Germany, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 22.9% | — |
| 2005 | 19.2% | -16.2% |
| 2010 | 15.2% | -20.8% |
| 2015 | 17.9% | +17.8% |
| 2020 | 20.6% | +15.1% |
| 2024 | 26.3% | +27.7% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 26.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 26.6%, 99% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Germany's 26.3% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 24.9%, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 21.0% | 19.2% | 22.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 16.5% | 15.2% | 17.9% | 2 |
| 2020s | 23.5% | 20.6% | 26.3% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More social development data for Germany
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 2.66 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 327 (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 327 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0318 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 Germany?
- Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Germany was 26.3% in 2024, 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 Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 26.3% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.2% in 2010.
- How does Germany rank for share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees?
- Germany ranks 86th out of 150 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is up 46.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Germany 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.