Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Ghana
Ghana: Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees was 11.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Ghana, 2001–2025
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 Ghana is 11.4%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 32.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Ghana peaked at 28.8% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 11.4%, in 2025.
Ghana ranks 145th of 150 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Ghana, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 20.9% | — |
| 2005 | 28.8% | +37.8% |
| 2010 | 25.0% | -13.2% |
| 2015 | 16.9% | -32.4% |
| 2019 | 12.2% | -27.8% |
| 2025 | 11.4% | -6.6% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 11.4% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 40.2%, 28% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 11.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 34.0%, 34% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 24.9% | 20.9% | 28.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 18.0% | 12.2% | 25.0% | 3 |
| 2020s | 11.4% | 11.4% | 11.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
More social development data for Ghana
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 21,050 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 16,030 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0005 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 16,030 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0006 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 Ghana?
- Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Ghana was 11.4% 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 Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 28.8% in 2005.
- What is the lowest share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.4% in 2025.
- How does Ghana rank for share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees?
- Ghana ranks 145th out of 150 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ghana 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.