Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Iceland
Iceland: Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees was 32.1% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Iceland, 2000–2024
Source: Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Iceland recorded 32.1% for share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in 2024. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.
The figure is up 165.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Iceland peaked at 32.1% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 7.9%, in 2010.
That places Iceland 68th 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 Iceland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 19.5% | — |
| 2005 | 15.1% | -22.6% |
| 2010 | 7.9% | -47.7% |
| 2016 | 12.1% | +53.2% |
| 2020 | 17.1% | +41.3% |
| 2024 | 32.1% | +87.7% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 32.1% is above the median for high income countries, which is 26.6%, 1.2× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 32.1% 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 | 17.3% | 15.1% | 19.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 10.0% | 7.9% | 12.1% | 2 |
| 2020s | 24.6% | 17.1% | 32.1% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
More social development data for Iceland
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 8,459 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 (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 0 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0216 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 Iceland?
- Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Iceland was 32.1% 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 Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 32.1% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.9% in 2010.
- How does Iceland rank for share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees?
- Iceland ranks 68th out of 150 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 165.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iceland 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.