Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in India
India: Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees was 73.5% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in India, 2000–2023
Source: Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in India stood at 73.5%.
The figure is down 3.4% on the previous year and up 9.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in India peaked at 76.1% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 65.1%, in 2010.
India ranks 4th of 150 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in India, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 71.2% | — |
| 2005 | 66.2% | -7.0% |
| 2010 | 65.1% | -1.7% |
| 2015 | 67.2% | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 76.1% | +13.2% |
| 2023 | 73.5% | -3.4% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 73.5% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 40.2%, 1.8× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 68.7% | 66.2% | 71.2% | 2 |
| 2010s | 66.2% | 65.1% | 67.2% | 2 |
| 2020s | 74.8% | 73.5% | 76.1% | 2 |
Countries ranked near India
More social development data for India
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 238,643 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 42,610 (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 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 42,610 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0002 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 India?
- Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in India was 73.5% in 2023, 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 76.1% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 65.1% in 2010.
- How does India rank for share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees?
- India ranks 4th out of 150 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India 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.