Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Japan
Japan: Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees was 15.2% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Japan, 2000–2024
Source: Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Japan stood at 15.2%.
That represents a change of up 38.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Japan peaked at 18.1% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 10.9%, in 2010.
That places Japan 134th out of 150 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Japan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 18.1% | — |
| 2005 | 13.5% | -25.4% |
| 2010 | 10.9% | -19.3% |
| 2015 | 11.0% | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 13.0% | +18.2% |
| 2024 | 15.2% | +16.9% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 15.2% is below the median for high income countries, which is 26.6%, 57% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Japan's 15.2% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 23.8%, 64% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 15.8% | 13.5% | 18.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 10.9% | 10.9% | 11.0% | 2 |
| 2020s | 14.1% | 13.0% | 15.2% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More social development data for Japan
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 42,450 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 56 (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 56 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0003 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 Japan?
- Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Japan was 15.2% 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 18.1% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.9% in 2010.
- How does Japan rank for share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees?
- Japan ranks 134th out of 150 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 38.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Japan 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.