Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Kenya
Kenya: Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees was 42.9% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Kenya, 2001–2024
Source: Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 42.9% for share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Kenya peaked at 48.7% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 34.0%, in 2010.
That places Kenya 39th 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 Kenya, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 41.1% | — |
| 2005 | 48.7% | +18.5% |
| 2010 | 34.0% | -30.2% |
| 2015 | 43.5% | +27.9% |
| 2019 | 44.1% | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 42.9% | -2.7% |
| 2024 | 42.9% | +0.0% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 42.9% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 40.2%, 1.1× the median. (32 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 42.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 34.0%, 1.3× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 44.9% | 41.1% | 48.7% | 2 |
| 2010s | 40.5% | 34.0% | 44.1% | 3 |
| 2020s | 42.9% | 42.9% | 42.9% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More social development data for Kenya
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 617,125 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 13,325 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 4 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 4 (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 13,325 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0107 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 Kenya?
- Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Kenya was 42.9% 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 Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 48.7% in 2005.
- What is the lowest share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.0% in 2010.
- How does Kenya rank for share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees?
- Kenya ranks 39th out of 150 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Kenya 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.