Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Libya
Libya: Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees was 29.0% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Libya, 2004–2023
Source: Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Libya recorded 29.0% for share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
That represents a change of down 67.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Libya peaked at 89.4% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 29.0%, in 2023.
That places Libya 77th out of 150 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Libya, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 56.8% | — |
| 2007 | 50.1% | -11.8% |
| 2010 | 47.3% | -5.6% |
| 2013 | 89.4% | +89.0% |
| 2023 | 29.0% | -67.6% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 29.0% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 31.7%, 91% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Libya's 29.0% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 37.2%, 78% of the median. (10 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 53.5% | 50.1% | 56.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 68.3% | 47.3% | 89.4% | 2 |
| 2020s | 29.0% | 29.0% | 29.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Libya
- 74 Saint Kitts and Nevis 30.5% compare
- 75 Cayman Islands 29.6% compare
- 76 Netherlands 29.2% compare
- 77 Burkina Faso 29.0% compare
- 79 Sweden 28.3% compare
- 80 Jersey 28.1% compare
- 80 Mozambique 28.1% compare
More social development data for Libya
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 552,523 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 17,161 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 7 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 7 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0023 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 17,161 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0741 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 Libya?
- Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Libya was 29.0% 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 Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 89.4% in 2013.
- What is the lowest share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.0% in 2023.
- How does Libya rank for share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees?
- Libya ranks 77th out of 150 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 67.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Libya 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.