Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Malaysia
Malaysia: Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees was 33.6% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Malaysia, 2000–2025
Source: Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Malaysia is 33.6%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 30.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Malaysia peaked at 37.5% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 25.8%, in 2015.
That places Malaysia 65th out of 150 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 29.8% | — |
| 2005 | 37.5% | +25.8% |
| 2010 | 27.3% | -27.2% |
| 2015 | 25.8% | -5.5% |
| 2018 | 26.7% | +3.5% |
| 2024 | 33.6% | +25.8% |
| 2025 | 33.6% | +0.0% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 33.6% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 31.7%, 1.1× the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 33.6% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 23.8%, 1.4× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 33.6% | 29.8% | 37.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 26.6% | 25.8% | 27.3% | 3 |
| 2020s | 33.6% | 33.6% | 33.6% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More social development data for Malaysia
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 150,164 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 2,477 (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 0.0001 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 2,477 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0042 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 Malaysia?
- Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Malaysia was 33.6% in 2025, 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 Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 37.5% in 2005.
- What is the lowest share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.8% in 2015.
- How does Malaysia rank for share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees?
- Malaysia ranks 65th out of 150 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Malaysia 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.