Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Malta
Malta: Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees was 41.6% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Malta, 2001–2024
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 Malta is 41.6%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.
The figure is up 83.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Malta peaked at 41.6% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 22.7%, in 2015.
That places Malta 43rd 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 Malta, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 30.7% | — |
| 2005 | 32.2% | +4.9% |
| 2010 | 39.0% | +21.1% |
| 2015 | 22.7% | -41.8% |
| 2020 | 30.1% | +32.6% |
| 2024 | 41.6% | +38.2% |
Malta compared with similar countries
- Malta's 41.6% is above the median for high income countries, which is 26.6%, 1.6× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Malta's 41.6% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 37.2%, 1.1× the median. (10 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 31.5% | 30.7% | 32.2% | 2 |
| 2010s | 30.9% | 22.7% | 39.0% | 2 |
| 2020s | 35.9% | 30.1% | 41.6% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Malta
More social development data for Malta
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 8,306 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 11 (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 11 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0143 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 Malta?
- Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Malta was 41.6% 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 Malta?
- The highest recorded value was 41.6% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees recorded in Malta?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.7% in 2015.
- How does Malta rank for share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees?
- Malta ranks 43rd out of 150 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees rising or falling in Malta?
- Over the last ten years it is up 83.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malta 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 6 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Pre-trial detainees and remand prisoners as a percentage of the total prison population.