Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Mozambique
Mozambique: Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees was 28.1% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Mozambique, 1999–2024
Source: Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Mozambique recorded 28.1% for share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
That represents a change of down 13.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Mozambique peaked at 72.9% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 28.1%, in 2023.
Mozambique ranks 80th of 150 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Mozambique, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 72.9% | — |
| 2008 | 28.9% | -60.4% |
| 2015 | 32.5% | +12.5% |
| 2023 | 28.1% | -13.5% |
| 2024 | 28.1% | +0.0% |
Mozambique compared with similar countries
- Mozambique's 28.1% is below the median for low income countries, which is 42.7%, 66% of the median. (12 countries reporting)
- Mozambique's 28.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 34.0%, 83% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 72.9% | 72.9% | 72.9% | 1 |
| 2000s | 28.9% | 28.9% | 28.9% | 1 |
| 2010s | 32.5% | 32.5% | 32.5% | 1 |
| 2020s | 28.1% | 28.1% | 28.1% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Mozambique
More social development data for Mozambique
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 5,105 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 119 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 5 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 5 (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 119 (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 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Mozambique?
- Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Mozambique was 28.1% 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 Mozambique?
- The highest recorded value was 72.9% in 1999.
- What is the lowest share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees recorded in Mozambique?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.1% in 2023.
- How does Mozambique rank for share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees?
- Mozambique ranks 80th out of 150 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees rising or falling in Mozambique?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Mozambique 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 — 5 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.