Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees was 51.1% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Sierra Leone, 2005–2024
Source: Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Sierra Leone stood at 51.1%.
That represents a change of down 5.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Sierra Leone peaked at 66.2% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 40.0%, in 2005.
Sierra Leone ranks 26th of 150 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 40.0% | — |
| 2009 | 49.2% | +23.0% |
| 2015 | 54.3% | +10.4% |
| 2020 | 66.2% | +21.9% |
| 2024 | 51.1% | -22.8% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 51.1% is above the median for low income countries, which is 42.7%, 1.2× the median. (12 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 51.1% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 34.0%, 1.5× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 44.6% | 40.0% | 49.2% | 2 |
| 2010s | 54.3% | 54.3% | 54.3% | 1 |
| 2020s | 58.7% | 51.1% | 66.2% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More social development data for Sierra Leone
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 8,925 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 4 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (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 0.001 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 8,925 (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 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Sierra Leone?
- Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Sierra Leone was 51.1% 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 Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 66.2% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 40.0% in 2005.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees?
- Sierra Leone ranks 26th out of 150 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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.