Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in South Africa
South Africa: Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees was 37.3% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in South Africa, 2000–2025
Source: Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 37.3% for share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in 2025. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.
The figure is up 37.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in South Africa peaked at 37.3% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 27.1%, in 2015.
That places South Africa 52nd 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 South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 33.4% | — |
| 2005 | 29.4% | -12.0% |
| 2010 | 29.9% | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 27.1% | -9.4% |
| 2020 | 33.4% | +23.2% |
| 2025 | 37.3% | +11.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 31.4% | 29.4% | 33.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 28.5% | 27.1% | 29.9% | 2 |
| 2020s | 35.3% | 33.4% | 37.3% | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More social development data for South Africa
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 55,177 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1,319 (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 1,319 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0009 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 South Africa?
- Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in South Africa was 37.3% 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 37.3% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.1% in 2015.
- How does South Africa rank for share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees?
- South Africa ranks 52nd out of 150 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 37.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa 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.