Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees was 72.4% in 2026. ▲ Rising
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Sri Lanka, 2000–2026
Source: Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2026, share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Sri Lanka stood at 72.4%. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 52.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Sri Lanka peaked at 72.4% in 2026 and was at its lowest, 47.6%, in 2015.
That places Sri Lanka 7th out of 150 countries with data for 2026, putting it in the top 10%.
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 50.2% | — |
| 2005 | 50.7% | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 51.5% | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 47.6% | -7.6% |
| 2020 | 66.4% | +39.5% |
| 2026 | 72.4% | +9.0% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 72.4% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 31.7%, 2.3× the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 50.5% | 50.2% | 50.7% | 2 |
| 2010s | 49.5% | 47.6% | 51.5% | 2 |
| 2020s | 69.4% | 66.4% | 72.4% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More social development data for Sri Lanka
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 213 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 148,369 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 3 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 3 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0068 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 148,369 (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 Sri Lanka?
- Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Sri Lanka was 72.4% in 2026, 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 72.4% in 2026.
- What is the lowest share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.6% in 2015.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees?
- Sri Lanka ranks 7th out of 150 countries with data for 2026.
- Is share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 52.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.