Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Uganda
Uganda: Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees was 45.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Uganda, 2005–2025
Source: Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Uganda stood at 45.8%. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 16.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Uganda peaked at 59.4% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 45.8%, in 2025.
Uganda ranks 36th of 150 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Uganda, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 58.0% | — |
| 2008 | 59.4% | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 54.4% | -8.4% |
| 2015 | 54.5% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 49.0% | -10.1% |
| 2025 | 45.8% | -6.5% |
Uganda compared with similar countries
- Uganda's 45.8% is above the median for low income countries, which is 42.7%, 1.1× the median. (12 countries reporting)
- Uganda's 45.8% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 34.0%, 1.3× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 58.7% | 58.0% | 59.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 54.5% | 54.4% | 54.5% | 2 |
| 2020s | 47.4% | 45.8% | 49.0% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Uganda
- 33 Luxembourg 47.3% compare
- 34 Guatemala 47.2% compare
- 35 Canada 46.6% compare
- 37 Antigua and Barbuda 43.3% compare
- 38 Mauritius 43.2% compare
- 39 Kenya 42.9% compare
- 39 Papua New Guinea 42.9% compare
More social development data for Uganda
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1.94 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 12,792 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 6 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 6 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0002 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 12,792 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0377 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 Uganda?
- Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Uganda was 45.8% 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 Uganda?
- The highest recorded value was 59.4% in 2008.
- What is the lowest share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees recorded in Uganda?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.8% in 2025.
- How does Uganda rank for share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees?
- Uganda ranks 36th out of 150 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Uganda 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.