Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in United States
United States: Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees was 25.5% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in United States, 2000–2023
Source: Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
United States recorded 25.5% for share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in 2023. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
That represents a change of up 25.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in United States peaked at 25.5% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 18.1%, in 2000.
United States ranks 89th of 150 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in United States, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 18.1% | — |
| 2005 | 21.1% | +16.6% |
| 2010 | 20.2% | -4.3% |
| 2015 | 20.3% | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 25.5% | +25.6% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 25.5% is below the median for high income countries, which is 26.6%, 96% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 19.6% | 18.1% | 21.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 20.2% | 20.2% | 20.3% | 2 |
| 2020s | 25.5% | 25.5% | 25.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near United States
More social development data for United States
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 457,647 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 3,667 (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 3,667 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0013 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 United States?
- Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in United States was 25.5% in 2023, 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 25.5% in 2023.
- What is the lowest share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.1% in 2000.
- How does United States rank for share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees?
- United States ranks 89th out of 150 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States 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.