Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees was 18.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Zimbabwe, 2000–2025
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 Zimbabwe stood at 18.1%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Zimbabwe peaked at 29.7% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 17.1%, in 2015.
That places Zimbabwe 127th out of 150 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 27.9% | — |
| 2005 | 29.7% | +6.5% |
| 2010 | 27.6% | -7.1% |
| 2015 | 17.1% | -38.0% |
| 2019 | 18.6% | +8.8% |
| 2025 | 18.1% | -2.7% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 18.1% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 40.2%, 45% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 18.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 34.0%, 53% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 28.8% | 27.9% | 29.7% | 2 |
| 2010s | 21.1% | 17.1% | 27.6% | 3 |
| 2020s | 18.1% | 18.1% | 18.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
More social development data for Zimbabwe
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 8,570 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 6,632 (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 0.0004 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 6,632 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0005 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 Zimbabwe?
- Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Zimbabwe was 18.1% 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 Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 29.7% in 2005.
- What is the lowest share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.1% in 2015.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees?
- Zimbabwe ranks 127th out of 150 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zimbabwe 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.