U.S. prisons - number of prisoners 2021

Around 1.2 million people were imprisoned in the United States in 2021. This is a decrease from the previous year, when 1.22 million people were in prison, and is likely due to the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Number of prisoners under jurisdiction of federal or state correctional authorities from 1990 to 2021 (in 1,000s)

Characteristic	Number of prisoners in thousands
2021	1,204.32
2020	1,221.16
2019	1,430.17
2018	1,464.39
2017	1,489.19
2016	1,508.13
2015	1,526.6
2014	1,562.32
2013	1,576.95
2012	1,570.4
2011	1,598.97
2010	1,613.8
2009	1,615.49
2008	1,608.28
2007	1,596.84
2006	1,568.67
2005	1,525.91
2004	1,497.1
2003	1,468.6
2002	1,440.14
2001	1,404.03
2000	1,394.23
1990	773.92

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Release date

December 2022

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Region

United States

Survey time period

1990 to 2021

Supplementary notes

U.S. total includes federal prisoners not distributed by state and prison system.

For years ending December 31.

Data includes inmates held in nonsecure privately operated community corrections facilities and juveniles held in contract facilities.

Total estimate for 2018 includes imputed counts for Oklahoma and Oregon, which did not submit 2018 data to National Prisoner Statistics program. Total estimate for 2017 includes imputed counts for New Mexico and North Dakota, which did not submit 2017 data to National Prisoner Statistics program.

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