With approximately 1.7 million prisoners, China had by far the biggest prison population across the Asia-Pacific region in 2022. In contrast, less than one thousand people were incarcerated in Brunei and Timor-Leste, respectively.
Prison populations and total populations
The varying size of prison populations throughout Asia-Pacific can be attributed to the size of the general populations across the region's countries and territories. With a population of over 1.4 billion, China is the most populous country in the world. Despite the disparity in population size, Bhutan, which had one of the smallest prison populations in APAC in 2022, had a higher serious assault rate than other Asia-Pacific counties.
Crime rates
Apart from the general population size, there are other factors which can be taken into consideration, such as a diversity in justice systems. Therefore, a comparison of crime throughout the region can be challenging. Although China had a higher prison population, it had a lower intentional homicide rate compared to other Asia-Pacific countries and territories. New Zealand, Singapore, and Hong Kong have the lowest corruption index scores in the region, whereas countries including Bangladesh, Cambodia, and North Korea have recorded the highest scores.
Number of prisoners in the Asia-Pacific region in 2022, by country or territory
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Characteristic
Number of prisoners in thousands
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ICPR. (December 19, 2022). Number of prisoners in the Asia-Pacific region in 2022, by country or territory (in 1,000s) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved September 01, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/315613/asia-countries-with-the-most-prisoners/
ICPR. "Number of prisoners in the Asia-Pacific region in 2022, by country or territory (in 1,000s)." Chart. December 19, 2022. Statista. Accessed September 01, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/315613/asia-countries-with-the-most-prisoners/
ICPR. (2022). Number of prisoners in the Asia-Pacific region in 2022, by country or territory (in 1,000s). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: September 01, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/315613/asia-countries-with-the-most-prisoners/
ICPR. "Number of Prisoners in The Asia-pacific Region in 2022, by Country or Territory (in 1,000s)." Statista, Statista Inc., 19 Dec 2022, https://www.statista.com/statistics/315613/asia-countries-with-the-most-prisoners/
ICPR, Number of prisoners in the Asia-Pacific region in 2022, by country or territory (in 1,000s) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/315613/asia-countries-with-the-most-prisoners/ (last visited September 01, 2024)
Number of prisoners in the Asia-Pacific region in 2022, by country or territory (in 1,000s) [Graph], ICPR, December 19, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/315613/asia-countries-with-the-most-prisoners/