Number of prisoners rose 6.20% to 4,864 persons in Papua New Guinea in 2015, according to the United Nations.
Historically, number of prisoners in Papua New Guinea reached an all time high of 4,864 persons in 2015 and an all time low of 3,467 persons in 2012. When compared to Papua New Guinea's main peers, number of prisoners in Australia amounted to 36,134 persons, 173,572 persons in Indonesia, 9,121 persons in New Zealand and 135,741 persons in Philippines in 2015.
Papua New Guinea has been ranked 71st within the group of 105 countries we follow in terms of number of prisoners, 26 places above the position seen 10 years ago.
| Number of Prisoners | Unit | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
| Australia | persons | 29,317 | 29,700 | 29,106 | 29,381 | 30,775 | ||||||||||||||||
| China | persons | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | 1,623,394 | 1,646,593 | 1,656,773 | 1,641,931 | 1,680,000 | ... | |||||||
| Indonesia | persons | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | 117,863 | ... | 156,446 | 160,061 | |||||||
| Malaysia | persons | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | 38,387 | ... | 36,608 | 39,144 | ... | ||||||
| New Zealand | persons | 8,244 | 8,546 | 8,435 | 8,467 | 8,223 | ||||||||||||||||
| Papua New Guinea | persons | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | 4,268 | ... | 3,467 | ... | ||||
| Philippines | persons | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | 95,390 | 100,590 | 106,623 | 110,747 | |||||
| Singapore | persons | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | 13,428 | 13,604 | 13,164 | 12,975 | 13,334 | ||||||||
| Taiwan | persons | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | 65,311 | 64,420 | 66,106 | 65,288 | ... | |||||
| Vietnam | persons | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | 107,668 | ... | 113,018 | 130,180 | ... |
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