Lyla Lindsey
Australia has 116 custodial correctional facilities across the country. On 30 June 2022, there were around 40,600 adults in custody, with the number rising to 46,081 by the March quarter of 2025. The national imprisonment rate in Australia has been increasing, with the latest figures from 2024 showing a rate of 208.2 prisoners per 100,000 adults, up 2.9% from the previous year. Victoria had the lowest imprisonment rate at 107.6 prisoners per 100,000 adults. People in prison in Australia experience higher rates of homelessness, unemployment, mental health issues, chronic physical diseases, and substance abuse than the general population. The most common offences committed by prisoners include acts intended to cause injury, sexual assault, and illicit drug offences. The number of female prisoners in Australia has been fluctuating, with a 47% increase between 2009 and 2019. Additionally, there is a disproportionately high number of Indigenous Australians in prison, with nearly 1 in 3 prisoners identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | March 2025 |
| Total number of prisoners | 46,081 |
| Change from December 2024 | Up 4% (1,819 people) |
| Change from March 2024 | Up 6% (2,776 people) |
| Number of unsentenced prisoners | 19,119 |
| Change in number of unsentenced prisoners from December 2024 | Up 8% (1,345 people) |
| Number of people serving community-based corrections (CBC) orders | 81,779 |
| Change in number of people serving CBC orders from December 2024 | Down 1% (1,053 people) |
| Percentage of prisoners born in Australia | 83% (36,756 people) |
| Percentage of prisoners born overseas | 14% (6,202 people) |
| Number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners | 16,876 |
| Percentage of all prisoners who are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander | 37% |
| Imprisonment rate per 100,000 adults in Victoria | 107.6 prisoners |
| Imprisonment rate per 100,000 adults nationally | 208.2 prisoners |
| Percentage of male prisoners | 93% |
| Percentage of female prisoners in New South Wales who are Indigenous | 40% |
| Percentage of all prisoners who are female | 10% |
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What You'll Learn
Imprisonment rates by state
Australia's imprisonment rate increased from 304 to 340 prisoners per 100,000 adults between 30 June 2023 and 30 June 2024. During this period, the total number of prisoners increased by 16% to 7,814. However, the total number of prisoners in Australia decreased by 8% to 5,918 from 30 June 2023 to 30 June 2024, according to another source. The imprisonment rate decreased from 121 to 108 prisoners per 100,000 adults during this time frame.
Victoria had the lowest imprisonment rate in Australia at 107.6 prisoners per 100,000 adults as of June 2024. The state's imprisonment rate decreased by 11.0% between 2023 and 2024, while the national rate increased by 2.9%.
The imprisonment rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults increased from 3,605 to 4,364 prisoners per 100,000 between 30 June 2023 and 30 June 2024. During this period, the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners rose by 22% to 3,507. As of March 2025, there were 16,876 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners, accounting for 37% of all persons in custody. The imprisonment rate for this demographic was 2,559 prisoners per 100,000 adults.
As of March 2025, there were 46,081 persons in custody in Australia, with 19,119 unsentenced prisoners and 81,779 individuals serving community-based corrections orders.
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The number of unsentenced prisoners
As of March 2025, there were 19,119 unsentenced prisoners in Australia, accounting for 41.5% of all prisoners in custody. This is an increase of 8% (1,345 persons) from the December quarter of 2024.
The high number of unsentenced prisoners has raised concerns about the disruption to individuals' housing, education, employment, and medical treatment. Dan Nicholson, the executive director of criminal law at Victoria Legal Aid, highlights that short periods in prison can have detrimental effects on people's lives without providing any meaningful rehabilitation or reintegration support.
Furthermore, there are concerns about the over-incarceration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, who account for 37% of all persons in custody. The imprisonment rate for this group is 2,559 persons per 100,000 of the adult Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, highlighting the need for a serious conversation about the incarceration of this community for "petty offences".
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The gender split of prisoners
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, as of March 2025, there were 46,081 people in prison in Australia. This figure represents a 4% increase from the previous quarter and a 6% increase from the same quarter in 2024.
While the overall prison population in Australia is on the rise, the gender split of prisoners shows a more nuanced picture. In 2024, the imprisonment rate per 100,000 adults for males and females differed across different states and territories. For example, in Victoria, which had the lowest imprisonment rate in the country, there were 107.6 prisoners per 100,000 adults. During the same period, the national imprisonment rate was 208.2 per 100,000 adults.
Breaking down the gender split further, in 2024, the imprisonment rate for males increased by 5% to 12,092, while the rate for females also increased by 5% to 857. However, these numbers fluctuate over time, as evidenced by the decrease in male and female prisoners in 2023, where male prisoners decreased by 8% to 5,631, and female prisoners decreased by 7% to 279.
Indigenous status also plays a significant role in the gender split of prisoners. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners accounted for 37% of all persons in custody as of March 2025. The imprisonment rate for Indigenous males was 4,653 per 100,000 adult Indigenous male population, while for Indigenous females, it was 511 per 100,000 adult Indigenous female population. These rates highlight the overrepresentation of Indigenous Australians in the prison system, particularly among the male population.
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Indigenous Australians in prison
As of March 2025, there were 46,081 prisoners in Australia, up 4% from the December quarter in 2024. Of these, 37% or 16,876 were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners. This equates to an imprisonment rate of 2,559 per 100,000 of the adult Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population. The imprisonment rate for males was 4,653 per 100,000, and for females, it was 511 per 100,000.
Indigenous Australians are over-represented in prisons across the country. In 2016, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were 12.5 times more likely to be in prison than non-Indigenous people. The rate for Indigenous women was even higher, at 21.2 times that of non-Indigenous women. This over-representation has been attributed to various factors, including historical, social, and economic disadvantages. For example, Indigenous Australians have experienced dispossession of their land, a lack of access to economic resources and adequate education, and adverse health situations.
The high rate of Indigenous incarceration has led to a concerning number of Indigenous deaths in custody. To address this issue, multiple resources have been dedicated to reducing the over-representation of Indigenous Australians in the prison system. Efforts have been made to reform laws and legal frameworks, and to consider the broader context that contributes to the disproportionate incarceration rate.
While the national imprisonment rate increased by 2.9% from 2023 to 2024, Victoria's rate decreased by 11% during the same period. In June 2024, Victoria had the lowest imprisonment rate in the country, at 107.6 prisoners per 100,000 adults.
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Prisoner health and welfare
As of March 2025, there were 46,081 prisoners in Australia, with 40,967 male prisoners and 3,432 female prisoners. The number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners was 16,876, accounting for 37% of all prisoners.
The NPHDC data reveals that a significant proportion of prisoners have a history of mental health conditions, with about 40% of prison entrants reporting a previous diagnosis. Additionally, 21% of prison entrants reported a history of self-harm, with a higher proportion of women (31%) compared to men (20%). The data also highlights the overrepresentation of First Nations people in the prison system, who made up 32% of the prison population in 2022, despite only constituting 3.8% of the total Australian population.
Improving the health and welfare of prisoners is crucial not just for the individuals but also for the community at large. People leaving prison often require support in the form of employment, housing, healthcare, and other services to maintain and enhance their health and well-being. Addressing these issues can help reduce the cycle of prison and community re-entry experienced by many individuals.
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Frequently asked questions
As of the March quarter of 2025, there were 46,081 people in jail in Australia.
The prison population in Australia has been increasing. Between the December quarter of 2024 and the March quarter of 2025, the number of prisoners increased by 4% (1,819 people).
The imprisonment rate in Australia as of 2024 was 208.2 prisoners per 100,000 adults. This varies by state, with Victoria having the lowest rate at 107.6 prisoners per 100,000 adults.
As of March 2025, there were 16,876 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners in Australia, accounting for 37% of all prisoners.
As of 2024, there were 12,092 male prisoners and 857 female prisoners in Australia.
