Ruqayyah Snyder
Australia's prison population has been steadily increasing over the years, with an incarceration rate of 201 prisoners per 100,000 adults as of June 2022. This represents a sharp increase from previous decades, with the number of prisoners rising from 40,591 in June 2022 to 44,403 in June 2024. The prison population primarily consists of males, with a significant overrepresentation of Indigenous Australians, particularly Indigenous women, and those with mental health issues and substance abuse problems. The Northern Territory has the highest imprisonment rate in the country, with 1,106.9 prisoners per 100,000 adults.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Median age of federal prisoners | 41 years |
| Median age of total prisoner population | 37 years |
| Imprisonment rate per 100,000 adult population | 201 |
| Male prisoners | 12,092 |
| Female prisoners | 857 |
| Unsentenced prisoners | 5,709 |
| Sentenced prisoners | 7,234 |
| Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners | 4,188 |
| Age-standardised imprisonment rate per 100,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adult population | 2,122 |
| Highest imprisonment rate in Australia (Northern Territory) per 100,000 adults | 1,106.9 |
| Second-highest imprisonment rate in Australia (Western Australia) per 100,000 adults | 303.6 |
| Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons serving CBC orders per 100,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adult population | 3,323 |
| Imprisonment rate (June quarter 2024) per 100,000 adult population | 208 |
| Percentage of prisoners who are male (2017) | 91.9% |
| Percentage of prisoners who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (June 2022) | 32% |
| Percentage of prisoners with one or more chronic conditions (2022) | 52% |
| Total number of prisoners (March quarter 2025) | 46,081 |
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What You'll Learn
Imprisonment rates
The prison population in Australia is disproportionately male, with males constituting 93% of the adult prison population in 2022, despite making up only half of the general adult population. The overrepresentation of males in the prison system is a long-standing trend, with males accounting for 91.9% of prisoners in 2017 and 91% in 2016-2017.
Indigenous Australians are also significantly overrepresented in the prison system. As of June 2022, Indigenous Australians aged 18 and over made up approximately 2% of the total population, while they accounted for 32% of the adult prison population. This disparity is even more pronounced for Indigenous women, who made up 40% of the female prison population in New South Wales as of August 2022. From 2008 to 2017, the rate of incarcerated Indigenous people increased from 1.8% to 2.43% of the Indigenous population, and in 2017, they were over 15 times more likely to be imprisoned than non-Indigenous people.
The most common offences for people in Australian prisons as of 30 June 2022 were acts intended to cause injury (26%), sexual assault and related offences (16%), and illicit drug offences (14%). People in prison have higher levels of mental health problems, risky alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking, illicit drug use, chronic disease, and communicable diseases than the general population. The COVID-19 pandemic has also posed serious risks to the physical and mental health of prisoners due to their living conditions and the measures implemented to control the spread of the virus.
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Gender distribution
Australia's prison population has been increasing in number and as a proportion of the population. As of June 2022, the average daily prison population was 40,600, with an imprisonment rate of 201 per 100,000 adults. This rate increased to 202.3 per 100,000 adults in June 2023.
The imprisonment rate for men in 2022 was 378.9 per 100,000 males, while the number of imprisoned women remained comparatively low. In 2024, there were 12,092 male prisoners, compared to 857 female prisoners. The Northern Territory has the highest imprisonment rate in Australia, with 1,106.9 prisoners per 100,000 adults.
Indigenous Australians are disproportionately represented in the prison population. As of March 2025, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners accounted for 37% of all persons in custody. The imprisonment rate for Indigenous males was 4,653 per 100,000 Indigenous male adults, while for Indigenous females, it was 511 per 100,000 Indigenous female adults.
Unsentenced prisoners, those awaiting trial or sentencing, have also been increasing. In 2024, there was an 18% increase in unsentenced prisoners, rising to 5,709 individuals. This trend continued into 2025, with an 8% increase in unsentenced prisoners from the previous quarter.
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
The over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the imprisoned population is a persistent and growing problem. Between 2006 and 2016, their incarceration rates increased by 41%, and the gap between their imprisonment rates and those of non-Indigenous people widened. In 2016, the national imprisonment rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples was 2,039 per 100,000 persons, meaning that about 20 in every 1,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults were incarcerated. In comparison, the non-Indigenous rate was 163 per 100,000, or less than 2 in every 1,000 persons. Thus, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were 12.5 times more likely to be in prison than non-Indigenous people.
The high imprisonment rate among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is attributed to their historical, social, and economic disadvantage. Factors such as the loss of land, economic position, health situation, housing requirements, access to education, and the influence of alcohol and drugs have contributed to their disproportionate incarceration.
The imprisonment rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples has continued to increase in recent years. In 2024, the age-standardised imprisonment rate rose from 1,797 to 2,122 prisoners per 100,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adult population, representing a 19% increase. The number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners increased by 678 to 4,188.
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Pretrial/remand population
The pretrial/remand population rate in Australia is calculated based on the national population total. While these figures are estimates, they are based on official national data, United Nations statistics, and numbers from other recognized international authorities. The number of pretrial/remand prisoners can vary from day to day, month to month, and year to year, so the figures provide a trend rather than a complete picture.
In 2024, the imprisonment rate in Australia increased from 190 to 194 prisoners per 100,000 adults. The number of unsentenced prisoners rose by 18% to 5,709, while sentenced prisoners decreased by 4% to 7,234. This resulted in a total of 12,943 prisoners, with an overall imprisonment rate of 194 per 100,000 adults.
The previous year, in 2023, the imprisonment rate decreased from 121 to 108 prisoners per 100,000 adults. There was a 17% decrease in unsentenced prisoners, resulting in 1,998 individuals, while sentenced prisoners decreased by 3% to 3,916. This led to a total of 5,914 prisoners, with an overall imprisonment rate of 108 per 100,000 adults.
The Northern Territory has the highest imprisonment rate in Australia, with 1,106.9 prisoners per 100,000 adults. This is significantly higher than other states and territories. Western Australia has the second-highest rate, with 303.6 prisoners per 100,000 adults.
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Prison health
Australia's prison population is facing significant health challenges, with higher rates of physical and mental health issues compared to the general population. Healthcare is a critical concern for inmates, and addressing these health disparities is crucial for the well-being of prisoners and the broader community.
Prisoners in Australia have substantially more complex physical and mental health needs than the general population. They experience higher rates of chronic illnesses, infectious diseases, acquired brain injuries, and drug use. Communicable diseases are also more prevalent due to higher levels of risk-taking behaviours such as drug use and unsafe sex. Additionally, 39% of prisoners have a disability, compared to 18% in the general Australian population, with hearing loss affecting approximately 90% of Indigenous Australians in custody. Dental issues are also prominent, with nine out of ten inmates requiring dental treatment.
Mental health is a pressing concern in Australia's prisons, with significantly higher rates of mental health conditions compared to the general population. Self-harm occurs at a rate 3 to 8 times higher than in the community, and around 40% of inmates report having a diagnosed mental health disorder. However, it is estimated that 74% of prisoners may have mental health issues due to undiagnosed conditions and underreporting. Unfortunately, the typical response to mental health issues in custody is to place the prisoner in solitary confinement, which may exacerbate rather than address their mental health needs.
The Australian prison system faces challenges in meeting the healthcare needs of its inmates. There are no national standards for healthcare, and prisoners are prevented from accessing the Medicare universal healthcare system or the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). This contributes to a lack of resources and medications available within prisons. The growth in prison populations has not been met with a corresponding increase in health resources or budgets. Correctional health services struggle to address systemic issues such as health literacy and continuity of care upon release. Additionally, in some states, the responsibility for prisoner healthcare falls under the department of justice rather than the department of health, creating a disconnect in integrated service planning and delivery.
To improve prison health, St Vincent's Health Australia (SVHA) has emphasised the need for improved access to health services, addressing overcrowding, and better-coordinated care for offenders upon their release. SVHA also highlights the importance of planning for the unique health needs of a rapidly ageing prison population, as the number of prisoners aged 65 and over has increased significantly in recent years.
In conclusion, Australia's prison population faces significant health challenges, and addressing these issues is crucial for the well-being of prisoners and the community. Improving access to healthcare, tackling overcrowding, and providing continuous care can help reduce offending and create a positive impact on society as a whole.
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Frequently asked questions
As of the June quarter of 2024, there were 44,403 adults imprisoned in Australia.
The imprisonment rate increased from 167 to 201 per 100,000 adults in 2022. In the June quarter of 2024, the incarceration rate was 208 prisoners per 100,000 adult population.
The Northern Territory has the highest imprisonment rate at 1,106.9 prisoners per 100,000 adults. The next highest rate is in Western Australia, at 303.6 prisoners per 100,000 adults.
The prison population has been increasing. In June 2022, there were 40,591 people imprisoned, which increased to 44,403 in the June quarter of 2024.
In 2022, 93% of prisoners were male, and nearly 1 in 3 (32%) identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. The number of female prisoners rose by 47% between 2009 and 2019, and in 2021, they made up 7.7% of the total adult prison population.
