Prison capacity and number of persons held in Netherlands
Netherlands: Prison capacity and number of persons held was 12,614 Number in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
12,614 Number
Change on year
up 1.3%
World rank
11th
of 46 countries
All-time high
17,668 Number
in 2009
All-time low
11,613 Number
in 2019
Years of data
15
2009–2024
Prison capacity and number of persons held in Netherlands, 2009–2024
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Number.
Analysis
Netherlands recorded 12,614 Number for prison capacity and number of persons held in 2024.
The figure is up 1.3% on the previous year and down 14.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison capacity and number of persons held in Netherlands peaked at 17,668 Number in 2009 and was at its lowest, 11,613 Number, in 2019.
That places Netherlands 11th out of 46 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Prison capacity and number of persons held in Netherlands, year by year
| Year | Number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 17,668 Number | — |
| 2010 | 16,033 Number | -9.3% |
| 2011 | 15,509 Number | -3.3% |
| 2012 | 15,731 Number | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 15,283 Number | -2.8% |
| 2014 | 14,665 Number | -4.0% |
| 2015 | 14,299 Number | -2.5% |
| 2017 | 12,075 Number | -15.6% |
| 2018 | 12,376 Number | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 11,613 Number | -6.2% |
| 2020 | 12,096 Number | +4.2% |
| 2021 | 12,103 Number | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 12,469 Number | +3.0% |
| 2023 | 12,447 Number | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 12,614 Number | +1.3% |
Netherlands compared with similar countries
- Netherlands's 12,614 Number is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7,404 Number, 1.7× the median. (35 countries reporting)
- Netherlands's 12,614 Number is above the median for high income countries, which is 8,040 Number, 1.6× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 17,668 Number | 17,668 Number | 17,668 Number | 1 |
| 2010s | 14,176 Number | 11,613 Number | 16,033 Number | 9 |
| 2020s | 12,346 Number | 12,096 Number | 12,614 Number | 5 |
Countries ranked near Netherlands
More urban development data for Netherlands
- Population in the largest city 6.9% (2025)
- Population density 534.41 people per sq. km of land area (2024)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 8.59 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 2.22 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.1225 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 0.5314 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 65.1 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 1.19 million (2025)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 99.6% (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison capacity and number of persons held in Netherlands?
- Prison capacity and number of persons held in Netherlands was 12,614 Number in 2024, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest prison capacity and number of persons held recorded in Netherlands?
- The highest recorded value was 17,668 Number in 2009.
- What is the lowest prison capacity and number of persons held recorded in Netherlands?
- The lowest recorded value was 11,613 Number in 2019.
- How does Netherlands rank for prison capacity and number of persons held?
- Netherlands ranks 11th out of 46 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prison capacity and number of persons held rising or falling in Netherlands?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Netherlands data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Prison capacity and number of persons held. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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