There were 46,998 adult prisoners in Australia as at 30 June 2025, up 6% (2,595 prisoners) from 44,403 in the previous year.
The adult imprisonment rate on 30 June 2025 was 216 persons per 100,000 adult population, up from 208 persons on 30 June 2024. This was the highest imprisonment rate since 2019.
From 30 June 2024 to 30 June 2025:
- unsentenced prisoners increased by 10% (1,814) to 19,850, while sentenced prisoners increased by 3% (770) to 27,051
- male prisoners increased by 5% (2,202) to 43,169, while female prisoners increased by 12% (399) to 3,831
- prisoners who had experienced prior adult imprisonment increased by 5% (1,361) to 28,040. The proportion of prisoners with known prior adult imprisonment remained consistent at 60%.
Most serious offence/charge
Data on offences presented in this commentary are based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Offence Classification (ANZSOC), 2011.
As at 30 June 2025, the most serious offence/charges with the highest number of prisoners were:
- acts intended to cause injury with 13,663 prisoners (29%)
- sexual assault and related offences with 7,764 prisoners (17%)
- illicit drug offences with 5,209 prisoners (11%).
(a) For a definition of most serious offence/charge, see Methodology, Most serious offence/charge section.
From 30 June 2024 to 30 June 2025, the largest numerical changes by most serious offence/charge were:
- acts intended to cause injury, up 1,348 (11%) to 13,663
- sexual assault and related offences, up 412 (6%) to 7,764
- prohibited and regulated weapons and explosives offences, up 360 (41%) to 1,232.
Over the last decade, the number of prisoners with a most serious offence/charge of prohibited and regulated weapons/explosives offences has more than doubled from 562 in 2016 to 1,232 in 2025.
Sex
As at 30 June 2025, males accounted for 92% of all adult prisoners.
From 30 June 2024 to 30 June 2025, male prisoners increased by 5% (2,202) to 43,169. The most common serious/offence charges for male prisoners were acts intended to cause injury (29% or 12,457) and sexual assault and related offences (18% or 7,649).
Female prisoners increased by 12% (399) to 3,831. The most common serious/offence charges for female prisoners were acts intended to cause injury (32% or 1,207) and illicit drug offences (15% or 582).
The imprisonment rate for:
- males was 404 per 100,000 adult male population, up from 391 in the previous year
- females was 35 per 100,000 adult female population, up from 32 in the previous year.
Age
As at 30 June 2025, the median age was:
- 36.6 years for all prisoners
- 36.7 years for males
- 35.2 years for females
- highest at 44.1 years for sexual assault and related offences
- lowest at 30.6 years for robbery, extortion, and related offences.
Country of birth
As at 30 June 2025, more than four in every five prisoners were born in Australia (83% or 38,882). Prisoners born overseas accounted for 14% (6,541 prisoners).
The most common countries of birth for prisoners born overseas were:
- New Zealand (2% of total prisoners or 1,054)
- The United Kingdom (1% or 551)
- Vietnam (1% or 457).
Legal status
From 30 June 2024 to 30 June 2025, sentenced prisoners increased by 3% (770) to 27,051, while unsentenced prisoners increased by 10% (1,814) to 19,850.
The proportion of unsentenced prisoners has increased almost every year over the last decade, rising from 31% of total prisoners in 2016 to 42% in 2025.
For sentenced prisoners, the largest numerical changes by most serious offence between 30 June 2024 and 30 June 2025 were:
- acts intended to cause injury, up 299 (6%) to 5,642
- sexual assault and related offences, up 219 (4%) to 5,396
- offences against justice, up 171 (7%) to 2,583.
For unsentenced prisoners, the largest numerical changes by most serious charge over the same time period were:
- acts intended to cause injury, up 1,037 (15%) to 8,013
- prohibited and regulated weapons and explosives offences, up 304 (62%) to 795
- sexual assault and related offences, up 191 (9%) to 2,366.