Prisoner numbers up 6% in 2025

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Released
11/12/2025
Source
Prisoners in Australia, 2025
Release date and time
11/12/2025 11:30am AEDT

The number of adult prisoners in Australia rose by 6 per cent between 2024 and 2025, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Samantha Hall, ABS head of crime and justice statistics, said: ‘The number of adult prisoners rose to 46,998 in 2025. This was largely driven by a 10 per cent increase in prisoners on remand, rising by 1,814 to reach 19,850 persons. Sentenced prisoners also rose by 3 per cent to 27,051 persons.’

The percentage of adult prisoners on remand has risen over the last decade, increasing from 31 per cent in 2016 to 42 per cent in 2025.

Three in five prisoners (60 per cent) had an episode of prior adult imprisonment.

The offences with the biggest annual rise in prisoner numbers since 2024 were acts intended to cause injury (+1,348 prisoners or 11 per cent), sexual assaults (+412 prisoners or 6 per cent) and weapons/explosives offences (+360 prisoners or 41 per cent).

Further information, including state and territory data, can be found in Prisoners in Australia, 2025, available for free download from the ABS website: http://www.abs.gov.au.

Media notes

  • Prisoners in Australia, 2025 presents information on all persons in the legal custody of adult custodial corrective services agencies in each state and territory on 30 June 2025.
  • Offence refers to the most serious offence or charge as defined in the Australian and New Zealand Standard Offence Classification (ANZSOC), 2011.
  • Prisoners on remand are awaiting the outcome of their court hearing. They are referred to as unsentenced prisoners in the publication.
  • When reporting ABS data you must attribute the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or the ABS) as the source.
  • For media requests and interviews, contact the ABS Media Team via media@abs.gov.au (9am-5pm Mon-Fri).
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