Prisoners in Australia

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Contains annual national information on prisoners in custody at 30 June, including demographic information, imprisonment rates, most serious offence.

Reference period
2021
Released
9/12/2021

Key statistics

From 30 June 2020 to 30 June 2021, Australian prisoners increased by 5% (1,910) to 42,970.  The imprisonment rate also increased by 5% from 205 to 214 prisoners per 100,000 adult population.

There have been various government restrictions implemented across states and territories as a result of COVID-19 since March 2020. These restrictions may have had an impact on criminal activity and the justice system.

From 30 June 2020 to 30 June 2021:

  • Sentenced prisoners decreased by 1% (169) to 27,680. Conversely, unsentenced prisoners increased by 16% (2,085) to 15,182
  • Male prisoners increased by 5% (1,772) to 39,680.  Female prisoners also increased by 5% (148) to 3,292

Prisoners with prior adult imprisonment increased by 5% (1,310) to 25,723.  Prisoners without prior adult imprisonment increased by 4% (599) to 17,227

There were increases in total prisoners in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory; and decreases in Western Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory.

Prisoner characteristics, Australia

Sex

(a) For a definition of most serious offence/charge, see Methodology, Most serious offence/charge section.

From 30 June 2020 to 30 June 2021, male prisoners increased by 5% (1,772) to 39,680:

  • Acts intended to cause injury, up 14% (1,204)
  • Sexual assault and related offences, up 6% (361)
  • Illicit drug offences, up 4% (198)

Female prisoners increased by 5% (148) to 3,292:

  • Acts intended to cause injury, up 16% (99)
  • Unlawful entry with intent, up 14% (39)

Age

As at 30 June 2021, the median age was:

  • 35.6 years for all prisoners
  • 35.7 years for males
  • 34.9 years for females
  • Highest at 44.5 years for Sexual assault and related offences
  • Lowest at 30.2 years for Robbery, extortion and related offences

Country of birth

As at 30 June 2021, four in every five prisoners were born in Australia (82% or 35,275 prisoners).  Prisoners born overseas accounted for 6,757 prisoners.

The most common countries of birth for prisoners born overseas were:

  • New Zealand (3% of total prisoners or 1,155)
  • Vietnam (2% or 712)
  • The United Kingdom (1% or 606)

From 30 June 2020 to 30 June 2021, the number of prisoners born overseas with a most serious offence or charge of Illicit drug offences decreased by 5% (107).  The proportion of prisoners born overseas with these offences or charges decreased from 31% to 29%.

Legal Status

(a) For a definition of most serious offence/charge, see Methodology, Most serious offence/charge section.

From 30 June 2020 to 30 June 2021, sentenced prisoners decreased by 1% (169) to 27,680.  There were both increases and decreases by most serious offence:

  • Acts intended to cause injury, up 6% (285)
  • Unlawful entry with intent, down 8% (240)
  • Dangerous or negligent acts endangering persons, down 9% (104)
  • Sexual assault and related offences, up 2% (103)
  • Theft and related offences, down 10% (83)

Over the same period, unsentenced prisoners increased by 16% (2,085) to 15,182:

  • Acts intended to cause injury, up 23% (1,018)
  • Sexual assault and related offences, up 21% (288)
  • Illicit drug offences, up 10% (206)
  • Dangerous or negligent acts endangering persons, up 34% (167)

The proportion of prisoners who were unsentenced increased from 32% to 35%.

Most serious offence/charge

(a) For a definition of most serious offence/charge, see Methodology, Most serious offence/charge section.

From 30 June 2020 to 30 June 2021, prisoners increased by 5% (1,910) to 42,970:

  • Acts intended to cause injury, up 14% (1,308)
  • Sexual assault and related offences, up 7% (389)
  • Illicit drug offences, up 3% (201)
  • Traffic and vehicle regulatory offences, up 25% (96)

Over the same period, the largest decreases were for:

  • Unlawful entry with intent, down 4% (169)
  • Robbery, extortion and related offences, down 3% (104)

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners

(a) For a definition of most serious offence/charge, see Methodology, Most serious offence/charge section.

From 30 June 2020 to 30 June 2021, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners increased by 8% (947) to 13,039:

  • Acts intended to cause injury, up 17% (685)
  • Sexual assault and related offences, up 9% (105)

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment rate increased by 5% from 2,294 to 2,412 prisoners per 100,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adult population.

At 30 June 2021:

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners made up 30% of all prisoners
  • Male prisoners made up 90% (11,781) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners
  • Female prisoners made up 10% (1,260)
  • The median age was 32.8 years
  • 78% had experienced prior adult imprisonment

State/territory

New South Wales

Victoria

Queensland

South Australia

Western Australia

Tasmania

Northern Territory

Australian Capital Territory

Federal Offender characteristics

From 30 June 2020 to 30 June 2021, federal prisoners nationally decreased by 2% (27) to 1,466.

At 30 June 2021, compared to the total prisoner population, federal prisoners:

  • Had a higher proportion of prisoners in New South Wales (48% compared to 31%) and Victoria (28% compared to 17%)
  • Had a lower proportion of prisoners in Queensland (10% compared to 23%) and Western Australia (10% compared to 16%)

On average federal prisoners were older than the total prisoner population with a median age of 39 years compared to 36 years.

Data downloads

Prisoners in Australia data cubes

Data files

Previous catalogue number

This release previously used catalogue number 4517.0.

Post-release changes

13 April 2022: New information has been released on statistics about federal offenders (prisoners and parolees) under the authority of corrective services agencies at 30 June 2021.

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