The latest longitudinal statistics on prison populations and flows into and out of prison. Includes information about the demographics of people in prison, the time they spend there, their sentences and offences.
Collection
Prison population: statistics and projections
Data and analysis about the people in Scotland's prisons
Introduction
This page lists:
- Current and historic Accredited Official Statistics on the prison population
- Discussion papers providing further insight into the patterns and trends uncovered across statistical sources
- Projections of the prison population performed before and after the COVID pandemic which began in 2020
- Analysis of deaths in custody, aligned with National Records of Scotland's categorisation of cause of death
See a full list of statistical collections from Justice Analytical Services.
Discussion papers
Long-term drivers: A summary of published data largely using annual statistics on the average daily prison population from the Scottish Government accredited official statistics up to and including 2023-24. A range of other crime and justice statistics produced by the Scottish Government are also drawn upon to provide wider context.
Short custodial disposals: A paper discussing how short sentences are applied in Scotland in relation to people in custody, and the overall sentences those people serve
Statistics
Accredited official statistics from 2019 onwards are based on a revised methodology. This methodology is described, alongside the measurements and analytical factors used across all publications from this source, in our technical manual.
The data produced in this way are made available for users to perform bespoke analysis through the Interactive Analysis Tool, available at the link below
Accredited official statistics from the previous source relied on daily snapshots, which were affected by a technical issue leading to their discontinuation. Publications from 2019-20 onwards include retrospective statistics to compare the new source with previous publications.
Official statistics drawn from daily administrative data are published as part of the Safer communities and justice statistics monthly reports
- Scottish Prison Population Statistics 2023-24
- Scottish Prison Population Statistics 2022-23
- Scottish Prison Population Statistics 2021-22
- Scottish Prison Population Statistics, 2020-21
- Scottish Prison Population Statistics: Legal Status, 2019-20
- Scottish prison population: statistics 2019 to 2020
- Prison statistics and population projections Scotland: 2013-14
- Prison statistics and population projections Scotland: 2011-12
- Statistical bulletin - Crime and Justice series: Prison statistics Scotland 2010-11
- Statistical Bulletin Crime and Justice Series: Prison Statistics Scotland: 2009-10
Technical documentation
Accredited official statistics from 2019 onwards are based on a revised methodology. This methodology is described, alongside the measurements and analytical factors used across all publications from this source, in our technical manual.
Post-COVID pandemic short term prison projections
Quarterly projections of the population in Scotland’s prisons
- Scottish prison population projections: October 2025
- Scottish prison population projections: July 2025
- Scottish prison population projections: April 2025
- Scottish prison population projections: December 2024
- Scottish prison population projections: September 2024
- Scottish Prison Population Projections: June 2024 Edition
- Scottish Prison Population Projections: February 2024 Edition
- Prison population projections: November 2023 edition
- Scottish prison population projections
Pre-covid pandemic projections
Scottish prison population projections from 2008 to 2015 based on the previous statistical source.
Deaths in Prison Custody in Scotland
Analysis and overview of data on deaths in prison custody in Scotland.
Contact
Contact: Justice_Analysts@gov.scot