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).
