Prison Populations by State Ranked From 1 to 50

The United States has the second-largest prisoner population in the world after China and the largest incarceration rate. But such rates vary greatly by state.

Prison Population Study

World Population Review used data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics to determine which states have the highest imprisonment rates. The most recent data available is from 2021 and is based on the number of prisoners per 100,000 residents.

For Context

On average, the national imprisonment rate is 314 prisoners per 100,000 people. Here’s how this number stacks up across the US.

1: Massachusetts

Massachusetts has the lowest incarceration rate in the US, at 88 prisoners per 100,000 residents. Of the Bay State’s 6,148 total prisoners, 5,949 are male, and 199 are female.

2: Maine

Maine’s 113 prisoners per 100,000 people might not be as few as Massachusetts, but it’s a refreshing change of pace from the states to come. The Pine Tree State has a total of 1,577 prisoners, which equates to a 27.83% drop in prisoners between 2019 and 2021.

3: New Jersey

The Garden State has 135 prisoners for every 100,000 residents. Of the 12,506 prisoners in New Jersey, 12,052 are male and 454 are female.

4: Minnesota

For every 100,000 people living in Minnesota, 140 are in prison. As with most states, the North Star State experienced a decline in prisoners between 2019 and 2021 (-19.83%).

5: New Hampshire

152 out of every 100,000 people are incarcerated in New Hampshire. Of them, 1,979 are male and 148 are female.

6: New York

New York has an incarceration rate of 156 prisoners per 100,000 residents. Of the Empire State’s 30,338 total prisoners, 29,233 are male, and 1,105 are female.

7: Utah

Utah’s 173 prisoners per 100,000 people are divided among 5,426 males and 481 females. The Beehive State has a total of 5,907 prisoners, which equates to an 11.45% drop in prisoners between 2019 and 2021.

8: Washington

The Evergreen State has 175 prisoners for every 100,000 residents. Of the 13,674 prisoners in Washington, 12,888 are male and 786 are female.

9: Vermont

For every 100,000 people living in Vermont, 199 are in prison. The Green Mountain State experienced a decline in prisoners between 2019 and 2021 (-19.96%).

10: Rhode Island

205 out of every 100,000 people are incarcerated in Rhode Island. Of them, 2,115 are male and 123 are female.

11: North Dakota

North Dakota has an incarceration rate of 216 prisoners per 100,000 residents. Of the Flickertail State’s 1,689 total prisoners, 1,489 are male, and 200 are female.

12: Illinois

Illinois’ 228 prisoners per 100,000 people are divided among 27,165 males and 1,310 females. The Prairie State has a total of 28,475 prisoners, which equates to a 25.57% drop in prisoners between 2019 and 2021.

13: New Mexico

The Land of Enchantment has 244 prisoners for every 100,000 residents. Of the 5,154 prisoners in New Mexico, 4,635 are male and 519 are female.

14: Maryland

For every 100,000 people living in Maryland, 246 are in prison. The Free State experienced a decrease in prisoners between 2019 and 2021 (-18.61%).

15: California

261 out of every 100,000 people are incarcerated in California. Of them, 97,525 are male and 3,916 are female.

16: Iowa

Iowa has an incarceration rate of 267 prisoners per 100,000 residents. Of the Hawkeye State’s 8,562 total prisoners, 7,859 are male, and 703 are female.

17: North Carolina

North Carolina’s 268 prisoners per 100,000 people are divided among 26,871 males and 2,124 females. The Tar Heel State has a total of 28,995 prisoners, which equates to a 14.92% drop in prisoners between 2019 and 2021.

18: Colorado

The Centennial State has 270 prisoners for every 100,000 residents. Of the 15,865 prisoners in Colorado, 14,599 are male and 1,266 are female.

19: Connecticut

For every 100,000 people living in Connecticut, 272 are in prison. The Nutmeg State experienced a decrease in prisoners between 2019 and 2021 (-22.88%).

20: Nebraska

284 out of every 100,000 people are incarcerated in Nebraska. Of them, 5,200 are male and 400 are female.

21: Hawaii

Hawaii has an incarceration rate of 286 prisoners per 100,000 residents. Of the Aloha State’s 4,102 total prisoners, 3,669 are male and 433 are female.

22: Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania’s 288 prisoners per 100,000 people are divided among 35,182 males and 2,012 females. The Keystone State has a total of 37,194 prisoners, which equates to an 18.62% drop in prisoners between 2019 and 2021.

23: Kansas

The Sunflower State has 290 prisoners for every 100,000 residents. Of the 8,521 prisoners in Kansas, 7,793 are male and 728 are female.

24: South Carolina

For every 100,000 people living in South Carolina, 293 are in prison. The Palmetto State experienced a decrease in prisoners between 2019 and 2021 (-15.31%).

25: Tennessee

308 out of every 100,000 people are incarcerated in Tennessee. Of them, 19,903 are male and 2,092 are female.

26: Oregon

Oregon has an incarceration rate of 312 prisoners per 100,000 residents. Of the Beaver State’s 13,198 total prisoners, 12,252 are male, and 946 are female.

27: Nevada

Nevada’s 318 prisoners per 100,000 people are divided among 9,418 males and 784 females. It’s the first state to jump above the national average of 314 prisoners per 100,000 Americans. The Silver State has a total of 10,202 prisoners, which equates to a 20.55% drop in prisoners between 2019 and 2021.

28: Michigan

The Wolverine State has 321 prisoners for every 100,000 residents. Of the 32,186 prisoners in Michigan, 30,621 are male and 1,565 are female.

29: West Virginia

For every 100,000 people living in West Virginia, 331 are in prison. The Mountain State experienced a decline in prisoners between 2019 and 2021 (-14.01%).

30: Wisconsin

342 out of every 100,000 people are incarcerated in Wisconsin. Of them, 18,953 are male and 1,249 are female.

31: Virginia

Virginia has an incarceration rate of 349 prisoners per 100,000 residents. Of The Old Dominion’s 30,357 total prisoners, 28,119 are male, and 2,238 are female.

32: Florida

Florida’s 355 prisoners per 100,000 people are divided among 75,404 males and 5,013 females. The Sunshine State has a total of 80,417 prisoners, which equates to a 16.24% drop in prisoners between 2019 and 2021.

33: Indiana

The Hoosier State has 361 prisoners for every 100,000 residents. Of the 24,716 prisoners in Indiana, 22,397 are male and 2,319 are female.

34: South Dakota

For every 100,000 people living in South Dakota, 363 are in prison. The Mount Rushmore State experienced a decrease in prisoners between 2019 and 2021 (-11.79%).

35: Wyoming

364 out of every 100,000 people are incarcerated in Wyoming. Of them, 1,858 are male and 265 are female.

36: Montana

Montana has an incarceration rate of 378 prisoners per 100,000 residents. Of the Treasure State’s 4,313 total prisoners, 3,702 are male, and 611 are female.

37: Missouri

Missouri’s 379 prisoners per 100,000 people are divided among 21,370 males and 2,052 females. The Show Me State has a total of 23,422 prisoners, which equates to a 10.07% drop in prisoners between 2019 and 2021.

38: Ohio

The Buckeye State has 383 prisoners for every 100,000 residents. Of the 45,029 prisoners in Ohio, 41,443 are male and 3,586 are female.

39: Kentucky

For every 100,000 people living in Kentucky, 411 are in prison. The Bluegrass State experienced a decline in prisoners between 2019 and 2021 (-19.59%).

40: Georgia

426 out of every 100,000 people are incarcerated in Georgia. Of them, 43,942 are male and 3,068 are female.

41: Texas

Texas has an incarceration rate of 439 prisoners per 100,000 residents. Of the Lone Star State’s 133,772 total prisoners, 123,263 are male and 10,509 are female.

42: Idaho

Idaho’s 451 prisoners per 100,000 people are divided among 7,668 males and 1,239 females. The Gem State has a total of 8,907 prisoners, which equates to a 5.62% drop in prisoners between 2019 and 2021.

43: Arizona

The Grand Canyon State has 455 prisoners for every 100,000 residents. Of the 33,914 prisoners in Arizona, 30,794 are male and 3,120 are female.

44: Delaware

For every 100,000 people living in Delaware, 466 are in prison. The First State experienced a decrease in prisoners between 2019 and 2021 (-5.62%).

45: Alabama

491 out of every 100,000 people are incarcerated in Alabama. Of them, 22,915 are male and 2,117 are female.

46: Oklahoma

Oklahoma has an incarceration rate of 553 prisoners per 100,000 residents. Of the Sooner State’s 22,391 total prisoners, 20,216 are male and 2,175 are female.

47: Arkansas

Arkansas’ 556 prisoners per 100,000 people are divided among 15,592 males and 1,430 females. The Natural State has a total of 17,022 prisoners, which equates to a 4.15% drop in prisoners between 2019 and 2021.

48: Louisiana

The Pelican State has 573 prisoners for every 100,000 residents. Of the 26,074 prisoners in Louisiana, 24,849 are male and 1,225 are female.

49: Mississippi

For every 100,000 people living in Mississippi, 591 are in prison. The Magnolia State experienced a decrease in prisoners between 2019 and 2021 (-10.74%).

50: Alaska

Alaska has the largest incarceration rate in America, with a massive 633 prisoners per 100,000 people. It’s also the only state that had an increase in prisoners between 2019 and 2021 (+3.66%). The Last Frontier has a total of 4,639 people in jail, with 4,197 being male and 442 being female.

Taking the Cake

Despite mostly declining imprisonment numbers in recent years, the U.S. has the highest rate of incarceration in the world.

Budget Strains

The higher the imprisonment rate a state has, the more taxpayer dollars it has to use to care for prisoners. It can cost as much as $69,355 to keep an inmate in prison in New York.

Prisoners Everywhere

From a global numbers perspective, as of December 2022, China leads in having the greatest number of prisoners, at 1,690,000. The U.S. follows closely after, with 1,675,400 prisoners.

Brazil and India are next in line, with 835,643 and 554,034 prisoners, respectively. These numbers are along the lines that one may expect, given that the larger the population, the more prisoners a country would be expected to have.

Gender Differences

Statistically, men are more physically aggressive than women. But according to many studies, women are more prone to indirect aggression than men.

Indirect Aggression

Indirect aggression includes behaviors like gossiping, spreading false rumors, excluding people from a social group, criticizing another person’s appearance, and insinuating without directly accusing. These practices can all cause emotional harm to others, something that, in most cases, won’t land a woman in jail.

States With the Highest and Lowest Firearm Fatality Rates

Most Americans would agree that too many citizens lose their lives to firearms. However, some states have higher rates of firearm fatalities than others. These are the states with the most and least annual firearm fatalities.

States With the Highest and Lowest Firearm Fatality Rates Ranked From 1 to 50