Kazakhstan has been recognized as the country with the most significant reduction in the number of prisoners among post-Soviet states in 2025، reports infohub.kz.
The ranking، covering 224 countries، was compiled by the Institute for Criminal Policy Research. Kazakhstan ranked 103rd with 163 prisoners per 100،000 population، down from 184 the previous year.
"El Salvador again ranks first، with its prison population growing from 1،086 to 1،659 per 100،000، an increase of more than 50%،" according to the ranking description. Cuba ranks second (794)، followed by Rwanda (620) and Turkmenistan (576). The United States rounds out the top five with 542 prisoners per 100،000. Yemen has the lowest rate، at 14 prisoners per 100،000.
Among post-Soviet states، the largest increase in prisoner numbers was observed in Azerbaijan (from 244 to 264) and Moldova (from 236 to 255). "The biggest decrease in prisoner numbers was recorded in Kazakhstan، from 184 to 163،" the study notes. In the ranking، Kazakhstan sits between Laos (102nd، 166 prisoners) and Botswana (104th، 161).
According to the report، the prison population rate is calculated as the number of people in detention per 100،000 population as of the end of 2025. In addition to the main data، the report includes historical trends، information on the number of pretrial detainees، and data on women and minors in prison. The study covers UN member states and certain special-status administrative territories.