Introduction
Even though its prison population is the lowest it has been in the previous twenty years, the United States remains the nation with the highest incarceration rate in the world. The United States currently houses about 2.19 million prisoners, approximately 25% of the world’s total number of people in prison.
The United States has had the highest incarceration rate in the world since 2002, at about 100 prisoners for every 100,000 in the population, or 2.2 million adults as of 2018. Most of these inmates are housed in state and local prisons, not federal prisons. At the same time, over 600,000 people are held by local jails while awaiting a conviction.
Mass incarceration is a recurring issue in the country and is due to a wide variety of factors, including policymaking. Mass incarceration leads to overcrowded prisons, sanitation issues, dehumanization, marginalization, and important state costs – the U.S. spends over $80 billion each year on incarceration.
See for yourself how prison populations differ by state by analyzing the data in the charts.
| # | State | Prison Population | Recidivism Rate | Prison Releases | Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 135,906 | 66,726 | 5,149 | |
| 2 | California | 97,328 | 39,673 | ||
| 3 | Florida | 81,027 | 25.4% | 2,872 | 331 |
| 4 | Georgia | 47,141 | 1,646 | 271 | |
| 5 | Ohio | 45,036 | 32.7% | 20,052 | 2,242 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | 39,357 | 47.1% | 15,591 | 5,395 |
| 7 | Arizona | 37,731 | 36.3% | 13,938 | 19 |
| 8 | New York | 34,128 | 43% | 16,249 | 1,327 |
| 9 | Michigan | 33,617 | 26.6% | 10,478 | 985 |
| 10 | Virginia | 31,838 | 23.3% | 12,904 | 124 |
| 11 | Illinois | 29,729 | 38.5% | 20,589 | 1,247 |
| 12 | North Carolina | 29,461 | 1,596 | 1,161 | |
| 13 | Louisiana | 26,964 | 29.6% | 14,019 | 1,809 |
| 14 | Alabama | 25,328 | 28.7% | 11,178 | 717 |
| 15 | Indiana | 23,944 | 38.2% | 9,893 | 363 |
| 16 | Missouri | 23,062 | 37.2% | 14,643 | 970 |
| 17 | Tennessee | 22,685 | 13,484 | 719 | |
| 18 | Oklahoma | 22,462 | 22.6% | 81 | |
| 19 | Wisconsin | 20,298 | 38.1% | 6,023 | |
| 20 | Kentucky | 18,552 | 46.4% | 16,531 | 343 |
| 21 | Mississippi | 17,577 | 36.8% | 6,655 | 709 |
| 22 | Colorado | 16,168 | 44.9% | 9,568 | 1,200 |
| 23 | South Carolina | 16,157 | 21% | 5,659 | 24 |
| 24 | Arkansas | 16,094 | 47.5% | 976 | 567 |
| 25 | Washington | 15,724 | 30.7% | 17,014 | 853 |
| 26 | Maryland | 15,623 | 40.5% | 5,933 | 413 |
| 27 | New Jersey | 12,830 | 30.4% | 9,711 | 105 |
| 28 | Oregon | 12,753 | 5,139 | 942 | |
| 29 | Nevada | 11,422 | 24.6% | 5,753 | 356 |
| 30 | Connecticut | 9,559 | 49% | 4,387 | |
| 31 | Kansas | 8,779 | 34.7% | 4,693 | 184 |
| 32 | Iowa | 8,307 | 38.7% | 4,767 | 715 |
| 33 | Idaho | 8,171 | 36.3% | 4,001 | 392 |
| 34 | Minnesota | 8,148 | 25% | 5,876 | 381 |
| 35 | Massachusetts | 6,762 | 33% | 2,212 | 64 |
| 36 | West Virginia | 6,044 | 29.3% | 3,429 | 13 |
| 37 | New Mexico | 5,500 | 49.1% | 309 | 41 |
| 38 | Utah | 5,446 | 4,156 | 500 | |
| 39 | Nebraska | 5,306 | 30.2% | 2,453 | |
| 40 | Delaware | 4,710 | 60.2% | 1,738 | 1 |
| 41 | Alaska | 4,578 | 61.6% | 1,626 | |
| 42 | Hawaii | 4,171 | 1,126 | 2 | |
| 43 | Montana | 3,927 | 38.6% | 2,517 | 29 |
| 44 | South Dakota | 3,250 | 44% | 3,873 | 178 |
| 45 | New Hampshire | 2,352 | 41.5% | 1,246 | |
| 46 | Rhode Island | 2,227 | 50% | 660 | 15 |
| 47 | Wyoming | 2,087 | 33.8% | 1,094 | 30 |
| 48 | Maine | 1,714 | 26.3% | 974 | 0 |
| 49 | North Dakota | 1,401 | 41.2% | 122 | 142 |
| 50 | Vermont | 1,284 | 43.8% | 1,182 |
Prison Population by State
Alabama
Prison Population
25,328
Ranked in the US
#14
28.7%
Ranked in the US
#9
Prison Releases
11,178
Ranked in the US
#14
Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence
717
Ranked in the US
#14
Alaska
Prison Population
4,578
Ranked in the US
#41
61.6%
Ranked in the US
#42
Prison Releases
1,626
Ranked in the US
#39
Arizona
Prison Population
37,731
Ranked in the US
#7
36.3%
Ranked in the US
#19
Prison Releases
13,938
Ranked in the US
#11
Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence
19
Ranked in the US
#37
Arkansas
Prison Population
16,094
Ranked in the US
#24
47.5%
Ranked in the US
#37
Prison Releases
976
Ranked in the US
#45
Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence
567
Ranked in the US
#17
California
Prison Population
97,328
Ranked in the US
#2
Prison Releases
39,673
Ranked in the US
#2
Colorado
Prison Population
16,168
Ranked in the US
#22
44.9%
Ranked in the US
#34
Prison Releases
9,568
Ranked in the US
#18
Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence
1,200
Ranked in the US
#7
Connecticut
Prison Population
9,559
Ranked in the US
#30
Ranked in the US
#38
Prison Releases
4,387
Ranked in the US
#28
Delaware
Prison Population
4,710
Ranked in the US
#40
60.2%
Ranked in the US
#41
Prison Releases
1,738
Ranked in the US
#37
Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence
1
Ranked in the US
#41
Florida
Prison Population
81,027
Ranked in the US
#3
25.4%
Ranked in the US
#6
Prison Releases
2,872
Ranked in the US
#33
Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence
331
Ranked in the US
#25
Georgia
Prison Population
47,141
Ranked in the US
#4
Prison Releases
1,646
Ranked in the US
#38
Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence
271
Ranked in the US
#26
Hawaii
Prison Population
4,171
Ranked in the US
#42
Prison Releases
1,126
Ranked in the US
#43
Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence
2
Ranked in the US
#40
Idaho
Prison Population
8,171
Ranked in the US
#33
36.3%
Ranked in the US
#20
Prison Releases
4,001
Ranked in the US
#30
Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence
392
Ranked in the US
#20
Illinois
Prison Population
29,729
Ranked in the US
#11
38.5%
Ranked in the US
#25
Prison Releases
20,589
Ranked in the US
#3
Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence
1,247
Ranked in the US
#6
Indiana
Prison Population
23,944
Ranked in the US
#15
38.2%
Ranked in the US
#24
Prison Releases
9,893
Ranked in the US
#16
Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence
363
Ranked in the US
#22
Iowa
Prison Population
8,307
Ranked in the US
#32
38.7%
Ranked in the US
#27
Prison Releases
4,767
Ranked in the US
#26
Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence
715
Ranked in the US
#15
Kansas
Prison Population
8,779
Ranked in the US
#31
34.7%
Ranked in the US
#18
Prison Releases
4,693
Ranked in the US
#27
Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence
184
Ranked in the US
#27
Kentucky
Prison Population
18,552
Ranked in the US
#20
46.4%
Ranked in the US
#35
Prison Releases
16,531
Ranked in the US
#6
Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence
343
Ranked in the US
#24
Louisiana
Prison Population
26,964
Ranked in the US
#13
29.6%
Ranked in the US
#11
Prison Releases
14,019
Ranked in the US
#10
Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence
1,809
Ranked in the US
#4
Maine
Prison Population
1,714
Ranked in the US
#48
26.3%
Ranked in the US
#7
Prison Releases
974
Ranked in the US
#46
Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence
0
Ranked in the US
#43
Maryland
Prison Population
15,623
Ranked in the US
#26
40.5%
Ranked in the US
#28
Prison Releases
5,933
Ranked in the US
#21
Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence
413
Ranked in the US
#19
Massachusetts
Prison Population
6,762
Ranked in the US
#35
Ranked in the US
#16
Prison Releases
2,212
Ranked in the US
#36
Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence
64
Ranked in the US
#32
Michigan
Prison Population
33,617
Ranked in the US
#9
26.6%
Ranked in the US
#8
Prison Releases
10,478
Ranked in the US
#15
Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence
985
Ranked in the US
#9
Minnesota
Prison Population
8,148
Ranked in the US
#34
Ranked in the US
#5
Prison Releases
5,876
Ranked in the US
#22
Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence
381
Ranked in the US
#21
Mississippi
Prison Population
17,577
Ranked in the US
#21
36.8%
Ranked in the US
#21
Prison Releases
6,655
Ranked in the US
#19
Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence
709
Ranked in the US
#16
Missouri
Prison Population
23,062
Ranked in the US
#16
37.2%
Ranked in the US
#22
Prison Releases
14,643
Ranked in the US
#9
Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence
970
Ranked in the US
#10
Montana
Prison Population
3,927
Ranked in the US
#43
38.6%
Ranked in the US
#26
Prison Releases
2,517
Ranked in the US
#34
Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence
29
Ranked in the US
#35
Nebraska
Prison Population
5,306
Ranked in the US
#39
30.2%
Ranked in the US
#12
Prison Releases
2,453
Ranked in the US
#35
Nevada
Prison Population
11,422
Ranked in the US
#29
24.6%
Ranked in the US
#4
Prison Releases
5,753
Ranked in the US
#23
Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence
356
Ranked in the US
#23
New Hampshire
Prison Population
2,352
Ranked in the US
#45
41.5%
Ranked in the US
#30
Prison Releases
1,246
Ranked in the US
#41
New Jersey
Prison Population
12,830
Ranked in the US
#27
30.4%
Ranked in the US
#13
Prison Releases
9,711
Ranked in the US
#17
Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence
105
Ranked in the US
#31
New Mexico
Prison Population
5,500
Ranked in the US
#37
49.1%
Ranked in the US
#39
Prison Releases
309
Ranked in the US
#48
Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence
41
Ranked in the US
#33
New York
Prison Population
34,128
Ranked in the US
#8
Ranked in the US
#31
Prison Releases
16,249
Ranked in the US
#7
Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence
1,327
Ranked in the US
#5
North Carolina
Prison Population
29,461
Ranked in the US
#12
Prison Releases
1,596
Ranked in the US
#40
Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence
1,161
Ranked in the US
#8
North Dakota
Prison Population
1,401
Ranked in the US
#49
41.2%
Ranked in the US
#29
Prison Releases
122
Ranked in the US
#49
Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence
142
Ranked in the US
#29
Ohio
Prison Population
45,036
Ranked in the US
#5
32.7%
Ranked in the US
#15
Prison Releases
20,052
Ranked in the US
#4
Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence
2,242
Ranked in the US
#3
Oklahoma
Prison Population
22,462
Ranked in the US
#18
22.6%
Ranked in the US
#2
Prison Releases
81
Ranked in the US
#50
Oregon
Prison Population
12,753
Ranked in the US
#28
Prison Releases
5,139
Ranked in the US
#25
Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence
942
Ranked in the US
#11
Pennsylvania
Prison Population
39,357
Ranked in the US
#6
47.1%
Ranked in the US
#36
Prison Releases
15,591
Ranked in the US
#8
Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence
5,395
Ranked in the US
#1
Rhode Island
Prison Population
2,227
Ranked in the US
#46
Ranked in the US
#40
Prison Releases
660
Ranked in the US
#47
Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence
15
Ranked in the US
#38
South Carolina
Prison Population
16,157
Ranked in the US
#23
Ranked in the US
#1
Prison Releases
5,659
Ranked in the US
#24
Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence
24
Ranked in the US
#36
South Dakota
Prison Population
3,250
Ranked in the US
#44
Ranked in the US
#33
Prison Releases
3,873
Ranked in the US
#31
Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence
178
Ranked in the US
#28
Tennessee
Prison Population
22,685
Ranked in the US
#17
Prison Releases
13,484
Ranked in the US
#12
Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence
719
Ranked in the US
#13
Texas
Prison Population
135,906
Ranked in the US
#1
Prison Releases
66,726
Ranked in the US
#1
Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence
5,149
Ranked in the US
#2
Utah
Prison Population
5,446
Ranked in the US
#38
Prison Releases
4,156
Ranked in the US
#29
Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence
500
Ranked in the US
#18
Vermont
Prison Population
1,284
Ranked in the US
#50
43.8%
Ranked in the US
#32
Prison Releases
1,182
Ranked in the US
#42
Virginia
Prison Population
31,838
Ranked in the US
#10
23.3%
Ranked in the US
#3
Prison Releases
12,904
Ranked in the US
#13
Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence
124
Ranked in the US
#30
Washington
Prison Population
15,724
Ranked in the US
#25
30.7%
Ranked in the US
#14
Prison Releases
17,014
Ranked in the US
#5
Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence
853
Ranked in the US
#12
West Virginia
Prison Population
6,044
Ranked in the US
#36
29.3%
Ranked in the US
#10
Prison Releases
3,429
Ranked in the US
#32
Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence
13
Ranked in the US
#39
Wisconsin
Prison Population
20,298
Ranked in the US
#19
38.1%
Ranked in the US
#23
Prison Releases
6,023
Ranked in the US
#20
Wyoming
Prison Population
2,087
Ranked in the US
#47
33.8%
Ranked in the US
#17
Prison Releases
1,094
Ranked in the US
#44
Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence
30
Ranked in the US
#34