Corrections in NZ – Prisoner Population by Ethnic Group and Sex – March 2018 – December 2024

New Zealand's prison population surpasses 10,000 for the first time in four years, highlighting ongoing disparities with Māori overrepresentation and gender imbalance.

New Zealand’s Prison Demographics Reveal Deepening Disparities

The most recent data from the Department of Corrections highlights significant demographic trends within New Zealand’s prison population.​

As of December 31, 2024, New Zealand’s total prison population reached 10,075 inmates, marking the first time in over four years that the number has exceeded 10,000. This represents a notable increase from previous quarters, indicating a trend of growing incarceration rates.

Māori Overrepresentation Persists

Māori individuals continue to be disproportionately represented in the prison system. Despite comprising approximately 16% of the national population, Māori account for over 50% of incarcerated individuals. ​

Gender Imbalance Remains Pronounced

The prison population is overwhelmingly male, with men constituting about 93.2% of inmates.

At a per-capita view, Males are incarcerated at over 14,000x the rate of Females. (The reason for the big drop in Female per-capita in 2023 is the big jump in Female people in the Census that year).

This gender imbalance has remained consistent over recent years, suggesting a need for targeted interventions addressing the specific factors contributing to male incarceration rates. ​

Conclusion

The demographic data paints a clear picture of the systemic issues influencing New Zealand’s prison population.

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