Prison facts and statistics - June 2011

This page shows statistical information on the:

Prisoner population by location and status
(as at 30 June 2011)
Prison

Status

Total
 RemandSentenced 
Male168263628044
Auckland0636636
Christchurch Men's183630813
Hawke's Bay102432534
Invercargill39121160
Manawatu66217283
Mt Eden Corrections Facility602183785
New Plymouth3273105
Northland Corrections Facility117384501
Otago Corrections Facility67293360
Rimutaka124722846
Rolleston0252252
Spring Hill Corrections Facility1799800
Tongariro/Rangipo0441441
Waikeria302622924
Whanganui47446493
Wellington0111111
Female121422543
Arohata27117144
Auckland Women's Corrections Facility76228304
Christchurch Women's Corrections Facility187795
Total180367848587

Total prison population

A graph showing the total prison population since June 2009.

View a larger version of the total prison population graph.


Percentage of prisoners in different age groups

A graph showing the percentage of prisoners in different age groups.


Percentage of sentenced prisoners according to most serious* offence type

A graph showing the percentage of sentenced prisoners according to most serious offence type.

* Prisoners may be convicted of offences across multiple categories. This information is based on the most serious offence a prisoner is convicted of.


Ethnicity of prisoners

A graph showing the percentages for ethnicity of prisoners.


Security classification of sentenced prisoners

A graph showing the percentages for security classification of sentenced prisoners.


Percentage of sentenced prisoners on indeterminate sentences*

A graph showing the percentage of sentenced prisoners on indeterminate sentences.

* Indeterminate sentences refer to preventive detention and life sentences that have no end date. Prisoners on these sentences are only released at the discretion of the Parole Board and are subject to recall to prison if released on parole.


International rates of imprisonment

Number of prisoners per 100,000 population

United States748
South Africa324
New Zealand199
Scotland153
England and Wales152
Australia134
Canada117
Norway71
Figures reflect the prison and national populations from mid 2009 or mid 2010.

Other facts and figures

  • Approximately 50 per cent of those released or paroled do not return to prison within four years
  • The average annual cost of housing a prisoner is $90,936 or $249.14 per day
  • Prisoners are fed at a cost of less than $5 a day per person
  • 67 per cent of sentenced prisoners are engaged in employment activity
  • 55 per cent of sentenced prisoners are engaged in rehabilitation activity
  • 23 per cent of the total prison population are gang members
  • Corrections provided 44,596 pre-sentence reports to the judiciary in the 2008/09 financial year

* Most of the figures under Other statistics come from the 2008/09 financial year or from a snapshot at 30 June 2009. Re-imprisonment figures are from a 2008 report Reconviction patterns of released prisoners: A 48-month follow up analysis