Ministry of Justice · people

Prison population at month end, 2015 onwards under each government

The full published series with each government’s time in office shaded. The table gives the level each government inherited and the last complete period before it left. Changes describe the period, not a cause. Definitions and caveats are on the metric page.

Published valueProvisional or revisedLatestShaded bands: governments (see labels)Hover or use arrow keys to read a value

Government	Inherited	Left at / latest	Change during government
Labour 2024–5 July 2024 – present	87,726June 2024	85,858June 2026	↓ 2.1%−1,868
Conservative 2019–202413 December 2019 – 5 July 2024	83,256November 2019	87,726June 2024	↑ 5.4%+4,470
Conservative 2017–20199 June 2017 – 13 December 2019	85,376May 2017	83,256November 2019	↓ 2.5%−2,120
Conservative 2015–20178 May 2015 – 9 June 2017	No complete period was published before this government took office.
Coalition 2010–201511 May 2010 – 8 May 2015	No complete period was published before this government took office.
Labour 2005–20106 May 2005 – 11 May 2010	No complete period was published before this government took office.
Labour 2001–20058 June 2001 – 5 May 2005	No complete period was published before this government took office.
Labour 1997–20012 May 1997 – 7 June 2001	No complete period was published before this government took office.
Conservative 1992–199710 April 1992 – 2 May 1997	No complete period was published before this government took office.
Conservative 1987–199212 June 1987 – 9 April 1992	No complete period was published before this government took office.
Conservative 1983–198710 June 1983 – 11 June 1987	No complete period was published before this government took office.
Conservative 1979–19834 May 1979 – 9 June 1983	No complete period was published before this government took office.