The Northern Territory's rate of 821 prisoners per 100,000 adults is by far the highest in the country

This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old

More prisoners are doing time in Australian jails than ever, official data shows.

The number of inmates in Australian jails hit a record 30,775 in 2013, up 5% from 2012, Australian Bureau of Statistics data released on Thursday shows.

The nation's rate of imprisonment is also up, at 170 prisoners for every 100,000 adults, from 157 for every 100,000 adults in 2003.

Indigenous Australians comprise 27% of the prisoner population, the data shows.

The Northern Territory has the highest imprisonment rate this year, with 821 adults in prison for every 100,000 adults.

Western Australia, with 256 prisoners for every 100,000 adults, is second, followed by NSW, Queensland and South Australia. The ACT has the lowest imprisonment rate.

Of the male inmate population, 20% was jailed for acts intended to cause injury, 15% for sexual assault and another 15% for unlawful entry with intent.

Women, meanwhile, were commonly jailed for drug offences (18%), acts intended to cause injury (17%) and unlawful entry with intent (10%).

Most prisoners were born in Australia (81%), followed by New Zealand (3%), Vietnam (2%) and the UK (2%).

The average age of Australian male inmates is 40, while for females it is 34.

Reoffenders constitute 58% of all the country’s prisoners.