Sample Detail

The bar chart illustrates the numbers of prisoners, measured in thousands, in five different countries from 1930 to 1980. Overall, Canada and the United States consistently recorded the highest numbers of prisoners over the period. Meanwhile, there were some fluctuations in Australia and New Zealand, whereas Great Britain showed a steady upward trend during this timeframe. In 1930, Canada led the chart with 120,000 prisoners, slightly higher than New Zealand and the US, at 100,000. The figure for Australia was around 70,000, while Great Britain recorded the lowest number of prisoners, at roughly 30,000. In the following two decades, Australia and New Zealand dropped steadily, standing at approximately 45,000 and 50,000 by 1950. Conversely, Great Britain witnessed a gradual increase of around 5,000, whereas Canada, after being overtaken by the US in 1940, reclaimed its top position at 115,000. From 1950 onwards, prison populations in Canada and Australia fluctuated but ended lower than their initial levels. On the other hand, Great Britain and New Zealand exhibited a steady climb, reaching just 80,000 and approximately 85,000 respectively by 1980. The US showed the most dramatic change before peaking at around 135,000, the highest figure on the chart.