The table illustrates the number of prisoners (in thousands) in five countries – Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and Canada – between 1930 and 1980.
Overall, the imprisonment figures fluctuated over the period, but the United States consistently had the highest number of prisoners, while Great Britain remained the lowest for most of the years shown.
In 1930, the number of prisoners in the United States was around 100, significantly higher than in other countries. Although this figure dropped slightly in 1940, it rose steadily afterwards, reaching its peak of about 140 thousand in 1980. By contrast, Great Britain started with the lowest figure, below 40 thousand in 1930, and although the numbers increased gradually, they remained the lowest compared to other nations throughout the period.
Canada and New Zealand showed similar patterns, both fluctuating between 60 and 90 thousand over the years. Australia, on the other hand, experienced gradual growth, reaching around 80 thousand in 1980.
In summary, imprisonment rates were the highest in the United States and the lowest in Great Britain, while the other three countries remained at moderate levels with some fluctuations.