Figures from the International Centre for Prison Studies show England & Wales have a combined prison population of 84,430 inmates . That is the highest in Europe, just beating Poland to the top post. When taken in consideration the rate per 100,000 citizens, England/Wales still have the highest figures in Western Europe, 148 , only 4 countries from the East fare worse, Poland (217), Hungary (186), Romania (155), and Czech Republic (154).