Datasets Law · not part of the score
Police contact for drug use or possession
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) · latest year reported, mostly 2024
Beyond Europe, the widest measure of enforcement is how many people the police bring into formal contact, as suspects, arrests or cautions, for using or possessing drugs, as governments report it to UNODC.[1] It covers 104 countries. Per 100,000 people, Sweden reports the most, about 741 in 2024, then Spain and Sri Lanka; several countries report none at all.
All drugs are counted together, because cannabis is not reported separately.[1] Some include administrative fines and some do not, so the comparison is rough. For cannabis alone in Europe see offences for cannabis use; for what a contact with the police leads to, see each profile’s arrests and prisoners and beyond the penalty sections.
- File here
- unodc-drug-possession-police.csv
- of 220 places covered
- 104
- years in the file
- latest year reported, mostly 2024
- the median country
- 52
- places with several years
- 84
Police contact for possession, on the map
The stronger the blue, the more people per 100,000 the police dealt with for drug use or possession. All drugs together; countries count differently. Countries that do not report are hatched. Select a country for its profile.
95,855 people in 2023 · all drugs together
3,927 people in 2021 · all drugs together
120,504 people in 2024 · all drugs together
241 people in 2023 · all drugs together
877 people in 2024 · all drugs together
93,990 people in 2024 · all drugs together
886 people in 2024 · all drugs together
94,842 people in 2024 · all drugs together
29,638 people in 2024 · all drugs together
2,317 people in 2024 · all drugs together
40,998 people in 2023 · all drugs together
1,309 people in 2024 · all drugs together
27 people in 2024 · all drugs together
47 people in 2024 · all drugs together
0 people in 2024 · all drugs together
751 people in 2024 · all drugs together
1,052 people in 2024 · all drugs together
10,847 people in 2024 · all drugs together
6 people in 2024 · all drugs together
640 people in 2024 · all drugs together
4,455 people in 2024 · all drugs together
2,757 people in 2021 · all drugs together
8,550 people in 2024 · all drugs together
830 people in 2024 · all drugs together
11,083 people in 2024 · all drugs together
13,488 people in 2024 · all drugs together
312 people in 2024 · all drugs together
73,423 people in 2021 · all drugs together
706 people in 2023 · all drugs together
860 people in 2021 · all drugs together
2,550 people in 2024 · all drugs together
18,981 people in 2024 · all drugs together
272,714 people in 2024 · all drugs together
613 people in 2023 · all drugs together
120,255 people in 2024 · all drugs together
64 people in 2024 · all drugs together
180 people in 2024 · all drugs together
15,488 people in 2024 · all drugs together
1,157 people in 2024 · all drugs together
553 people in 2022 · all drugs together
1,474 people in 2024 · all drugs together
6,856 people in 2024 · all drugs together
834 people in 2024 · all drugs together
18,619 people in 2024 · all drugs together
9,839 people in 2022 · all drugs together
11,478 people in 2023 · all drugs together
7,497 people in 2024 · all drugs together
30,166 people in 2021 · all drugs together
1,539 people in 2021 · all drugs together
300 people in 2021 · all drugs together
5,760 people in 2024 · all drugs together
405 people in 2024 · all drugs together
685 people in 2024 · all drugs together
1,202 people in 2021 · all drugs together
1,250 people in 2024 · all drugs together
66 people in 2024 · all drugs together
136,414 people in 2022 · all drugs together
181 people in 2022 · all drugs together
28 people in 2024 · all drugs together
1,370 people in 2024 · all drugs together
86,292 people in 2024 · all drugs together
531 people in 2024 · all drugs together
923 people in 2023 · all drugs together
51 people in 2024 · all drugs together
3,990 people in 2021 · all drugs together
6,684 people in 2024 · all drugs together
2,080 people in 2022 · all drugs together
3,239 people in 2021 · all drugs together
1,076 people in 2024 · all drugs together
1,343 people in 2020 · all drugs together
99,234 people in 2022 · all drugs together
1,818 people in 2023 · all drugs together
1,096 people in 2022 · all drugs together
13,569 people in 2024 · all drugs together
31,056 people in 2024 · all drugs together
7,115 people in 2024 · all drugs together
2,764 people in 2024 · all drugs together
11,683 people in 2024 · all drugs together
47,615 people in 2024 · all drugs together
57,747 people in 2020 · all drugs together
9,628 people in 2024 · all drugs together
3,175 people in 2024 · all drugs together
595 people in 2024 · all drugs together
3,779 people in 2024 · all drugs together
224 people in 2021 · all drugs together
9,521 people in 2022 · all drugs together
337,772 people in 2020 · all drugs together
87,957 people in 2024 · all drugs together
172 people in 2021 · all drugs together
78,571 people in 2024 · all drugs together
19,436 people in 2024 · all drugs together
6,574 people in 2023 · all drugs together
75 people in 2023 · all drugs together
230,584 people in 2021 · all drugs together
147 people in 2023 · all drugs together
1,462 people in 2022 · all drugs together
7,266 people in 2021 · all drugs together
293,370 people in 2024 · all drugs together
15,738 people in 2024 · all drugs together
132,645 people in 2025 · all drugs together
695,172 people in 2024 · all drugs together
127 people in 2024 · all drugs together
2,369 people in 2024 · all drugs together
89 people in 2024 · all drugs together
UNODC World Drug Report 2026, table 10.1: persons in formal contact with the police for drug use or possession, all drugs, latest year reported. Not part of the score.
Lowest · Police contact for possession
- Bosnia and Herzegovina0.02024
- Chile0.02024
- China0.02024
Country by country
Each place's latest figure, as on its profile. Select a heading to sort.
| Further figures | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| AfghanistanAsia | 219per 100,000 people | 95,855 people in 2023 · all drugs together | 2023 |
| AlbaniaEurope | 167per 100,000 people | 3,927 people in 2021 · all drugs together | 2021 |
| AlgeriaAfrica | 254per 100,000 people | 120,504 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| AndorraEurope | 291per 100,000 people | 241 people in 2023 · all drugs together | 2023 |
| AngolaAfrica | 2.2per 100,000 people | 877 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| ArgentinaSouth America | 205per 100,000 people | 93,990 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| ArmeniaAsia | 29per 100,000 people | 886 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| AustraliaOceania | 343per 100,000 people | 94,842 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| AustriaEurope | 322per 100,000 people | 29,638 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| BelarusEurope | 26per 100,000 people | 2,317 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| BelgiumEurope | 343per 100,000 people | 40,998 people in 2023 · all drugs together | 2023 |
| BelizeNorth America | 310per 100,000 people | 1,309 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| BhutanAsia | 3.4per 100,000 people | 27 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| BoliviaSouth America | 0.4per 100,000 people | 47 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| Bosnia and HerzegovinaEurope | 0.0per 100,000 people | 0 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| BruneiAsia | 161per 100,000 people | 751 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| BulgariaEurope | 16per 100,000 people | 1,052 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| CanadaNorth America | 26per 100,000 people | 10,847 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| ChileSouth America | 0.0per 100,000 people | 6 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| ChinaAsia | 0.0per 100,000 people | 640 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| Costa RicaNorth America | 86per 100,000 people | 4,455 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| Côte d'IvoireAfrica | 8.4per 100,000 people | 2,757 people in 2021 · all drugs together | 2021 |
| CroatiaEurope | 221per 100,000 people | 8,550 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| CyprusEurope | 61per 100,000 people | 830 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| CzechiaEurope | 102per 100,000 people | 11,083 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| DenmarkEurope | 224per 100,000 people | 13,488 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| EcuadorSouth America | 1.7per 100,000 people | 312 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| EgyptAfrica | 62per 100,000 people | 73,423 people in 2021 · all drugs together | 2021 |
| El SalvadorNorth America | 11per 100,000 people | 706 people in 2023 · all drugs together | 2023 |
| EstoniaEurope | 63per 100,000 people | 860 people in 2021 · all drugs together | 2021 |
| EswatiniAfrica | 203per 100,000 people | 2,550 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| FinlandEurope | 336per 100,000 people | 18,981 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| FranceEurope | 397per 100,000 people | 272,714 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| GambiaAfrica | 22per 100,000 people | 613 people in 2023 · all drugs together | 2023 |
| GermanyEurope | 144per 100,000 people | 120,255 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| GhanaAfrica | 0.2per 100,000 people | 64 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| GibraltarEurope | 458per 100,000 people | 180 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| GreeceEurope | 149per 100,000 people | 15,488 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| GuatemalaNorth America | 6.2per 100,000 people | 1,157 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| HondurasNorth America | 5.0per 100,000 people | 553 people in 2022 · all drugs together | 2022 |
| Hong KongAsia | 20per 100,000 people | 1,474 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| HungaryEurope | 72per 100,000 people | 6,856 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| IcelandEurope | 213per 100,000 people | 834 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| IndonesiaAsia | 6.5per 100,000 people | 18,619 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| IraqAsia | 21per 100,000 people | 9,839 people in 2022 · all drugs together | 2022 |
| IrelandEurope | 209per 100,000 people | 11,478 people in 2023 · all drugs together | 2023 |
| IsraelAsia | 74per 100,000 people | 7,497 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| ItalyEurope | 51per 100,000 people | 30,166 people in 2021 · all drugs together | 2021 |
| JamaicaNorth America | 54per 100,000 people | 1,539 people in 2021 · all drugs together | 2021 |
| KazakhstanAsia | 1.4per 100,000 people | 300 people in 2021 · all drugs together | 2021 |
| KenyaAfrica | 10per 100,000 people | 5,760 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| KyrgyzstanAsia | 5.5per 100,000 people | 405 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| LatviaEurope | 37per 100,000 people | 685 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| LebanonAsia | 21per 100,000 people | 1,202 people in 2021 · all drugs together | 2021 |
| LuxembourgEurope | 182per 100,000 people | 1,250 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| MacauAsia | 9.7per 100,000 people | 66 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| MalaysiaAsia | 379per 100,000 people | 136,414 people in 2022 · all drugs together | 2022 |
| MaliAfrica | 0.7per 100,000 people | 181 people in 2022 · all drugs together | 2022 |
| MaltaEurope | 4.8per 100,000 people | 28 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| MauritiusAfrica | 110per 100,000 people | 1,370 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| MexicoNorth America | 65per 100,000 people | 86,292 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| MoldovaEurope | 22per 100,000 people | 531 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| MozambiqueAfrica | 2.6per 100,000 people | 923 people in 2023 · all drugs together | 2023 |
| NamibiaAfrica | 1.6per 100,000 people | 51 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| NetherlandsEurope | 22per 100,000 people | 3,990 people in 2021 · all drugs together | 2021 |
| New ZealandOceania | 126per 100,000 people | 6,684 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| NicaraguaNorth America | 30per 100,000 people | 2,080 people in 2022 · all drugs together | 2022 |
| NigerAfrica | 12per 100,000 people | 3,239 people in 2021 · all drugs together | 2021 |
| North MacedoniaEurope | 59per 100,000 people | 1,076 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| OmanAsia | 24per 100,000 people | 1,343 people in 2020 · all drugs together | 2020 |
| PakistanAsia | 39per 100,000 people | 99,234 people in 2022 · all drugs together | 2022 |
| PalestineAsia | 34per 100,000 people | 1,818 people in 2023 · all drugs together | 2023 |
| PanamaNorth America | 24per 100,000 people | 1,096 people in 2022 · all drugs together | 2022 |
| PeruSouth America | 39per 100,000 people | 13,569 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| PolandEurope | 85per 100,000 people | 31,056 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| PortugalEurope | 66per 100,000 people | 7,115 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| QatarAsia | 93per 100,000 people | 2,764 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| RomaniaEurope | 61per 100,000 people | 11,683 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| RussiaEurope | 33per 100,000 people | 47,615 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| Saudi ArabiaAsia | 156per 100,000 people | 57,747 people in 2020 · all drugs together | 2020 |
| SerbiaEurope | 147per 100,000 people | 9,628 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| SingaporeAsia | 52per 100,000 people | 3,175 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| SlovakiaEurope | 11per 100,000 people | 595 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| SloveniaEurope | 177per 100,000 people | 3,779 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| South AfricaAfrica | 0.3per 100,000 people | 224 people in 2021 · all drugs together | 2021 |
| South KoreaAsia | 18per 100,000 people | 9,521 people in 2022 · all drugs together | 2022 |
| SpainEurope | 684per 100,000 people | 337,772 people in 2020 · all drugs together | 2020 |
| Sri LankaAsia | 404per 100,000 people | 87,957 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| SurinameSouth America | 27per 100,000 people | 172 people in 2021 · all drugs together | 2021 |
| SwedenEurope | 741per 100,000 people | 78,571 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| SwitzerlandEurope | 214per 100,000 people | 19,436 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| SyriaAsia | 26per 100,000 people | 6,574 people in 2023 · all drugs together | 2023 |
| TajikistanAsia | 0.7per 100,000 people | 75 people in 2023 · all drugs together | 2023 |
| ThailandAsia | 322per 100,000 people | 230,584 people in 2021 · all drugs together | 2021 |
| TogoAfrica | 1.7per 100,000 people | 147 people in 2023 · all drugs together | 2023 |
| Trinidad and TobagoNorth America | 107per 100,000 people | 1,462 people in 2022 · all drugs together | 2022 |
| TunisiaAfrica | 59per 100,000 people | 7,266 people in 2021 · all drugs together | 2021 |
| TürkiyeAsia | 342per 100,000 people | 293,370 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| UkraineEurope | 40per 100,000 people | 15,738 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| United KingdomEurope | 191per 100,000 people | 132,645 people in 2025 · all drugs together | 2025 |
| United StatesNorth America | 203per 100,000 people | 695,172 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| UruguaySouth America | 3.8per 100,000 people | 127 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| VenezuelaSouth America | 8.3per 100,000 people | 2,369 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
| ZambiaAfrica | 0.4per 100,000 people | 89 people in 2024 · all drugs together | 2024 |
What is counted, and how the file was made
People brought into formal contact with the police, such as being suspected, arrested or cautioned, for offences of drug use or possession, as each government reports them to UNODC. All illicit drugs are counted together: cannabis is not reported separately. Countries define and record these offences differently, and some include administrative fines, so compare with care. Shown per 100,000 people using today's population.
The publisher's spreadsheet was downloaded on 21 October 2026 and is published here unchanged. The CSV is extracted from it by scripts/extract-unodc.py (offences): sheet "Formal contact", offences related to drug use and/or possession, any illicit drug, the latest year with a figure for each country. The United Kingdom reports the year ending March 2025.
The file belongs to UNODC and keeps its terms; cite the publisher when you use it.