Incarceration in the United States is one of the main forms of punishment and/or rehabilitation for the commission of felony and other offenses. The United States has the highest documented incarceration rate in the world. At year-end 2009 it was
743 adults incarcerated per 100,000 population.
...
By comparison the incarceration rate in
England and Wales[clarification needed] in October 2011 was 155 people imprisoned per 100,000 residents;[29] the rate for
Norway in May 2010 was 71 inmates per 100,000;[30]
Netherlands in April 2010 was 94 per 100,000;[31] Australia in June 2010 was 133 per 100,000;[32] and
New Zealand in October 2010 was 203 per 100,000.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incarceration_in_the_United_States