The number of Australians arrested and imprisoned overseas is growing - and it's mostly because of drugs, new figures show.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade recorded 1,256 arrests in 2014-15, 17 per cent more than five years ago.
About 200 of those were drug-related, according to DFAT's inaugural State of Play Report released on Monday - a higher proportion than the previous year.
There was also a rise in the number of Australians abroad in jail from 339 to 371.
Of particular concern, the report said, was the increase in cases for drug-related offences - up from 39 per cent in 2013-14 to 41 per cent.
"Our travel advice warns that even small quantities of soft drugs can attract jail sentences or heavy fines," it said.
"While we will extend what consular assistance we can, we cannot get you out of jail or provide legal assistance."
It also found more Australians were reported to have died overseas than in the last five years, but that was in line with the rise in people living and travelling overseas.
More than half of the country's population now hold a passport (54.5 per cent), with more than 1.8 million issued in the past financial year.
Just over 5000 passports were lost or stolen across mostly the USA, UK, Italy, France and Spain.
Overall, the department managed a total of 15,824 consular cases - an increase of nine per cent - and fielded more than 50,000 calls to its emergency centre.
The report's release coincides with the launch of a new Smartraveller advertising campaign to encourage Australians to be more informed and prepared when going overseas.
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