Prison stock on 31 January 2025

CountryTotal number of inmates (including pre-trial detainees) on 31.01.2025Total capacity of penal institutions on 31.01.2025Prison density per 100 places on 31.01.2025Prison Population Rate per 100,000 inhabitants on 31.01.2025
Albania4530574778.8191.7
Andorra7215446.886.8
Armenia2686449159.887.3
Austria9693NA***105.4
Azerbaijan276732815098.3270.6
Belgium1261311040114.3106.0
BH: BiH (state level)1982391050.758.2
BH: BiH (Total)29439374.812.8
BH: Fed. BiH1108218250.848.3
BH: Rep. Srpska580133543.552.2
Bulgaria5404984754.983.9
Croatia49654052122.5128.2
Cyprus1081927116.6110.3
Czechia194302038795.3178.1
Denmark4197442394.970.0
Estonia1637280558.4119.5
Finland32822990109.858.2
France8159962363130.9118.9
Georgia85921233269.7231.9
Germany578127207080.269.2
Greece1158610775107.5111.3
Hungary1963217154114.5205.8
Iceland14016087.535.9
Ireland51164589111.594.0
Italy6191651300120.7105.1
Latvia3505456476.8188.8
Liechtenstein112055.026.9
Lithuania4453665566.9154.0
Luxembourg74995478.5109.8
Malta689584118.0120.0
Moldova5844673586.8245.4
Monaco3810038.098.9
Montenegro1244147384.5199.6
Netherlands99301042995.255.0
North Macedonia26682573103.7146.4
Norway3020372681.154.0
Poland691378747879.0189.4
Portugal123601255198.5115.0
Romania2454324537100.0128.9
San Marino2121100.062.6
Serbia114301195195.6174.0
Slovak Republic81691151171.0150.7
Slovenia18041346134.084.7
Spain (Total)592797679077.2120.8
Spain (State Administration)506276442778.6123.6
Spain (Catalonia86521236370.0106.5
Sweden1123210908103.0106.1
Switzerland6994740494.577.3
Republic of Türkiye392456299880130.9458.1
Ukraine371197384350.395.2
UK: England & Wales853728866296.3140.7
UK: Northern Ireland1929217488.798.7
UK: Scotland82877805106.2147.7

Comments:

General Comment
  • Please refer to the SPACE I 2025 Report for more comprehensive comments.
Austria
  • Capacity: It is not possible to indicate the total number of places in the penal institutions since the capacity can be expanded in case of need (i.e. use of bunk beds).
BiH: Rep. Srpska
  • Capacity: On 01 July 2023, the Penitentiary PT Sarajevo was moved from ul. Branilaca Sarajevo no. 8 (Central building) to ul. Kamenolom bb, Ilidža Municipality, Igman Building. Given the unfinished infrastructure and construction works of the Igman Building, the admission of convicted and detained persons was suspended in March 2023. However, the admission of convicted persons continued at the end of 2023 in the Ustikolina Department, and at the end of 2024 it began in the Penitentiary PT Sarajevo Igman Department and has continued to this day without changes. In this regard, the data for the total capacity of convicted persons and detainees is not representative.
Cyprus
  • Capacity: The total capacity of penal institutions also includes 205 places in police stations.
Estonia
  • Capacity: In addition to the total capacity, there are 237 places in open prisons (where prisoners are allowed to leave the prison for work or school unsupervised).
Greece
  • Capcity:  The number of cells was calculated, based on the CPT minimum standards of the surface area per inmate (4 m2).
Italy
  • Capacity: In Italy, the current regular capacity of penal establishments is calculated on the basis of a Decree of the Ministry of Health of 1975 relevant to civil houses; the parameters of said Ministerial Decree were wholly adopted by the Penitentiary Administration: in particular, the surface foreseen for a single room is 9 square metres, plus 5 square metres for each further bed in multiple occupancy rooms.
Lithuania
  • Capacity:  The numbers provided are in accordance with the 2023 January 3rd order No. V-15 by the Director of Lithuanian Prison Service „On the Establishment of the Maximum Number of Persons Allowed to be Detained in Places of Deprivation of Liberty and the Minimum Area Assigned per Person”. It shall be noted that this is the official capacity, however, due to reconstruction works, layout changes, security measures etc., the real usable capacity may slightly differ and can be changed as needed.
Moldova
  • Capacity: On the 2024 SPACE I Report, Moldova indicated a total capacity of 810 places. This figure was calculated erroneously on the basis of the number of beds available at the CSA. In practice, however, the number of beds can vary considerably, particularly in dormitory areas, as additional beds may be introduced according to operational need. From this year onwards, we have calculated capacity on the basis of the number of cells, using Council of Europe standards on minimum space per person. In this context, it is also important to clarify that the practice of accommodating two persons within cells designed for single occupancy is not ideal and should not be included in the facility’s capacity. Rather, it is a temporary measure adopted due to insufficient accommodation when assessed against European space standards. In addition, this year, an older section of the CSA is in the process of being demolished and is expected to be rebuilt over the coming three years. This has also affected the overall number of available cells and, consequently, the capacity figure reported for this year.
Monaco
  • Capacity: The total capacity of the facility is 88 places. As a single facility, the capacity is the same for both definitively convicted and non-definitively convicted prisoners. The facility also includes a 19-place corridor for minors.
Netherlands
  • Total number of inmates :  This figure refers to the adult prison system. Juvenile prisoners and people being treated in forensic psychiatric centres/clinics under a hospital order are not included.
Türkiye
  • Capacity: The Turkish report of their official capacity is ‘operational capacity’. When the number of inmates exceeds the capacity, additional beds are provided to accommodate them. Although prisons may accommodate inmates beyond their official capacity, rooms are allocated for sentenced prisoners and detainees who, under the legislation, are required to be housed in individual cells; within this framework, overnight accommodation is ensured.
Sweden
  • Capacity: This figure is an approximate number.
Northern Ireland
  • Capacity:  The reference date for the the total capacity is October 2024. the capacity was 2254 in June/July 2025.