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In 2023, the prison population in the European Union reached approximately 499,000 inmates, representing a 3.2% increase compared to the previous year. This increase translates to a rate of 111 prisoners per 100,000 inhabitants, slightly higher than the 108 in 2022.
Since 1993, the historical peak of inmates was recorded in 2012, with 553,000 prisoners. After a period of stability between 2017 and 2019, the figure decreased by 6.6% in 2020, settling at 463,000. However, between 2021 and 2023, a significant increase of 7.7% was observed.
When breaking down the figures by country, Poland tops the list with the highest prisoner rate, reaching 203 per 100,000 people. It is followed by Hungary with 187 and the Czech Republic with 181. In contrast, the countries with the lowest rates are Finland (53), the Netherlands (66), and Slovenia (68).
Additionally, 13 EU countries are facing overcrowding issues in 2023, defined as a situation where the number of inmates exceeds the capacity of the correctional facility. Cyprus reported the highest occupancy rate at 226.2%, while France and Italy experienced rates of 122.9% and 119.1%, respectively. The lowest occupancy rates were recorded in Estonia (56.2%), Luxembourg (60.8%), and Bulgaria (67.7%).
These data not only highlight an increase in the prison population but also the growing pressure on many European penitentiary systems. This raises serious concerns about the living conditions in prisons, as well as the effectiveness of rehabilitation and reintegration programs for inmates.
Source: MiMub in Spanish
