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Number of prisoners increased by 3.2% in 2023

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In 2023, there were around 499,000 prisoners in the EU, indicating a 3.2% increase compared with 2022. There were 111 prisoners per 100,000 people, slightly more than in 2022, when this rate was 108.

In the period between 1993 and 2023, the highest number of prisoners was recorded in 2012 (553,000 prisoners). After a period of stability in 2017-2019, there was a decrease of 6.6% in the number of prisoners in 2020 (463,000), followed by a 7.7% total increase from 2021 to 2023.

When comparing EU countries, the highest prisoner rates per 100 000 people in 2023 were in Poland (203), followed by Hungary (187) and Czechia (181). The lowest rate was in Finland (53), the Netherlands (66) and Slovenia (68). 

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Source dataset: crim_pris_cap

13 EU countries had overcrowded cells in 2023

In 2023, 13 EU countries experienced overcrowded prison cells. Overcrowding occurs when there are more prisoners in the prison than it was designed to hold.

The highest overcrowding was observed in Cyprus, with an occupancy rate of 226.2, France (122.9) and Italy (119.1). The lowest prison occupancy rates were recorded in Estonia (56.2), Luxembourg (60.8) and Bulgaria (67.7). 

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Source dataset: crim_pris_cap

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Methodological notes

Prison occupancy rate: the number of prisoners relative to the official capacity (design capacity) of prisons, multiplied by 100.

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