Number of prisoners increased in 2022

In 2022, there were 483 593 prisoners in the EU, equivalent to 108 prisoners per 100 000 people. The prisoner rate increased after the 106 prisoners per 100 000 people recorded in 2021.

Source dataset: crim_pris_cap

The highest prisoner rates per 100 000 people in 2022 were in Hungary (200), Poland (190) and Czechia and Slovakia (both 181). The lowest rates were in Finland (52), the Netherlands (64) and Slovenia (65).

11 EU countries experienced overcrowded cells in 2022

In 2022, 11 EU countries experienced overcrowded prison cells. The prison occupancy rate is the number of prisoners relative to the official capacity (design capacity) of prisons, multiplied by 100. Overcrowding occurs when the occupancy rate exceeds 100, indicating that there are more prisoners in the prison than it was designed to hold.

Source dataset: crim_pris_cap

The highest overcrowding was observed in Cyprus with an occupancy rate of 226, France (119) and Belgium (118). The lowest prison occupancy rates were recorded in Malta (59), Estonia (62) and Latvia (67).