Poland has the highest indicator of the number of prisoners in the EU

The latest Eurostat data shows that in 2023 Poland recorded the highest indicator of the number of prisoners among the European Union per 100,000. residents.

There were 499 thousand prisoners throughout the European Union. prisoners, which means an increase of 3.2 percent In comparison with 2022, on average, there were 111 prisoners in the EU per 100,000 inhabitants, which is slightly more than in 2022, when this indicator was 108.

The most important indicator that allows you to compare these data between countries of different population is the number of prisoners per 100,000. residents. In 2023, 203 people per 100,000 were in Polish prisons. residents, in Hungary – 187 and in the Czech Republic – 181. The least people per 100,000 residents were in prisons in Finland – 53, the Netherlands – 66 and Slovenia – 68.

There were 111 prisoners per 100,000 people in 2023, up from 108 in 2022. 📈

Highest number of prisoners in:
🇵🇱Poland (203 per 100,000 Inhabitants)
🇭🇺Hungary (187)

Lowest in:
🇫🇮Finland (53)
🇳🇱neherlands (66)

Learn More pic.twitter.com/vrye2bvsiv

– eu_eurostat (@eu_eurostat) May 5, 2025

In terms of the number of prisoners, Poland is also at the forefront of European Union countries. With a result of 74.5 thousand people deprived of liberty we take second place, just behind France, where this number is 75.9 thousand.

Eurostat also published data on the prisoners. In 2023, 14 EU Member States had a surplus of places, which meant the presence of “empty purposes”, while in 13 countries the overcrowding of prison was noted.

The greatest overpopulation of the prison goal was recorded in Cyprus, where the occupancy rate was 226.2, in France (122.9) and Italy (119.1). The lowest indicators were recorded in Estonia (56.2), Luxembourg (60.8) and Bulgaria (67.7). In Poland it was 84.7, which is the result below the EU average (94.6).

The prison overflow indicator is the number of prisoners compared to the official prison capacity, multiplied by 100. The overflow can be formally defined when the indicator exceeds 100 (PAP)

ADZ/ MOW/