Algeria

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CountryAlgeria
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Justice
Prison administration
Administration Pénitentiaire et de la Réinsertion
Contact address
8 Bir Hakem Square, El-Biar 16003 Alger (Algiers)
Telephone
+213 21 92 41 83
Fax
+213 21 92 17 01
Website
http://dgapr.mjustice.dz/
Email
dgapr@mjustice.dz
Head of prison administration (and title)
Saïd Zreb
Directeur Général
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
94 749
at September 2021 (Ministry of Justice)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
217
based on an estimated national population of 43.74 million at September 2021 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
Circa
19.0%
(September 2021)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
1.5%
(31.12.2015)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.8%
(31.12.2015 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
3.8%
(31.12.2015)
Number of establishments / institutions
162
(2020 - 147 closed prisons, 12 open prisons, 3 centres for minors)
Official capacity of prison system
Circa
79 620
(September 2021)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
Circa
119.0%
(September 2021)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 33,992 108
2003 39,806 122
2004 44,231 134
2006 54,117 159
2008 55,598 158
2010 58,000 161
2012 55,000 147
2014 61,000 155
2016 c 60,000 c 148
2018 c 63,000 c 151
2000 33,992 108
2003 39,806 122
2004 44,231 134
2006 54,117 159
2008 55,598 158
2010 58,000 161
2012 55,000 147
2014 61,000 155
2016 c 60,000 c 148
2018 c 63,000 c 151

Pre-trial/remand prison population: trend

The table below gives an indication of the recent trend in the pre-trial/remand prison population. The final row shows the latest figures available.

It consists of the number of pre-trial/remand prisoners in the prison population on a single date in the year (or the annual average) and the percentage of the total prison population that pre-trial/remand prisoners constituted on that day.

The final column shows the pre-trial/remand population rate per 100,000 of the national population. 

                                                 ALGERIA

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

Pre-trial/remand
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

2000
2004
2008
2015

9,913
10,096
6,870
5,352

29.2%
22.8%
12.4%
8.6%

32
31
20
13

2021

c. 18,000

c. 19.0%

c. 41

It should be noted that the number of pre-trial/remand prisoners fluctuates from day to day, month to month and year to year. Consequently the above figures give an indication of the trend but the picture is inevitably incomplete.

The pre-trial/remand population rate is calculated on the basis of the national population total. All national population figures are inevitably estimates but the estimates used in the World Prison Brief are based on official national figures, United Nations figures or figures from other recognised international authorities.

Female prison population: trend

The table below gives an indication of the trend in the female prison population. The final row shows the latest figures available.

It consists of the number of female prisoners in the prison population on a single date in the year (or the annual average) and the percentage of the total prison population that female prisoners constituted on that day.  

The final column shows the female prison population rate per 100,000 of the national population. 

                                                   ALGERIA

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

Female prison
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

2000
2006
2010

626
607
1,034

1.8%
1.1%
2.1%

2.0
1.8
2.9

2015

918

1.5%

2.3

The number of female prisoners fluctuates and so the above figures give an indication of the trend but the picture is inevitably incomplete.

The female prison population rate is calculated on the basis of the national population total. All national population figures are inevitably estimates but the estimates used in the World Prison Brief are based on official national figures, United Nations figures or figures from other recognised international authorities.

(If the rate were calculated on the basis of the number of females in the national population it would of course be approximately double the figure in the final column.)

Prison population total
Prison population rate