Cape Verde (Cabo Verde)

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CountryCape Verde (Cabo Verde)
Ministry responsible
Ministèrio da Justiça
Prison administration
Direcção Geral de Gestão Prisional e Reintegraçáo Social (DGPRS)
Contact address
Rua Cidade do Funchal, Meio de Achada Santo António, Praia – Santiago, CP-1041
Telephone
+238 333 7230
Website
Email
geral.dgsprs@mj.gov.cv
Head of prison administration (and title)
João Monteiro Delgado
Diretor-Geral de Gestão Prisional e Reintegraçáo Social
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
2 100
at September 2023 (Minister of Justice)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
366
based on an estimated national population of 574,000 at September 2023 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
31.7%
(30.9.2018)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
2.9%
(March 2018)
Number of establishments / institutions
5
(2021)
Official capacity of prison system
1 410
(31.8.2017)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
109.4%
(31.8.2017)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
1997 624 148
1999 755 172
2009 c 1,300 c 267
2012 1,348 273
2016 1,569 306
1997 624 148
1999 755 172
2009 c 1,300 c 267
2012 1,348 273
2016 1,569 306

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. 

                                        CAPE VERDE (CABO VERDE)

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

1999
2010
2012

283
323
399

36.5%
26.3%
29.6%

65
66
81

2018

491

31.7%

94

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. 

                                      CAPE VERDE (CABO VERDE)

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

1999
2010
2013

38
73
57

5.0%
6.0%
4.0%

8.7
14.9
11.4

2018

46

2.9%

8.8

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