Cyprus (Republic of)

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CountryCyprus (Republic of)
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Justice and Public Order
Prison administration
Department of Prisons
Contact address
2 Norman Street, 1702 Nicosia, Republic of Cyprus
Telephone
+357 22 40 6104
Fax
+357 22 30 3889
Head of prison administration (and title)
Charis Philippides
Acting Director
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
947
at 20.6.2023 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
103
based on an estimated national population of 917,500 at June 2023 (from Eurostat figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
24.1%
(20.6.2023)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
9.2%
(of those held in the prison, 31.1.2023)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
4.3%
(31.1.2023 - minors)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
55.2%
(of those held in the prison, 31.1.2023)
Number of establishments / institutions
1
(2023 - one prison; some pre-trial detainees are held in police detention centres )
Official capacity of prison system
545
(20.6.2023)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
173.8%
(20.6.2023)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 312 45
2002 345 48
2004 546 73
2006 599 77
2008 831 105
2010 900 108
2012 930 108
2014 681 80
2016 668 78
2018 621 72
2020 654 73
2022 791 87
2000 312 45
2002 345 48
2004 546 73
2006 599 77
2008 831 105
2010 900 108
2012 930 108
2014 681 80
2016 668 78
2018 621 72
2020 654 73
2022 791 87

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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. 

                                                     CYPRUS

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2000
2005
2010
2015
2020

39
101
401
170
287

12.5%
18.8%
44.6%
26.0%
34.6%

6
13
50
20
32

2023

228

24.1%

25

Note.  The figures for 2000 and 2005 do not include pre-trial detainees held in police facilities.

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.

                                                    CYPRUS

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2000
2005
2010
2015
2020

14
18
38
40
37

4.5%
3.4%
6.0%
6.7%
4.6%

2.0
2.4
4.7
4.7
4.2

2023

94

9.2%

10.2

Note: not including pre-trial prisoners detained in police facilities

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