Denmark

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CountryDenmark
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Justice
Prison administration
Department of Prisons and Probation
Contact address
Strandgade 100, DK-1401 COPENHAGEN K, Denmark
Telephone
+45 72 55 5555
Fax
+45 72 55 5556
Website
Head of prison administration (and title)
Ms. Ina Eliasen
Head of Prison and Probation Service
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
4 230
at 31.1.2023 (via Council of Europe)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
71
based on an estimated national population of 5.94 million at end of January 2023 (from Eurostat figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
38.8%
(31.1.2023)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
5.3%
(31.1.2023)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.3%
(31.1.2023 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
29.0%
(31.1.2023)
Number of establishments / institutions
54
(2022)
Official capacity of prison system
4 367
(31.1.2023)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
96.9%
(31.1.2023)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 3,382 63
2002 3,435 64
2004 3,767 70
2006 3,932 72
2008 3,530 64
2010 3,965 71
2012 3,984 71
2014 3,784 67
2016 3,421 60
2018 3,738 65
2020 4,085 70
2000 3,382 63
2002 3,435 64
2004 3,767 70
2006 3,932 72
2008 3,530 64
2010 3,965 71
2012 3,984 71
2014 3,784 67
2016 3,421 60
2018 3,738 65
2020 4,085 70

Pages

PDF

The Danish Prison and Probation Service – in brief

Report
13/12/2012
Author: 
Danish Department of Prisons and Probation
Countries: 

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. 

                                                  DENMARK

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

887
1,044
1,384
1,153
1,533

26.2%
25.8%
34.9%
33.7%
37.5%

17
19
25
20
26

2023

1,642

38.8%

28

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.

                                                   DENMARK

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

164
184
183
118
185

5.0%
4.5%
4.6%
3.7%
4.5%

3.1
3.4
3.3
2.1
3.2

2023

223

5.3%

3.8

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