Estonia

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CountryEstonia
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Justice (Justiitsministeerium)
Prison administration
Department of Prisons (Vanglateenistus)
Contact address
Jaama 7, EE-41533 JOHVI, Estonia
Telephone
+372 6 20 82 29 or 20 82 00
Fax
+372 6 20 82 72
Website
Head of prison administration (and title)
Priit Kama
Deputy Secretary General
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
1 688
at 18.10.2024 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
122
based on an estimated national population of 1.38 million at October 2024 (from Statistics Estonia figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
18.1%
(18.10.2024)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
4.5%
(18.10.2024)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.2%
(18.10.2024 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
32.8%
(1.1.2023)
Number of establishments / institutions
3
(2022)
Official capacity of prison system
3 278
(1.1.2024)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
56.2%
(1.1.2024)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 4,712 343
2002 4,783 349
2004 4,577 337
2006 4,410 327
2008 3,456 258
2010 3,555 267
2012 3,400 257
2014 3,026 230
2016 2,681 204
2018 2,525 191
2020 2,450 184
2022 2,181 164
2000 4,712 343
2002 4,783 349
2004 4,577 337
2006 4,410 327
2008 3,456 258
2010 3,555 267
2012 3,400 257
2014 3,026 230
2016 2,681 204
2018 2,525 191
2020 2,450 184
2022 2,181 164

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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. 

                                                   ESTONIA

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

1,639
1,096
836
688
493

35.5%
24.0%
23.5%
24.2%
19.9%

119
81
62
53
37

2024

306

18.1%

22

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.

                                                      ESTONIA

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

285
174
195
152
111

6.0%
3.9%
5.5%
5.2%
4.5%

20.8
12.9
14.6
11.6
8.3

2024

76

4.5%

5.5

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