France

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CountryFrance
Ministry responsible
Ministère de la Justice et des Libertés
Prison administration
Direction de l'Administration Pénitentiaire
Contact address
DAP/SCERI 13 Place Vendome, 75042 Paris, France
Telephone
+33 1 49 96 28 15
Fax
+33 1 49 96 28 80
Website
http://www.justice.gouv.fr/prison-et-reinsertion-10036/
Head of prison administration (and title)
Stéphane Bredin
Directeur de l'Administration Pénitentiaire
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
78 509
at 1.7.2024 (national prison administration - including French overseas departments and territories; excluding 17,186 persons not detained in penal institutions (écroués non détenus))
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
115
based on an estimated national population of 68.19 million at beginning of July 2024 (from estimates by INSEE - French national statistics institute)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
31.0%
(1.7.2024)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
4.7%
(1.7.2024)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
1.1%
(1.7.2024 - mineurs)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
25.1%
(31.1.2023)
Number of establishments / institutions
187
(2021)
Official capacity of prison system
61 869
(1.7.2024)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
126.9%
(1.7.2024)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 48,049 82
2002 45,319 76
2004 55,355 91
2006 55,633 91
2008 59,468 96
2011 62,467 99
2014 72,796 114
2016 71,190 110
2018 74,244 114
2020 77,062 119
2000 48,049 82
2002 45,319 76
2004 55,355 91
2006 55,633 91
2008 59,468 96
2011 62,467 99
2014 72,796 114
2016 71,190 110
2018 74,244 114
2020 77,062 119

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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. 

                                                  FRANCE
                  (including French overseas departments and territories)

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

16,562
20,228
15,226
17,602
19,951

33.9%
35.7%
25.0%
26.3%
34.0%

27
32
23
26
29

2024

24,342

31.0%

36

Note: The percentages in the table above do not include ecrouees non detenues – those not located in a penal institution (e.g. because they are serving their sentences under electronic surveillance). 

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.

                                                       FRANCE 
                 (including French overseas departments and territories)

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

1,828
2,077
2,006
2,183
2,033

3.7%
3.7%
3.3%
3.3%
3.5%

3.0
3.3
3.1
3.3
3.5

2024

3,663

4.7%

5.4

Note: The percentages in the table above do not include ecrouees non detenues – those not located in a penal institution (e.g. because they are serving their sentences under electronic surveillance). 

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