Greece

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CountryGreece
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Justice, Transparency and Human Rights
Prison administration
Anticriminal and Penitentiary Policy General Directorate
Contact address
96 Avenue Messogion, GR-11527 ATHENS, Greece
Telephone
+30 210 7767 231
Fax
+30 210 7767 310
Website
http://www.ministryofjustice.gr
Head of prison administration (and title)
Ioannis Stalikas
General Director of Anticriminal and Penitentiary Policy
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
10 256
at 16.7.2023 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
99
based on an estimated national population of 10.36 million at July 2023 (from Eurostat figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
24.7%
(31.1.2023)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
5.0%
(31.1.2023)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.4%
(16.7.2023 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
56.8%
(31.1.2023)
Number of establishments / institutions
34
(July 2021)
Official capacity of prison system
10 163
(16.7.2023)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
100.9%
(16.7.2023)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 7,625 70
2002 8,507 78
2004 8,726 79
2006 9,964 90
2008 11,645 104
2010 11,364 102
2012 12,479 113
2014 12,693 116
2016 9,611 89
2018 10,011 93
2020 10,891 102
2000 7,625 70
2002 8,507 78
2004 8,726 79
2006 9,964 90
2008 11,645 104
2010 11,364 102
2012 12,479 113
2014 12,693 116
2016 9,611 89
2018 10,011 93
2020 10,891 102

Pages

Pages

PDF

A Human Rights Approach to Prison Management: Handbook for Prison Staff. Second edition. Greek version.

Core Publications
A Human Rights Approach to Prison Management: Handbook for Prison Staff
30/10/2009
Author: 
Andrew Coyle
Countries: 
Greece
PDF icon handbook2ndedgreek.pdf

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. 

                                                      GREECE

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

2,217
2,481
3,541
2,470
2,892

29.1%
28.4%
31.2%
20.9%
26.6%

20
22
31
23
29

2023

2,580

24.7%

25

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.

                                                     GREECE

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

358
594
554
572
490

4.7%
6.8%
4.9%
4.8%
4.5%

3.3
5.4
5.0
5.3
4.6

2023

527

5.0%

5.1

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