Greenland (Denmark)

Donate to WPB
CountryGreenland (Denmark)
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Justice, Denmark
Prison administration
Department of Prisons and Probation, Denmark
Contact address
Strandgade 100, DK-1401 Copenhagen K, Denmark
Telephone
+299 45 34 75 00
Website
http://www.kriminalforsorgen.gl
Email
krfo@krfo.gl
Head of prison administration (and title)
Naaja H. Nathanielsen
Director General
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
154
average 2023 (Danish prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
271
based on an estimated national population of 56,865 at mid-2023 (from Statistics Greenland figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
24.7%
(average, 2023)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
13.8%
(21.7.2015)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.0%
(21.7.2015 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
0.9%
(21.7.2015)
Number of establishments / institutions
6
(2023)
Official capacity of prison system
153
(average, 2023)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
100.7%
(average, 2023)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 88 157
2002 96 170
2004 111 195
2006 115 202
2008 132 234
2010 171 302
2012 170 301
2014 131 234
2016 126 225
2018 124 222
2020 131 233
2000 88 157
2002 96 170
2004 111 195
2006 115 202
2008 132 234
2010 171 302
2012 170 301
2014 131 234
2016 126 225
2018 124 222
2020 131 233

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. 

                                             GREENLAND

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

7
9
46
29

8.0%
8.0%
26.9%
23.0%

12
16
 81
52

2023

38

24.7%

67

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.

Prison population total
Prison population rate