Hong Kong (China)

Donate to WPB
CountryHong Kong (China)
Ministry responsible
Administrative Region Government
Prison administration
Correctional Services Department
Contact address
24th Floor, Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong
Telephone
+852 2511 3511
Fax
+852 2802 0184
Website
http://www.csd.gov.hk
Head of prison administration (and title)
WONG Kwok-hing
Commissioner of Correctional Services
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
9 079
at 31.12.2023 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
121
based on an estimated national population of 7.50 million at end of December 2023 (from Hong Kong Statistics figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
37.5%
(mid-2023)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
21.0%
(mid-2023)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
4.0%
(2019 - under 21)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
27.1%
(mid-2021 - including residents from the mainland, Macao and Taiwan)
Number of establishments / institutions
24
(2021)
Official capacity of prison system
Circa
11 220
(2018)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
Circa
74.0%
(2018)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 12,017 180
2002 12,744 189
2004 12,705 187
2006 11,364 165
2008 10,491 151
2010 9,988 142
2012 9,297 129
2014 8,297 114
2016 8,611 117
2018 8,181 109
2020 7,107 95
2000 12,017 180
2002 12,744 189
2004 12,705 187
2006 11,364 165
2008 10,491 151
2010 9,988 142
2012 9,297 129
2014 8,297 114
2016 8,611 117
2018 8,181 109
2020 7,107 95

Pages

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. 

                                                    HONG KONG (CHINA)

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

1,252
1,186
1,365
1,582
1,962

10.4%
10.5%
13.7%
18.7%
28.4%

19
17
19
22
26

2023

3,133

37.5%

42

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.

                                                   HONG KONG (CHINA)

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

1,321
2,476
2,002
1,613
1,311

11.8%
20.4%
19.7%
19.5%
19.0%

19.8
36.4
28.5
22.1
17.5

2023

1,752

21.0%

23.2

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