Hungary

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CountryHungary
Ministry responsible
Ministry of the Interior (Belugyminiszterium)
Prison administration
Hungarian Prison Service (Buntetes-vegrehajtasi Szervezet)
Contact address
Steindl Imre utca 8, H-1054 BUDAPEST, Hungary
Telephone
+36 1 301 8227
Fax
+36 1 311 9878
Website
http://www.bv.gov.hu
Email
international@bv.gov.hu
Head of prison administration (and title)
(Maj. Gen.) Dr. Tamás Tóth
Director General
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
18 270
at 31.12.2023 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
192
based on an estimated national population of 9.51 million at end of December 2023 (from Eurostat figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
22.8%
(31.12.2023)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
8.4%
(31.12.2023)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.2%
(31.12.2023 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
4.9%
(31.12.2023)
Number of establishments / institutions
30
(2023)
Official capacity of prison system
17 998
(31.12.2023)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
101.5%
(31.12.2023)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 15,539 152
2002 17,838 176
2004 16,543 164
2006 14,821 147
2008 14,743 147
2010 16,328 163
2012 17,179 173
2014 17,890 182
2016 17,658 180
2018 16,303 167
2020 16,752 172
2000 15,539 152
2002 17,838 176
2004 16,543 164
2006 14,821 147
2008 14,743 147
2010 16,328 163
2012 17,179 173
2014 17,890 182
2016 17,658 180
2018 16,303 167
2020 16,752 172

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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. 

                                                   HUNGARY

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

4,105
3,981
4,803
3,978
3,421

26.4%
25.3%
29.4%
22.8%
20.4%

40
39
48
40
35

2023

4,161

22.8%

44

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.

                                                    HUNGARY

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

976
1,027
1,033
1,250
1,290

6.3%
6.5%
6.3%
7.2%
7.7%

9.6
10.2
10.3
12.7
13.2

2023

1,526

8.4%

16.0

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