India

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CountryIndia
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Home Affairs
Prison administration
Governments of States and Union Territories
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
573 220
at 31.12.2022 (National Crime Records Bureau)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
41
based on an estimated national population of 1,413,144 million at end of 2022 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
75.8%
(31.12.2022)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
4.1%
(31.12.2022)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.0%
(31.12.2022 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
1.1%
(31.12.2022)
Number of establishments / institutions
1 330
(31.12.2022 - comprising 148 central jails, 428 district jails, 574 sub jails, 34 women's jails, 91 open jails, 10 Borstal schools, 42 special jails, 3 other jails)
Official capacity of prison system
436 266
(31.12.2022)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
131.4%
(31.12.2022)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 272,079 26
2002 322,357 30
2004 331,391 30
2006 373,271 32
2008 384,753 33
2010 368,998 30
2012 385,135 30
2014 418,536 32
2016 433,033 33
2018 466,084 34
2020 488,511 35
2000 272,079 26
2002 322,357 30
2004 331,391 30
2006 373,271 32
2008 384,753 33
2010 368,998 30
2012 385,135 30
2014 418,536 32
2016 433,033 33
2018 466,084 34
2020 488,511 35

Pages

PDF

Prison Statistics India 2013

Report
09/12/2014
Author: 
National Crime Records Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs
Countries: 
India
Prison Statistics India 2013

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. 

                                                    INDIA

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

193,627
237,076
240,098
282,076
371,848

71.2%
66.2%
65.1%
67.2%
76.1%

18
21
20
22
27

2022

434,302

75.8%

31

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.

                                                        INDIA

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

9,089
13,986
15,037
17,834
20,046

3.3%
3.9%
4.1%
4.3%
4.1%

0.9
1.2
1.2
1.4
1.4

2022

23,772

4.1%

1.7

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