Kazakhstan

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CountryKazakhstan
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Internal Affairs
Prison administration
Committee of the Criminal-Executive System (KUIS)
Contact address
Mailin street 2, Astana city B, 010000, Kazakhstan
Telephone
+7 7172 723002
+7 7172 723016
Fax
+7 7172 723144
Website
http://mvd.gov.kz/portal/page/portal/CriminalExecutive/KuisNews
Head of prison administration (and title)
Yeshmagambetov Zhanat Bolatovich
Chairperson of the Committee of the Criminal-Executive System
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
35 228
at 1.7.2022 (national prison administration, via Penal Reform International)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
184
based on an estimated national population of 19.13 million at beginning of July 2022 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
20.3%
(1.7.2022)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
7.0%
(1.7.2022)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.2%
(1.7.2022 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
3.7%
(1.7.2022)
Number of establishments / institutions
80
(2021)
Official capacity of prison system
46 479
(August 2019)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
62.4%
(August 2019)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 78,029 520
2002 84,812 566
2004 57,802 380
2006 52,713 339
2008 56,012 354
2010 63,643 393
2012 52,338 314
2014 49,821 289
2016 39,179 221
2018 35,219 192
2020 29,403 157
2000 78,029 520
2002 84,812 566
2004 57,802 380
2006 52,713 339
2008 56,012 354
2010 63,643 393
2012 52,338 314
2014 49,821 289
2016 39,179 221
2018 35,219 192
2020 29,403 157

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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. 

                                                    KAZAKHSTAN

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

16,498
8,324
8,503
5,623
5,795

21.1%
15.8%
13.4%
11.7%
19.7%

113
55
52
32
31

2022

7,140

20.3%

37

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.

                                                    KAZAKHSTAN

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

Female prison
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

2005
2008
2010
2015
2018

2,899
3,646
4,246
3,486
2,744

5.5%
6.6%
6.7%
7.3%
7.8%

19.3
23.6
26.8
19.9
15.1

2022

2,457

7.0%

12.8

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