Rwanda

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CountryRwanda
Ministry responsible
Ministry of the Interior
Prison administration
Rwanda Correctional Service
Contact address
P.O. Box 6516, Kigali, Rwanda
Telephone
+250 733513228
Fax
+250 788513996
Website
http://www.rcs.gov.rw
Email
info@rcs.gov.rw
Head of prison administration (and title)
Juvenal Marizamunda
Commissioner General of Prisons
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
89 034
at August 2023 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
637
based on an estimated national population of 13.97 million at August 2023 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
14.0%
(August 2023)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
5.4%
(March 2020)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.9%
(March 2020 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
0.3%
(mid-2002)
Number of establishments / institutions
14
(2020 - 13 prisons, 1 rehabilitation centre for juveniles)
Official capacity of prison system
61 320
(July 2022)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
138.1%
(July 2022)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2010 55,000 547
2012 58,223 553
2014 54,279 491
2016 51,124 440
2018 66,392 544
2020 71,000 545
2010 55,000 547
2012 58,223 553
2014 54,279 491
2016 51,124 440
2018 66,392 544
2020 71,000 545

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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. 

                                                    RWANDA

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

Pre-trial/remand
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

2012
2015
2020

5,726
4,022
6,399

9.8%
7.4%
9.7%

50
32
50

2023

12,501

14.0%

89

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.

                                                     RWANDA

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2002
2009
2012
2015

2,925
c. 4,200
3,580
3,616

2.6%
c. 6.6%
6.1%
6.7%

33.6
c. 40.3
31.3
29.2

2020

3,537

5.4%

27.5

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