Tanzania

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CountryTanzania
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Home Affairs
Prison administration
Tanzania Prisons Service
Contact address
Prison Headquarters, P.O. Box 9190, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Telephone
+255 754 066387
Fax
+255 754 871084
Website
http://www.moha.go.tz
Head of prison administration (and title)
Ramadhan Nyamka
Commissioner General of Prisons
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
32 671
at March 2022 (Ministry of Home Affairs)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
50
based on an estimated national population of 65.49 million at March 2022 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
Circa
50.0%
(June 2021)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
3.4%
(1.11.2011)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
3.9%
(1.9.2009 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
3.7%
(1.9.2009)
Number of establishments / institutions
126
(2015)
Official capacity of prison system
Circa
29 760
(April 2020)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
Circa
109.0%
(April 2020)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 45,611 135
2002 44,063 123
2004 43,526 114
2006 43,911 109
2008 41,613 96
2011 38,353 81
2013 34,404 68
2015 34,404 64
2019 35,803 59
2021 33,570 52
2000 45,611 135
2002 44,063 123
2004 43,526 114
2006 43,911 109
2008 41,613 96
2011 38,353 81
2013 34,404 68
2015 34,404 64
2019 35,803 59
2021 33,570 52

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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.

                                                 TANZANIA

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
2019

18,344
20,376
19,529
17,523
18,256

40.2%
43.9%
50.8%
53.1%
51.0%

54
52
43
33
30

2021

c. 16,800

c. 50.0%

c. 26

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.

                                                 TANZANIA

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

1999
2005
2008

1,293
1,515
1,361

3.1%
3.3%
3.3%

3.9
3.9
3.2

2011

1,285

3.4%

2.8

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