Turkey

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CountryTurkey
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Justice (Adalet Bakanligi)
Prison administration
General Directorate of Prisons and Detention Houses (Ceza ve Tevkifevleri Genel Müdürlügü)
Contact address
Hacı Bayram Mahallesi Agah, Efendi Caddesi No:70/1, Altindag/ ANKARA, Turkey
Telephone
+90 312 507 04 00
Website
https://cte.adalet.gov.tr/
Email
cte@adalet.gov.tr
Head of prison administration (and title)
Yunus Alkac
Director General of Prisons and Detention Houses
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
356 865
at 2.9.2024 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
418
based on an estimated national population of 85.43 million at beginning of September 2024 (from Eurostat figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
14.6%
(2.9.2024 - pre-trial prisoners only, not including other remand prisoners)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
4.3%
(2.9.2024)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
1.0%
(2.9.2024 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
4.4%
(31.1.2023)
Number of establishments / institutions
403
(1.4.2024)
Official capacity of prison system
295 702
(1.4.2024)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
109.2%
(1.4.2024)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 49,512 73
2002 59,429 85
2004 57,930 81
2006 70,277 101
2008 103,235 144
2010 120,814 164
2012 136,020 180
2014 158,837 204
2016 200,339 251
2018 264,842 324
2020 266,831 319
2000 49,512 73
2002 59,429 85
2004 57,930 81
2006 70,277 101
2008 103,235 144
2010 120,814 164
2012 136,020 180
2014 158,837 204
2016 200,339 251
2018 264,842 324
2020 266,831 319

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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.

                                                      TURKEY

YearNumber in pre-trial/remand imprisonmentPercentage of total
prison population		Pre-trial/remand
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
 		29,953 (of which 26,297 untried)
30,061 (of which 25,910 untried)
56,107 (of which 34,827 untried)
25,590 untried
c. 41,890 untried
 		41.7% (untried are 36.6%)
55.4% (untried are 47.7%)
46.6% (untried are 28.9%)
14.4% untried
15.7% untried
 		44 (untried rate 39)
42 (untried rate 36)
77 (untried rate 47)
untried rate 32
untried rate 50
 
2024
 		52,066 untried
 		14.6% untried
 		untried rate 61
 

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.

                                                       TURKEY

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

2,591
1,802
4,218
6,289
11,586

3.6%
3.3%
3.5%
3.6%
3.9%

3.8
2.5
5.8
8.0
13.9

2024

15,364

4.3%

18.0

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