Vietnam

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CountryVietnam
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Public Security
Prison administration
Department of Prison Management
Contact address
17/175 Dunh cong-Hoang mai, Hanoi, Vietnam
Telephone
+84 43 864 1501 or 2223
Fax
+84 43 864 1502
Head of prison administration (and title)
Pham Duc Chan
Director General
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
133 986
at June 2022 (via Asian & Pacific Conference of Correctional Administrators)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
135
based on an estimated national population of 98.92 million at June 2022 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
11.5%
(June 2022)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
12.1%
(mid-2019)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
0.4%
(mid-2019)
Number of establishments / institutions
54
(2019)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2005 88,414 104
2007 92,153 106
2009 107,668 122
2011 113,018 126
2012 130,180 143
2014 142,636 154
2016 130,679 139
2018 129,610 135
2005 88,414 104
2007 92,153 106
2009 107,668 122
2011 113,018 126
2012 130,180 143
2014 142,636 154
2016 130,679 139
2018 129,610 135

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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. 

                                                 VIETNAM

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
2019

15,150
23,985
15,835

11.6%
17.6%
12.6%

17
26
16

2022

15,405

11.5%

16

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.

                                                     VIETNAM

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2005
2007
2010
2015

10,990
10,349
12,591
16,547

12.4%
11.2%
11.6%
12.1%

12.9
12.0
14.1
17.7

2019

15,152

12.1%

15.7

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