Belarus

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CountryBelarus
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Internal Affairs
Prison administration
Department for the Execution of Punishment
Contact address
Brilevskaya Street 14a, 220039 MINSK, Belarus
Telephone
+375 17 215 53 00
Fax
+375 17 215 54 57
Website
Email
pismo_din@mia.by
Head of prison administration (and title)
Sergei Doroshko
Head of Department
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
32 556
at 31.12.2018 (Statistical Yearbook)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
345
based on an estimated national population of 9.43 million at end of 2018 (from Eurostat figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
16.6%
(31.12.2018)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
10.8%
(of sentenced adults, 31.12.2018)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.4%
(31.12.2018 - juveniles)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
3.1%
(1.1.2015)
Number of establishments / institutions
67
(2016 - 18 adult colonies, 1 juvenile colony, 7 pre-trial SIZOs,, 3 prisons, 9 treatment-labour establishments, 29 open institutions)
Official capacity of prison system
35 720
(31.12.2014)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
83.4%
(31.12.2014)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 56,590 566
2002 51,238 518
2004 42,806 437
2006 45,416 468
2008 44,399 459
2010 39,627 418
2012 28,841 305
2014 29,776 314
2016 35,169 370
2000 56,590 566
2002 51,238 518
2004 42,806 437
2006 45,416 468
2008 44,399 459
2010 39,627 418
2012 28,841 305
2014 29,776 314
2016 35,169 370

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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. 

                                                      BELARUS

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
2009
2014

10,601
7,472
6,199
4,259

18.7%
18.0%
14.9%
14.3%

106
77
65
45

2018

5,417

16.6%

57

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.

                                                        BELARUS

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2000
2005
2010
2015

3,368
3,098
2,988
2,611

6.0%
7.5%
7.5%
10.2%

33.7
31.8
31.5
27.5

2018

2,834

10.8%

30.1

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