Ethiopia

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CountryEthiopia
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Federal Affairs
Prison administration
Federal Prison Commission and nine State Prison Administrations
Contact address
P.O. Box 2237, Addis Ababa, Ethopia (Federal Prison Administration)
Telephone
+251 1 55 35 53 (Federal Prison Commission)
Fax
+251 1 51 77 75 (Federal Prison Commission)
Head of prison administration (and title)
Damena Darota
Commissioner General
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
110 000
at March 2020 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
99
based on an estimated national population of 111.11 million at March 2020 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
14.9%
(2011-12)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
4.2%
(2013-14)
Number of establishments / institutions
126
(2015 - 6 federal prisons and 120 regional prisons; there are also many unofficial prisons - U.S. State Department human rights report.)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
No official figures have been traced but according to the U.S. State Department human rights report for 2016 severe overcrowding is common.
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 55,209 85
2002 62,059 91
2004 74,413 103
2006 72,211 96
2008 85,664 109
2010 112,361 136
2012 c 111,040 c 129
2014 113,727 127
2000 55,209 85
2002 62,059 91
2004 74,413 103
2006 72,211 96
2008 85,664 109
2010 112,361 136
2012 c 111,040 c 129
2014 113,727 127

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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. 

                                                ETHIOPIA

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

1999/2000
2004/05
2009/10

31,264
24,520
15,723

56.6%
30.4%
14.0%

48
33
19

2011/12

16,585

14.9%

19

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.

                                                   ETHIOPIA

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2001/02
2005/06
2009/10

2,034
1,994
3,895

3.3%
2.8%
3.5%

3.0
2.6
4.7

2013/14

4,756

4.2%

5.3

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