French Polynesia (France)

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CountryFrench Polynesia (France)
Prison administration
La Direction des Etablissements Pénitentiaires de Polynésie Française.
Website
http://www.polynesie-francaise.pref.gouv.fr/Les-services-de-l-Etat/Justice-et-ju…
Head of prison administration (and title)
Lionel Lecomte
Directeur
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
544
at 1.1.2024 (French Ministry of Justice)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
190
based on an estimated national population of 286,500 at beginning of January 2024 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
19.0%
(1.1.2020)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
4.2%
(1.1.2024)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.4%
(1.10.2021 - under 18)
Number of establishments / institutions
2
(2024 - Faa'a Nuutania and Tatutu de Papeari)
Official capacity of prison system
560
(1.1.2024)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
97.1%
(1.1.2024)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2001 275 114
2003 291 117
2005 314 123
2007 404 155
2012 426 156
2014 429 156
2016 397 141
2018 569 205
2020 598 212
2001 275 114
2003 291 117
2005 314 123
2007 404 155
2012 426 156
2014 429 156
2016 397 141
2018 569 205
2020 598 212

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. 

                                          FRENCH POLYNESIA (FRANCE)

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2011
2016

90
57

21.4%
14.4%

33
20

2020

122

19.0%

44

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. 

                                         FRENCH POLYNESIA (FRANCE)

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2003
2007
2015

12
12
17

4.1%
3.0%
3.8%

4.8
4.6
6.0

2024

23

4.2%

8.0

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