World Prison Brief

Institute for Criminal Policy Research

Iran

CountryIran
Ministry responsible
The Judiciary
Prison administration
The Prisons Organization
Contact address
BP 19853-353, Tehran, Iran
Telephone
+98 21 235 6300
Fax
+98 21 209 4896
Head of prison administration (and title)
(Dr.) Asghar Jahangir
Head of the Prisons Organization
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
225 624
at December 2014 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
287
based on an estimated national population of 78.59 million at December 2014 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
25.1%
(December 2014)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
3.1%
(December 2014)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.5%
(December 2014 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
2.9%
(December 2014)
Number of establishments / institutions
253
(2014)
Official capacity of prison system
140 000
(December 2014)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
161.2%
(December 2014)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2001 158,000 237
2003 157,267 229
2005 134,384 192
2007 148,843 207
2009 168,516 229
2011 c 250,000 c 331
2013 c 226,220 c 294
2015 225,624 287
2001 158,000 237
2003 157,267 229
2005 134,384 192
2007 148,843 207
2009 168,516 229
2011 c 250,000 c 331
2013 c 226,220 c 294
2015 225,624 287

Pages

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. 

                                                     IRAN

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2010

c. 42,900

25.7%

c. 58

2014

c. 56,650

25.1%

72

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.

                                                      IRAN

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2002
2006
2010

c. 5,790
c. 5,130
c. 5,850

3.5%
3.5%
3.5%

c. 8.6
c. 7.3
c. 8.0

2014

c. 6,880

3.1%

c. 8.8

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