Lebanon

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CountryLebanon
Ministry responsible
Ministry of the Interior (to be transferred to the Ministry of Justice in due course)
Prison administration
Directorate of Prisons
Contact address
Lebanese Internal Security Forces and 'Gendarmerie' Headquarters in Beirut, Near Hotel Dieu Hospital, Achrafiyeh, Beirut
Telephone
+961 1 422000 and +961 1 425250
Fax
+961 1 427775
Website
Email
prisonadministration@justice.gov.lb
Head of prison administration (and title)
Raja Abi Nader
Director
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
8 502
at August 2023 (Internal Security Forces)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
129
based on an estimated national population of 6.57 million at August 2023 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
87.1%
(August 2023)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
2.9%
(6.10.2022)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.2%
(6.10.2022 - minors)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
36.0%
(2013)
Number of establishments / institutions
25
(2019)
Official capacity of prison system
4 760
(August 2023)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
178.6%
(August 2023)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 4,917 129
2002 6,405 157
2004 5,990 134
2006 6,101 128
2008 4,686 98
2010 5,060 102
2012 5,060 91
2014 6,012 95
2016 6,200 92
2018 c 9,000 c 131
2020 6,670 98
2000 4,917 129
2002 6,405 157
2004 5,990 134
2006 6,101 128
2008 4,686 98
2010 5,060 102
2012 5,060 91
2014 6,012 95
2016 6,200 92
2018 c 9,000 c 131
2020 6,670 98

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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. 

                                                  LEBANON

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
2015

3,059
3,700
3,200
3,853

62.2%
62.0%
62.5%
59.3%

96
92
75
76

2023

7,408

87.1%

113

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.

                                                   LEBANON

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2002
2005
2010
2015

358
225
201
272

4.3%
3.3%
4.0%
4.3%

10.4
5.6
4.6
5.4

2022

277

2.9%

4.2

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