Senegal

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CountrySenegal
Ministry responsible
Ministère de la Justice
Prison administration
Direction de l'Administration Pénitentiaire
Contact address
Sacré Coeur 3 Montagne No. 9827 Bis, BP 50169 Dakar, Senegal
Telephone
+221 33 869 47 80
Fax
+221 33 867 46 34
Website
Head of prison administration (and title)
(Col.) Jean Bertrand Bocandé
Directeur
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
13 185
at 4.9.2023 (Minister of Justice)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
69
based on an estimated national population of 19.08 million at beginning of September 2023 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
53.8%
(4.9.2023)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
2.6%
(1.8.2022)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
1.0%
(1.8.2022 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
9.1%
(1.8.2022)
Number of establishments / institutions
37
(2023)
Official capacity of prison system
7 350
(March 2018)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
129.7%
(March 2018)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 4,894 51
2002 5,360 53
2004 6,833 65
2006 6,363 57
2008 6,894 58
2010 7,300 59
2012 8,428 60
2014 8,630 58
2016 9,544 61
2018 12,500 76
2021 11,315 63
2000 4,894 51
2002 5,360 53
2004 6,833 65
2006 6,363 57
2008 6,894 58
2010 7,300 59
2012 8,428 60
2014 8,630 58
2016 9,544 61
2018 12,500 76
2021 11,315 63

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. 

                                                 SENEGAL

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
2008
2011
2016

1,696
2,073
2,656
3,352
4,383

34.0%
32.3%
38.5%
44.0%
46.5%

18
19
23
25
28

2023

7,096

53.8%

37

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.

                                                  SENEGAL

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2000
2005
2008
2012
2016

183
234
256
284
275

3.7%
3.6%
3.7%
3.4%
2.9%

1.9
2.2
2.2
2.0
1.7

2022

320

2.6%

1.7

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