Sweden

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CountrySweden
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Justice
Prison administration
Swedish Prison and Probation Administration (Kriminalvardsstyrelsen)
Contact address
Slottsgatan 78, S-601 80 Norrköping, Sweden
Telephone
+46 77 228 08 00
Fax
+46 11 496 36 40
Website
Head of prison administration (and title)
Martin Holmgren
Director General
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
8 635
at 1.1.2023 (via Council of Europe)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
82
based on an estimated national population of 10.52 million at beginning of January 2023 (from Eurostat figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
26.9%
(1.10.2021)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
5.9%
(1.10.2021)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.3%
(1.10.2021 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
22.1%
(1.10.2016)
Number of establishments / institutions
79
(2015 - 46 prisons and 33 remand prisons)
Official capacity of prison system
8 220
(1.1.2023)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
105.0%
(1.1.2023)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 5,326 60
2002 6,097 68
2004 7,020 78
2006 7,196 79
2008 6,884 75
2010 6,902 74
2012 6,558 69
2014 5,869 61
2016 5,762 58
2018 6,391 63
2020 7,607 73
2000 5,326 60
2002 6,097 68
2004 7,020 78
2006 7,196 79
2008 6,884 75
2010 6,902 74
2012 6,558 69
2014 5,869 61
2016 5,762 58
2018 6,391 63
2020 7,607 73

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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. 

                                                    SWEDEN

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
2010
2015

1,376
1,477
1,548
1,478

24.2%
20.9%
22.4%
25.6%

15
16
16
15

2021

2,089

26.9%

20

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.

                                                     SWEDEN

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2000
2005
2010
2015

288
368
405
331

5.1%
5.2%
5.7%
5.7%

3.2
4.1
4.3
3.4

2021

457

5.9%

4.4

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