Thailand

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CountryThailand
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Justice
Prison administration
Department of Corrections
Contact address
222, Nonthaburi 1 Road, Suanyai, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand
Telephone
+66 2 967 2222
Fax
+66 2 967 2408
Website
Head of prison administration (and title)
Ayuth Sintoppant
Director General
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
262 319
at 1.1.2023 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
377
based on an estimated national population of 69.59 million at beginning of January 2023 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
18.8%
(1.1.2023)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
11.6%
(1.1.2023)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
Juvenile offenders are the responsibility of the Department of Juvenile Observation and Protection and are not included in the prison population
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
3.5%
(mid-2021)
Number of establishments / institutions
143
(2019)
Official capacity of prison system
233 000
(June 2022)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
115.5%
(June 2022)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 223,406 354
2002 254,070 396
2004 167,142 257
2006 152,625 232
2008 185,082 278
2010 210,855 313
2012 234,895 346
2014 315,012 460
2016 300,868 437
2018 366,316 529
2020 358,369 516
2000 223,406 354
2002 254,070 396
2004 167,142 257
2006 152,625 232
2008 185,082 278
2010 210,855 313
2012 234,895 346
2014 315,012 460
2016 300,868 437
2018 366,316 529
2020 358,369 516

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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. 

                                                    THAILAND

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
2020

80,086
41,268
53,307
66,555
63,557

38.9%
25.0%
26.6%
21.8%
16.8%

128
63
80
99
92

2023

49,272

18.8%

71

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.

                                                    THAILAND

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2000
2005
2010
2015
2020

35,803
28,452
29,175
44,152
47,869

17.4%
17.2%
14.6%
14.4%
12.7%

57.4
43.4
43.9
65.5
69.0

2023

30,306

11.6%

43.5

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