Albania

Total prison population:
4,427
Country
Albania
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Justice (Ministria e Drejtesise)
Prison administration
General Directorate of Prisons
Contact address

Rruga "Zef Serembe", ish BRMR, (Brigada e Mbështetjes Rajonale), Tiranë
Albania

Telephone
Head of prison administration
Klevis Qose, Director General

Prison population data

Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners) 4,427
at February 2026 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population) 190
based on an estimated national population of 2.33 million at February 2026 (from Eurostat figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population) 54.8%
(February 2026)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population) 1.4%
(31.1.2024)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population) 0.5%
(February 2026 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population) 2.4%
(31.1.2024)
Number of establishments / institutions 23
(2017)
Official capacity of prison system 5,727
(31.1.2024)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity) 93.6%
(31.1.2024)

Prison population trend

Year Prison population total Prison population rate
3,053 99
3,778 121
4,356 139
4,554 144
4,667 146
4,779 167
5,201 179
5,934 205
5,418 189
5,045 177
4,956 176

Prison population total

Prison population rate

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. 

                                                      ALBANIA

YearNumber in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment
Percentage
of total
prison population
Pre-trial/remand
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)
2001
2005
2010
2015
2020
1,458
1,727
1,880
3,039
2,002
47.8%
39.6%
39.6%
51.2%
44.4%
47
55
59
105
70
20262,42454.8%104

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.

                                                    ALBANIA

YearNumber of
female
prisoners
Percentage
of total
prison population
Female prison
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)
2003
2005
2008
2010
2015
2020
80
103
126
93
121
91
3.1%
3.0%
2.6%
2.0%
2.0%
1.8%
2.6
3.3
4.0
2.9
4.2
3.2
2024751.4%2.7

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 trend up to 2000

The figures below give an indication of the prison population trend in the years up to 2000. They supplement the more recent figures that are shown at the foot of the Overview page and in the graphs below.

                                              ALBANIA

YearPrison
population
total
Prison population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)
1990
1995
1998
2001
3,000
3,177
2,922
3,053
92
97
87
99

 

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