Austria

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CountryAustria
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Justice
Prison administration
Prison Administration
Contact address
Museumstrasse 7, A-1016 VIENNA, Austria
Telephone
+43 1 52 152 2216
Fax
+43 1 52 152 2727 or 2822
Website
Head of prison administration (and title)
Erich Mayer
Director General
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
9 288
at 1.11.2024 (Ministry of Justice, not including persons under electronic surveillance outside the prisons)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
101
based on an estimated national population of 9.20 million at beginning of November 2024 (from Statistics Austria figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
19.5%
(1.11.2024)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
6.8%
(1.11.2024)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
1.2%
(31.1.2023 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
52.9%
(1.11.2024)
Number of establishments / institutions
27
(2015)
Official capacity of prison system
8 282
(1.11.2024)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
112.1%
(1.11.2024)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 6,862 86
2002 7,425 92
2004 8,449 103
2006 8,853 107
2008 8,214 98
2010 8,597 102
2012 8,554 101
2014 8,605 101
2016 8,530 97
2018 8,692 98
2020 8,348 94
2022 8,456 94
2000 6,862 86
2002 7,425 92
2004 8,449 103
2006 8,853 107
2008 8,214 98
2010 8,597 102
2012 8,554 101
2014 8,605 101
2016 8,530 97
2018 8,692 98
2020 8,348 94
2022 8,456 94

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. 

                                                      AUSTRIA

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

1,669
1,970
1,935
2,059
1,783

24.2%
22.5%
22.5%
22.8%
21.0%

21
24
23
24
20

2024

1,808

19.5%

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.

                                                       AUSTRIA

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

406
442
534
535
611

5.9%
5.0%
6.2%
5.9%
6.6%

5.1
5.4
6.4
6.2
6.9

2024

656

6.8%

7.1

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