Belgium

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CountryBelgium
Ministry responsible
Ministere de la Justice
Prison administration
Direction General de l'Administration Penitentiaire
Contact address
SPF Justice, Administration centrale prisons, Avenue de la Toison d’Or 87/3, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgique
Telephone
+32 2 542 7748
Fax
+32 2 542 7784
Website
Email
info.epi@just.fgov.be
Head of prison administration (and title)
Rudy Van De Voorde
Director General
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
12 316
at 1.3.2024 (Ministry of Justice)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
104
based on an estimated national population of 11.89 million at beginning of March 2024 (from Eurostat figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
36.2%
(31.1.2023)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
4.5%
(31.1.2023)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.0%
(31.1.2023 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
41.5%
(31.1.2023)
Number of establishments / institutions
35
(2020)
Official capacity of prison system
10 743
(1.3.2024)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
114.6%
(1.3.2024)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 8,688 85
2002 8,605 83
2004 9,245 89
2006 9,635 92
2008 9,858 92
2010 10,561 97
2012 11,212 102
2014 11,769 105
2016 10,619 94
2018 10,261 90
2020 10,381 90
2000 8,688 85
2002 8,605 83
2004 9,245 89
2006 9,635 92
2008 9,858 92
2010 10,561 97
2012 11,212 102
2014 11,769 105
2016 10,619 94
2018 10,261 90
2020 10,381 90

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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. 

                                                      BELGIUM

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

3,023
3,550
3,712
3,499
4,013

34.8%
37.9%
35.1%
31.7%
37.1%

30
34
34
31
35

2023

4,049

36.2%

34

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.

                                                      BELGIUM

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

358
391
419
483
471

4.1%
4.2%
4.0%
4.4%
4.5%

3.5
3.7
3.9
4.3
4.1

2023

499

4.5%

4.2

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