CountryBenin
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Justice, Legislation and Human Rights
Prison administration
Agence Pénitentiaire du Bénin
Contact address
Immeuble Loko, Avenue patte d'oie, à côté de UBA
Telephone
+229 21 30 28 94
Website
Email
secretariat@agencepenitentiaire.bj
Head of prison administration (and title)
François Hounkpè
Directeur Général
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
19 563
at 9.9.2024 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
144
based on an estimated national population of 13.54 million at September 2024 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
Circa
55.0%
(December 2023)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
3.1%
(9.9.2024)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
2.0%
(9.9.2024 - minors)
Number of establishments / institutions
11
(2019)
Official capacity of prison system
Circa
7 000
(9.9.2024)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
Circa
279.5%
(9.9.2024)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
1997 3,778 59
2000 4,961 71
2002 4,336 58
2006 5,834 69
2008 6,083 69
2010 6,908 73
2012 7,247 72
2014 7,067 67
2017 7,890 68
2019 9,687 80
2021 14,190 113
1997 3,778 59
2000 4,961 71
2002 4,336 58
2006 5,834 69
2008 6,083 69
2010 6,908 73
2012 7,247 72
2014 7,067 67
2017 7,890 68
2019 9,687 80
2021 14,190 113

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. 

                                                       BENIN

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

Pre-trial/remand
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

2002
2007
2010
2017

3,209
5,469
5,174
5,980

74.0%
79.6%
74.9%
75.8%

46
67
58
52

2023

c. 9,994

c. 55.0%

c. 76

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.

                                                    BENIN

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2000
2006
2008
2012
2017

c. 140
220
210
360
255

c. 3.6%
3.8%
3.5%
5.0%
3.3%

2.1
2.8
2.5
3.6
2.2

2024

607

3.1%

4.5

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