- Country
- Benin
- 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
Benin - Telephone
- Website
- Head of prison administration
-
François Hounkpè, Directeur Général
Prison population data
| 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) |
Circac. 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)
|
| Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population) |
8.8%
(2017)
|
| Number of establishments / institutions |
11
(2019)
|
| Official capacity of prison system |
Circac. 7,000
(9.9.2024)
|
| Occupancy level (based on official capacity) |
Circac. 279.5%
(9.9.2024)
|
Prison population trend
| Year | Prison population total | Prison population rate |
|---|---|---|
| 3,778 | 59 | |
| 4,961 | 71 | |
| 4,336 | 58 | |
| 5,834 | 69 | |
| 6,083 | 69 | |
| 6,908 | 73 | |
| 7,247 | 72 | |
| 7,067 | 67 | |
| 7,890 | 68 | |
| 9,687 | 80 | |
| 14,190 | 113 |
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.
BENIN
Year | Number in | Percentage | Pre-trial/remand |
2002 | 3,209 | 74.0% | 46 |
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 | Percentage | Female prison |
2000 | c. 140 | c. 3.6% | 2.1 |
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).
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