Botswana

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CountryBotswana
Ministry responsible
Ministry of State President - Defence, Justice and Security
Prison administration
Department of Prisons and Rehabilitation / Botswana Prisons Service
Contact address
Prison Service Headquarters, Private Bag X 02, Gaborone, Botswana
Telephone
+267 361 1700
Fax
+267 397 5398
Website
Email
Prison-relations@gov.bw
Head of prison administration (and title)
Dinah Marathe
Commissioner of Prisons and Rehabilitation
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
3 971
at 15.12.2022 (Minister of Defence and Security)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
161
based on an estimated national population of 2.46 million at December 2022 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
22.5%
(May 2021)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
5.0%
(15.12.2022)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
10.4%
(31.12.2014 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
21.2%
(15.12.2022)
Number of establishments / institutions
23
(2015)
Official capacity of prison system
4 337
(July 2020)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
86.0%
(July 2020)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 6,742 381
2002 5,829 320
2004 6,105 328
2006 5,969 314
2008 c 6,300 c 325
2010 c 5,063 c 256
2012 4,241 211
2014 4,131 202
2016 4,376 210
2019 c 4,000 c 174
2021 3,882 162
2000 6,742 381
2002 5,829 320
2004 6,105 328
2006 5,969 314
2008 c 6,300 c 325
2010 c 5,063 c 256
2012 4,241 211
2014 4,131 202
2016 4,376 210
2019 c 4,000 c 174
2021 3,882 162

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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.

                                                BOTSWANA

Year

 Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2000
2004
2009
2015

1,027
1,530
889
970

15.2%
25.1%
17.0%
24.5%

58
82
45
47

2021

872

22.5%

36

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.

                                                     BOTSWANA

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2001
2004
2009
2014
2017

289
306
215
75
204

4.6%
5.0%
4.1%
1.8%
4.7%

16.1
16.5
11.0
3.7
9.8

2022

197

5.0%

8.0

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