Burundi

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CountryBurundi
Ministry responsible
Ministère de la Justice
Prison administration
Direction Générale des Affaires Pénitentiaires
Contact address
BP 200 Bujumbura, Burundi
Telephone
+257 22 44 86
Fax
+257 21 95 45
Website
https://www.justice.burundi.gov.bi/spip.php?article9
Head of prison administration (and title)
Pierre Claver Miburo
Directeur Général des Affaires Pénitentiaires
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
13 778
at 30.6.2024 (national prison administration, via human rights association - APRODH)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
103
based on an estimated national population of 13.38 million at end of June 2024 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
52.8%
(30.6.2024)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
7.6%
(30.6.2024)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
1.3%
(30.6.2024 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
1.2%
(31.12.2012)
Number of establishments / institutions
13
(2023 - 11 prisons, 2 institutions for young offenders)
Official capacity of prison system
4 294
(30.6.2024)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
320.9%
(30.6.2024)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2001 9,013 130
2002 8,647 121
2004 7,526 98
2006 7,332 89
2008 9,114 104
2010 9,481 100
2012 10,422 103
2014 8,646 79
2016 10,051 86
2018 11,114 89
2020 12,761 96
2001 9,013 130
2002 8,647 121
2004 7,526 98
2006 7,332 89
2008 9,114 104
2010 9,481 100
2012 10,422 103
2014 8,646 79
2016 10,051 86
2018 11,114 89
2020 12,761 96

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. 

                                                BURUNDI

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2002
2005
2010
2015
2020

5,140
4,890
5,871
4,925
5,016

59.4%
60.9%
59.6%
56.7%
39.3%

77
66
69
44
38

2024
 		7,280
 		52.8%
 		54
 

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.

                                                    BURUNDI

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2002
2006
2010
2015
2020

216
228
371
345
743

2.5%
2.8%
3.8%
4.0%
5.8%

3.2
3.0
4.4
3.1
5.6

2024
 		1,044
 		7.6%
 		7.8
 

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