Croatia

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CountryCroatia
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation
Prison administration
Directorate for the Prison System and Probation
Contact address
Ulica grada Vukovara 49 HR-10000 ZAGREB, Croatia
Telephone
+385 137 14 750
Website
Head of prison administration (and title)
Zvonimra Penić
Director General
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
4 445
at 31.12.2023 (Ministry of Justice)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
115
based on an estimated national population of 3.86 million at end of December 2023 (from Eurostat figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
41.4%
(31.12.2023)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
5.1%
(31.12.2023)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
1.0%
(31.12.2023 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
17.5%
(31.12.2023)
Number of establishments / institutions
24
(2023)
Official capacity of prison system
4 073
(31.12.2023)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
109.1%
(31.12.2023)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 2,027 45
2002 2,584 58
2004 2,803 63
2006 3,485 78
2008 4,290 97
2010 4,891 110
2012 5,064 118
2014 4,352 103
2016 3,341 80
2018 3,190 78
2020 3,533 87
2000 2,027 45
2002 2,584 58
2004 2,803 63
2006 3,485 78
2008 4,290 97
2010 4,891 110
2012 5,064 118
2014 4,352 103
2016 3,341 80
2018 3,190 78
2020 3,533 87

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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. 

                                                      CROATIA

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

766
909
1,212
812
1,252

37.8%
30.1%
24.8%
21.6%
35.4%

17
20
27
19
31

2023

1,839

41.4%

48

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.

                                                     CROATIA

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

74
140
225
190
194

3.7%
4.0%
4.6%
5.0%
5.5%

1.6
3.2
5.2
4.5
4.8

2023

226

5.1%

5.9

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