- Country
- Cyprus (Republic of)
- Ministry responsible
- Ministry of Justice and Public Order
- Prison administration
- Department of Prisons
- Contact address
-
2 Norman Street, 1702 Nicosia
Cyprus - Telephone
- Fax
- Head of prison administration
-
Charis Philippides, Acting Director
Prison population data
| Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners) |
1,164
at 11.2.2026 (national prison administration)
|
|---|---|
| Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population) |
117
based on an estimated national population of 995,000 at February 2026 (from Eurostat figures)
|
| Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population) |
26.0%
(April 2025)
|
| Female prisoners (percentage of prison population) |
Circac. 6.9%
(of those held in the prison, 11.2.2026)
|
| Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population) |
0.6%
(April 2025 - minors)
|
| Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population) |
Circac. 55.0%
(of those held in the prison, 11.2.2026)
|
| Number of establishments / institutions |
1
(2025- one prison; some pre-trial detainees are held in police detention centres )
|
| Official capacity of prison system |
911
(April 2025)
|
| Occupancy level (based on official capacity) |
123.3%
(April 2025)
|
Prison population trend
| Year | Prison population total | Prison population rate |
|---|---|---|
| 312 | 45 | |
| 345 | 48 | |
| 546 | 73 | |
| 599 | 77 | |
| 831 | 105 | |
| 900 | 108 | |
| 930 | 108 | |
| 681 | 80 | |
| 668 | 78 | |
| 621 | 72 | |
| 654 | 73 | |
| 791 | 87 |
Prison population total
Prison population rate
- Pre-trial/remand prison population: trend
- Female prison population: trend
- Prison population trend up to 2000
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.
CYPRUS
| 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 | 39 101 401 170 287 | 12.5% 18.8% 44.6% 26.0% 34.6% | 6 13 50 20 32 |
| 2025 | 292 | 26.0% | 30 |
Note. The figures for 2000 and 2005 do not include pre-trial detainees held in police facilities.
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.
CYPRUS
| 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 | 14 18 38 40 37 | 4.5% 3.4% 6.0% 6.7% 4.6% | 2.0 2.4 4.7 4.7 4.2 |
| 2026 | c. 80 | c. 6.9% | c. 8.0 |
Note: not including pre-trial prisoners detained in police facilities
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 trend up to 2000
The figures below give an indication of the prison population trend in the years up to 2000. They supplement the more recent figures that are shown at the foot of the Overview page and in the graphs below.
CYPRUS (All Cyprus)
| Year | Prison population total | Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population) |
| 1920 1925 1930 1935 1938 1945 1950 1954 1959 1970 1975 1983 1985 1990 1995 2000 | 528 570 557 654 549 513 654 381 254 257 52 188 180 218 202 312 | - - - - - - 132 73 45 42 8 35 33 37 31 45 |
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