Eswatini/Swaziland

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CountryEswatini/Swaziland
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Development
Prison administration
His Majesty's Correctional Services
Contact address
Headquarters, PO Box 166, Mbabane, Swaziland
Telephone
+268 404 2476 or 2477 or 2478 or 9086 or 9087
Fax
+268 404 3357
Email
corrcom1@yahoo.com
Head of prison administration (and title)
Phindile Dlamini
Commissioner of Correctional Services
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
3 405
at September 2022 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
243
based on an estimated national population of 1.40 million at September 2022 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
24.5%
(September 2022)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
2.9%
(21.3.14)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.7%
(21.3.2014 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
6.0%
(2.6.2008)
Number of establishments / institutions
12
(2017)
Official capacity of prison system
2 838
(September 2022)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
120.0%
(September 2022)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 2,745 257
2002 3,245 299
2004 2,719 247
2006 2,648 237
2008 2,546 221
2011 3,764 311
2013 3,280 264
2015 3,610 282
2018 3,453 258
2020 3,796 277
2000 2,745 257
2002 3,245 299
2004 2,719 247
2006 2,648 237
2008 2,546 221
2011 3,764 311
2013 3,280 264
2015 3,610 282
2018 3,453 258
2020 3,796 277

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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. 

                                                 SWAZILAND

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
2009
2020

1,610
1,142
722
845

49.6%
42.8%
27.5%
21.0%

148
103
62
62

2022

834

24.5%

60

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.

                                                  SWAZILAND

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2002
2005
2009

133
104
68

3.9%
3.9%
2.6%

12.3
9.4
5.8

2014

c. 105

2.9%

c. 8.4

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