Finland

Donate to WPB
CountryFinland
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Justice
Prison administration
Criminal Sanctions Agency
Contact address
Central Administration, Lintulahdenkatu 5, 00530 Helsinki, Finland
Telephone
+358 2956 88500
Fax
+358 2956 65440
Website
http://www.rikosseuraamus.fi
Email
kirjaamo.rise@om.fi
Head of prison administration (and title)
Anna Arola-Järve
Director General
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
2 912
at 31.1.2023 (via Council of Europe)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
52
based on an estimated national population of 5.57 million at end of January 2023 (from Eurostat figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
22.8%
(31.1.2023)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
7.7%
(31.1.2023)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.4%
(31.1.2023 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
16.9%
(31.1.2023)
Number of establishments / institutions
26
(2022)
Official capacity of prison system
2 996
(31.1.2023)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
97.2%
(31.1.2023)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 2,855 55
2002 3,433 66
2004 3,577 68
2006 3,778 72
2008 3,526 66
2010 3,291 61
2012 3,236 60
2014 3,097 57
2016 3,120 57
2018 2,910 53
2020 2,800 51
2000 2,855 55
2002 3,433 66
2004 3,577 68
2006 3,778 72
2008 3,526 66
2010 3,291 61
2012 3,236 60
2014 3,097 57
2016 3,120 57
2018 2,910 53
2020 2,800 51

Pages

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. 

                                                   FINLAND

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

376
519
599
597
632

13.2%
13.3%
18.2%
19.5%
22.6%

7
10
11
11
11

2023

663

22.8%

12

Note. The figures do not include some 70-110 pre-trial detainees per year 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.

                                                    FINLAND

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

142
238
258
228
233

5.3%
6.2%
7.8%
7.6%
8.3%

2.7
4.5
4.8
4.2
4.2

2023

224

7.7%

4.0

Note: not including 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 total
Prison population rate