Hong Kong (China)

Asia
Total prison population:
10,520
Country
Hong Kong (China)
Ministry responsible
Administrative Region Government
Prison administration
Correctional Services Department
Contact address

24th Floor, Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong
Hong Kong SAR China

Telephone
+85225113511
Fax
+85228020184
Website
https://www.csd.gov.hk
Head of prison administration
WONG Kwok-hing, Commissioner of Correctional Services

Prison population data

Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners) 10,520
at 30.9.2025 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population) 139
based on an estimated national population of 7.55 million at end of September 2025 (from Hong Kong Statistics figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population) 40.0%
(31.3.2025)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population) 21.5%
(mid-2024)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population) 4.0%
(2019 - under 21)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population) 31.0%
(30.9.2025 - including residents from the mainland, Macao and Taiwan)
Number of establishments / institutions 24
(2021)
Official capacity of prison system Circac. 11,220
(2018)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity) Circac. 74.0%
(2018)

Prison population trend

Year Prison population total Prison population rate
12,017 180
12,744 189
12,705 187
11,364 165
10,491 151
9,988 142
9,297 129
8,297 114
8,611 117
8,181 109
7,107 95
7,751 106

Prison population total

Prison population rate

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. 

                                                    HONG KONG (CHINA)

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

1,252
1,186
1,365
1,582
1,962

10.4%
10.5%
13.7%
18.7%
28.4%

19
17
19
22
26

2025

4,070

40.0%

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.

                                                   HONG KONG (CHINA)

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

1,321
2,476
2,002
1,613
1,311

11.8%
20.4%
19.7%
19.5%
19.0%

19.8
36.4
28.5
22.1
17.5

2024

1,985

21.5%

26.4

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 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.

                                            HONG KONG (CHINA)

Year

Prison
population
total

Prison population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

1920
1925
1930
1934
1938
1973
1975
1978
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000

755
1,116
1,175
1,610
2,556
6,479
8,497
6,443
6,611
8,153
12,095
12,960
12,017

-
-
-
-
-
154
192
133
129
149
211
206
180

 

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