Iceland

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CountryIceland
Ministry responsible
Ministry of the Interior
Prison administration
Prison and Probation Administration (Fangelsismalastofnun)
Contact address
Austurstrond 5, 170 Seltjarnarnesi, Iceland
Telephone
+354 520 5000
Website
Email
fms@fangelsi.is
Head of prison administration (and title)
Pall Winkel
Director General
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
140
at 1.1.2023 (via Council of Europe)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
36
based on an estimated national population of 387,750 at beginning of January 2023 (from Eurostat figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
21.1%
(31.1.2022)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
8.3%
(31.1.2022)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.0%
(31.1.2022 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
23.3%
(31.1.2022)
Number of establishments / institutions
5
(2020)
Official capacity of prison system
175
(1.1.2023)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
80.0%
(1.1.2023)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 78 28
2002 107 37
2004 115 39
2006 119 39
2008 140 44
2010 165 52
2012 152 47
2014 154 47
2016 124 37
2018 131 37
2020 160 44
2000 78 28
2002 107 37
2004 115 39
2006 119 39
2008 140 44
2010 165 52
2012 152 47
2014 154 47
2016 124 37
2018 131 37
2020 160 44

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. 

                                                 ICELAND

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
2014
2018

16
18
13
9
23

19.5%
15.1%
7.9%
5.8%
17.6%

6
6
4
3
6

2022

28

21.1%

7

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. 

                                                   ICELAND

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2000
2005
2010
2014
2018

3
7
8
3
5

3.7%
5.9%
4.8%
1.9%
3.8%

1.1
2.4
2.5
0.9
1.4

2022

11

8.3%

2.9

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