Kosovo/Kosova

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CountryKosovo/Kosova
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Justice (Ministria e Drejtesise)
Prison administration
Kosovo Correctional Service (Sherbimi Korrektues i Kosoves)
Contact address
Ndertesa Ish Rilindja, Kati VI, zyra 619, 10000 Prishtine, Republika e Kosoves
Telephone
+38 200 18 101
Website
Email
zkp.shkk@rks-gov.net
Head of prison administration (and title)
Nehat Thaçi
Director General
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
1 830
at April 2023 (national prison administration, via OSCE)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
99
based on an estimated national population of 1.84 million at April 2023 (from Eurostat figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
35.6%
(April 2023)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
2.7%
(31.12.2018)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
2.8%
(31.12.2018 - minors)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
5.7%
(August 2016)
Number of establishments / institutions
11
(2020)
Official capacity of prison system
2 800
(2019)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
97.1%
(2019)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 227 11
2002 965 49
2004 1,189 58
2006 1,252 59
2009 1,325 61
2011 1,441 81
2013 1,776 98
2015 1,478 84
2017 1,709 95
2019 1,806 101
2000 227 11
2002 965 49
2004 1,189 58
2006 1,252 59
2009 1,325 61
2011 1,441 81
2013 1,776 98
2015 1,478 84
2017 1,709 95
2019 1,806 101

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. 

                                               KOSOVO/KOSOVA

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

Pre-trial/remand
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

2001
2004
2010
2015
2020

374
459
489
367
381

71.8%
38.6%
36.7%
24.8%
27.3%

19
23
24
21
22

2023

652

35.6%

35

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.

                                               KOSOVO/KOSOVA

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2003
2007
2010
2015

25
34
35
42

2.1%
2.7%
2.6%
2.8%

1.2
1.6
1.7
2.4

2018

43

2.7%

2.4

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