Kuwait

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CountryKuwait
Ministry responsible
Ministry of the Interior
Prison administration
General Department of Rehabilitation and Law Enforcement
Head of prison administration (and title)
Brigadier General Fahd Al-Obaid
Director General for Prisons and Correctional Facilities
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
4 500
at October 2023 (via U.S. State Department human rights report)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
101
based on an estimated national population of 4.44 million at October 2023 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
14.6%
(November 2021)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
5.8%
(31.12.2019)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
13.5%
(2003)
Number of establishments / institutions
3
(2021 - three prisons in one complex)
Official capacity of prison system
3 565
(October 2023)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
126.2%
(October 2023)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 c 3,100 c 162
2002 2,946 142
2005 c 3,500 c 152
2009 4,045 142
2011 c 4,100 c 131
2013 c 2,900 c 86
2015 c 4,000 c 112
2018 4,567 117
2000 c 3,100 c 162
2002 2,946 142
2005 c 3,500 c 152
2009 4,045 142
2011 c 4,100 c 131
2013 c 2,900 c 86
2015 c 4,000 c 112
2018 4,567 117

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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. 

                                                      KUWAIT

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2001
2005
2009
2013

606
c. 350
c. 405
c. 290

20.8%
c. 10%
c. 10%
c. 10%

30
c. 15
c. 14
c. 9

2021

657

14.6%

15

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.

                                                      KUWAIT

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2003
2010
2013

c. 550
201
c. 400

c. 14.9%
4.8%
c. 13.8%

c. 25.9
6.7
c. 11.9

2019

271

5.8%

6.8

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