CountryLibya
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Justice
Prison administration
Authority of Judicial Police
Contact address
Fallah, Tripoli, Libya
Telephone
+218 21 4804530
Fax
+218 21 4804490
Website
Email
justicepolice@aladel.gov.ly
Head of prison administration (and title)
(Col.) Mahmoud Abuhmeida
Head of Judicial Police
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
19 103
at 5.5.2023 (UN mission – UNSMIL. Number in facilities under Ministry of Justice)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
269
based on an estimated national population of 7.11 million at beginning of May 2023 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
Circa
29.0%
(5.5.2023 - of those in facilities under Ministry of Justice)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
1.1%
(5.5.2023 - of those in facilities under Ministry of Justice)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
(under the responsibility of the Social Security ministry)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
12.8%
(15.9.2013)
Number of establishments / institutions
26
(October 2017 - facilities largely under the control of the Ministry of Justice)
Official capacity of prison system
9 000
(June 2007)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
141.6%
(June 2007)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
1998 c 6,750 c 135
2004 9,763 178
2007 13,217 230
2010 13,242 220
2012 3,186 52
2014 6,187 99
2017 c 9,100 c 139
1998 c 6,750 c 135
2004 9,763 178
2007 13,217 230
2010 13,242 220
2012 3,186 52
2014 6,187 99
2017 c 9,100 c 139

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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. 

                                                  LIBYA

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2004
2007
2010
2013

6,692
6,386
6,262
4,763

56.8%
50.1%
47.3%
89.4%

121
110
104
73

2023

c. 5,540

c. 29.0%

c. 78

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.

                                                   LIBYA

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2004
2007
2010
2013
2020

387
347
345
103
278

3.3%
2.7%
2.6%
1.9%
3.2%

7.0
6.0
5.7
1.6
4.1

2023

216

1.1%

3.0

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