Lithuania

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CountryLithuania
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Justice (Teisingumo Ministerija)
Prison administration
Lithuanian Prison Service
Contact address
L. Sapiegos str.1, LT-10312 Vilnius, Lithuania
Telephone
+370 5 262 6767 or 271 9000
Fax
+370 5 275 2778
Website
https://kalejimai.lrv.lt/lt/
Email
info@kalejimai.lt
Head of prison administration (and title)
Mindaugas Kairys
Director General
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
4 551
at 1.1.2024 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
156
based on an estimated national population of 2.91 million at beginning of January 2024 (Eurostat)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
11.8%
(1.1.2024)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
4.5%
(1.1.2024)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.2%
(1.1.2024 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
3.4%
(1.1.2024)
Number of establishments / institutions
8
(2024)
Official capacity of prison system
6 655
(1.1.2024)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
68.4%
(1.1.2024)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 14,412 410
2002 11,566 335
2004 8,063 237
2006 8,137 247
2008 7,866 245
2010 8,655 275
2012 9,920 330
2014 9,261 315
2016 7,355 254
2018 6,599 235
2020 6,138 220
2000 14,412 410
2002 11,566 335
2004 8,063 237
2006 8,137 247
2008 7,866 245
2010 8,655 275
2012 9,920 330
2014 9,261 315
2016 7,355 254
2018 6,599 235
2020 6,138 220

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. 

                                                    LITHUANIA

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

2,207
1,284
1,208
868
726

15.3%
15.8%
14.0%
10.1%
11.8%

63
37
36
30
26

2024

538

11.8%

18

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.

                                                     LITHUANIA

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

263
263
408
380
288

3.0%
3.3%
4.6%
4.4%
4.7%

7.5
7.9
13.2
13.0
10.4

2024

206

4.5%

7.1

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