Malawi

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CountryMalawi
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security
Prison administration
Malawi Prison Service
Contact address
National Prison Headquarters, PO Box 28, Zomba, Malawi
Telephone
+265 (1) 770 141 or 524 722 or 525 755
Fax
+265 (1) 523 122 or 523 123 or 525 123
Website
https://www.mps.gov.mw/
Email
info@mps.gov.mw
Head of prison administration (and title)
Wandika Phiri
Chief Commissioner of Prisons
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
16 366
at October 2022 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
76
based on an estimated national population of 21.41 million at October 2022 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
Circa
17.6%
(December 2020)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
1.1%
(25.7.2014)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
7.7%
(25.7.2014 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
0.2%
(25.7.2014)
Number of establishments / institutions
30
(2019)
Official capacity of prison system
7 000
(October 2022)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
233.8%
(October 2022)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 7,728 69
2002 8,784 75
2004 9,220 74
2006 c 11,000 c 84
2008 c 11,000 c 78
2010 11,672 78
2012 12,236 77
2014 12,156 73
2016 14,018 79
2018 13,929 73
2020 14,500 71
2000 7,728 69
2002 8,784 75
2004 9,220 74
2006 c 11,000 c 84
2008 c 11,000 c 78
2010 11,672 78
2012 12,236 77
2014 12,156 73
2016 14,018 79
2018 13,929 73
2020 14,500 71

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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. 

                                                MALAWI

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
2010
2015

2,217
2,239
1,267
1,958

31.6%
23.2%
10.9%
16.1%

19
17
8
11

2020

c. 2,550

c. 17.6%

c. 13

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.

                                                 MALAWI

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2001
2005
2010

91
117
156

1.3%
1.2%
1.3%

0.8
0.9
1.0

2014

129

1.1%

0.8

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