CountryMalta
Ministry responsible
Ministry for Justice and Home Affairs
Prison administration
Correctional Services Agency
Contact address
Triq il-Belt Valletta, Paola, PLA 1518
Telephone
+356 21 691 428
Fax
+356 21 697?599
Website
Email
admin.ccf@gov.mt
Head of prison administration (and title)
Robert Brincau
Director General
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
690
at January 2024 (Home Affairs Minister)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
123
based on an estimated national population of 563,100 at January 2024 (from Eurostat figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
43.9%
(January 2024)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
9.1%
(31.1.2023)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.5%
(31.1.2023 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
47.4%
(February 2023)
Number of establishments / institutions
1
(2024 - Corradino Correctional Facility)
Official capacity of prison system
952
(1.1.2023)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
58.7%
(1.1.2023)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
1999 230 61
2002 277 70
2004 277 69
2006 343 85
2008 444 108
2010 598 144
2012 585 139
2014 581 132
2016 553 120
2018 619 125
2020 864 167
1999 230 61
2002 277 70
2004 277 69
2006 343 85
2008 444 108
2010 598 144
2012 585 139
2014 581 132
2016 553 120
2018 619 125
2020 864 167

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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. 

                                                       MALTA

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
2020

79
96
233
129
260

30.7%
32.2%
39.0%
22.7%
30.1%

20
24
56
30
50

2024

303

43.9%

54

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.

                                                    MALTA

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2002
2006
2010
2016
2020

11
14
34
46
56

3.9%
4.1%
5.7%
8.3%
6.5%

2.8
3.5
8.2
10.5
10.5

2023

53

9.1%

9.7

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