Mauritius

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CountryMauritius
Ministry responsible
Prime Minister's Office
Prison administration
Mauritius Prison Service
Contact address
Subramanien Bharati Road, Beau Bassin, Mauritius
Telephone
+230 401 6600
Fax
+230 454 9778
Website
http://prisons.govmu.org
Email
pris@govmu.org
Head of prison administration (and title)
Jaganaden Rungadoo
Commissioner of Prisons
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
2 787
at 23.7.2024 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
218
based on an estimated national population of 1.28 million at July 2024 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
48.4%
(23.7.2024)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
7.0%
(23.7.2024)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
2.9%
(31.8.2012 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
6.4%
(31.8.2012)
Number of establishments / institutions
11
(2018 - including prison on Rodrigues island)
Official capacity of prison system
2 315
(31.8.2011)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
116.9%
(31.8.2011)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 1,635 137
2002 2,438 203
2004 2,572 211
2006 2,238 182
2008 2,200 177
2010 2,449 196
2012 2,760 219
2014 2,233 176
2016 2,237 175
2018 2,499 194
2020 2,797 217
2022 2,509 196
2000 1,635 137
2002 2,438 203
2004 2,572 211
2006 2,238 182
2008 2,200 177
2010 2,449 196
2012 2,760 219
2014 2,233 176
2016 2,237 175
2018 2,499 194
2020 2,797 217
2022 2,509 196

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. 

                                                 MAURITIUS

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

400
844
862
771
1,567

24.5%
34.3%
35.2%
37.2%
56.0%

33
67
69
58
121

2024

1,348

48.4%

105

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.

                                                   MAURITIUS

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

78
137
153
116
176

4.7%
5.6%
6.2%
5.6%
6.3%

6.5
10.9
11.8
9.1
13.6

2024

194

7.0%

15.2

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