Moldova (Republic of)

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CountryMoldova (Republic of)
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Justice (Ministerul Justitiei)
Prison administration
Department of Penitentiary Institutions (Departmentul institutiilor Penitenciare)
Contact address
Str. N. Titulescu 35, MD-2032 CHISINAU, Moldova
Telephone
+373 22 409 787 or 22 409 717
Fax
+373 22 409 788 or 22 409 717
Website
Email
anp@anp.gov.md
Head of prison administration (and title)
Vladimir Cojocaru
Director General
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
6 084
at 1.1.2023 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
236
based on an estimated national population of 2.58 million at beginning of January 2023 (from Statistica Moldovei figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
17.1%
(1.1.2023)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
5.4%
(1.1.2023)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.6%
(1.1.2023 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
1.5%
(1.1.2023)
Number of establishments / institutions
17
(2021)
Official capacity of prison system
6 622
(1.1.2023)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
91.9%
(1.1.2023)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 9,449 260
2002 10,633 293
2004 10,591 293
2006 8,876 247
2008 7,895 221
2010 6,535 183
2012 6,476 182
2014 6,853 239
2016 8,054 285
2018 7,635 280
2020 6,716 254
2000 9,449 260
2002 10,633 293
2004 10,591 293
2006 8,876 247
2008 7,895 221
2010 6,535 183
2012 6,476 182
2014 6,853 239
2016 8,054 285
2018 7,635 280
2020 6,716 254

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. 

                                                  MOLDOVA

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

3,236
2,190
1,030
1,634

33.2%
24.4%
16.1%
20.9%

89
61
29
46

2023

1,042

17.1%

40

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.

                                                   MOLDOVA

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2000
2005
2010
2015

387
445
401
485

4.0%
4.9%
6.3%
6.2%

10.7
12.4
11.3
13.7

2023

326

5.4%

12.6

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