Morocco

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CountryMorocco
Ministry responsible
Ministère de la Justice
Prison administration
Direction de l'Administration Pénitentiaire et de la Réinsertion
Contact address
Ministère de la Justice, Rabat, Morocco
Telephone
+212 37 68 66 29
Fax
+212 37 68 64 88
Website
Head of prison administration (and title)
Mohamed Saleh Tamek
Délégué Général
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
102 653
at 31.12.2023 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
267
based on an estimated national population of 38.40 million at end of Decemberr 2023 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
37.6%
(31.12.2023)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
2.5%
(31.12.2023)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
1.2%
(31.12.2023 - minors)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
1.5%
(31.12.2023)
Number of establishments / institutions
75
(2023)
Official capacity of prison system
64 649
(31.12.2023)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
158.8%
(31.12.2023)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 54,288 187
2002 54,351 184
2004 59,069 195
2006 53,580 174
2008 59,212 188
2010 64,877 201
2012 70,758 213
2014 74,941 219
2016 78,716 225
2018 83,757 234
2020 84,990 232
2022 97,204 260
2000 54,288 187
2002 54,351 184
2004 59,069 195
2006 53,580 174
2008 59,212 188
2010 64,877 201
2012 70,758 213
2014 74,941 219
2016 78,716 225
2018 83,757 234
2020 84,990 232
2022 97,204 260

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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. 

                                                MOROCCO

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

22,929
26,636
30,469
30,340
38,837

42.2%
52.3%
47.0%
41.0%
45.7%

79
87
95
88
106

2023

38,552

37.6%

100

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.

                                                  MOROCCO

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2002
2005
2010
2015
2020

1,776
1,227
1,721
1,715
2,110

3.3%
2.4%
2.7%
2.3%
2.5%

6.0
4.0
5.4
5.0
5.8

2023

2,534

2.5%

6.6

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