Mozambique

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CountryMozambique
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Justice
Prison administration
Serviço Nacional Penitenciário (SERNAP)
Contact address
Caixa Postal No. 2645, Av. Julius Nyerere 1235, Maputo, Mozambique.
Telephone
+258 21 485 952
Fax
+258 21 485 953
Website
https://www.sernap.gov.mz/net/home.aspx
Head of prison administration (and title)
Brigadier António Augusto Maurice
Diretor Nacional do Serviço Nacional Penitenciário
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
21 814
at 31.12.2023 (Attorney General's Office)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
63
based on an estimated national population of 34.52 million at end of December 2023 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
28.1%
(31.12.2023)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
3.0%
(July 2023)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
8.6%
(January 2015 - under 19)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
1.5%
(July 2017)
Number of establishments / institutions
157
(2021)
Official capacity of prison system
8 873
(31.12.2023)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
245.8%
(31.12.2023)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2004 c 10,000 c 48
2007 14,462 64
2009 14,936 62
2011 16,267 64
2013 15,127 56
2015 15,203 54
2017 18,185 61
2019 19,784 63
2004 c 10,000 c 48
2007 14,462 64
2009 14,936 62
2011 16,267 64
2013 15,127 56
2015 15,203 54
2017 18,185 61
2019 19,784 63

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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. 

                                                 MOZAMBIQUE

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

Pre-trial/remand
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

1999
2008
2015

6,422
5,033
5,184

72.9%
28.9%
32.5%

49
23
19

2023

6,120

28.1%

18

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.

                                                   MOZAMBIQUE

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

1999
2009
2015

551
358
426

6.3%
2.2%
2.9%

3.1
1.6
1.5

2023

683

3.0%

2.0

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