Nepal

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CountryNepal
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Home Affairs
Prison administration
Department of Prison Management
Contact address
Kalikasthan, KATHMANDU, Nepal
Telephone
+977 1 4439 720
Fax
+977 1 4444 553
Website
http://www.dopm.gov.np
Email
dopmnepal@gmail.com
Head of prison administration (and title)
Phanindramani Pokharel
Director General
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
27 550
at end of 2022 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
90
based on an estimated national population of 30.5 million at end of 2022 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
53.0%
(end of 2022)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
5.4%
(end of 2022)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
3.3%
(July/August 2021 - juveniles)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
5.1%
(August 2020)
Number of establishments / institutions
74
(2020)
Official capacity of prison system
15 466
(November 2019)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
153.7%
(November 2019)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 6,000 25
2002 7,132 29
2004 6,393 25
2006 5,580 22
2008 8,401 32
2010 10,739 40
2012 14,936 54
2014 16,813 59
2016 17,966 62
2018 21,283 72
2020 26,306 87
2000 6,000 25
2002 7,132 29
2004 6,393 25
2006 5,580 22
2008 8,401 32
2010 10,739 40
2012 14,936 54
2014 16,813 59
2016 17,966 62
2018 21,283 72
2020 26,306 87

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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. 

                                                    NEPAL

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

1999
2002
2005
2009
2020

3,026
4,262
3,946
5,003
14,543

51.4%
59.8%
55.3%
58.9%
55.3%

13
17
14
17
48

2022
 		14,606
 		53.0%
 		48
 

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.

                                                     NEPAL

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2006
2009
2011
2014
2020

360
661
829
1,222
1,499

6.5%
7.1%
7.2%
7.3%
5.7%

1.4
2.2
2.7
4.3
4.9

2022

1,485

5.4%

4.9

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