New Zealand

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CountryNew Zealand
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Justice
Prison administration
Department of Corrections
Contact address
Freyberg Building, 20 Aitken Street, Thorndon, Wellington, New Zealand
Telephone
+64 4 460 3000
Fax
+64 4 460 3263
Website
http://www.corrections.govt.nz
Email
info@corrections.govt.nz
Head of prison administration (and title)
Jeremy Lightfoot
Chief Executive
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
9 638
at 30.6.2024 (Ministry of Justice)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
181
based on an estimated national population of 5.33 million at end of June 2024 (from Statistics New Zealand figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
43.8%
(30.6.2024)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
6.9%
(30.6.2024)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
1.2%
(30.6.2024 - under 20)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
3.0%
(mid-2018)
Number of establishments / institutions
18
(2022)
Official capacity of prison system
10 633
(30.6.2019 - operational capacity)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
93.8%
(30.6.2019)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 5,720 148
2002 5,738 145
2004 6,556 160
2006 7,595 181
2008 7,763 182
2010 8,604 198
2012 8,618 195
2014 8,571 190
2016 9,495 203
2018 10,435 214
2020 9,469 186
2000 5,720 148
2002 5,738 145
2004 6,556 160
2006 7,595 181
2008 7,763 182
2010 8,604 198
2012 8,618 195
2014 8,571 190
2016 9,495 203
2018 10,435 214
2020 9,469 186

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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. 

                                                  NEW ZEALAND

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

749
1,132
1,908
2,127
3,458

13.3%
16.0%
21.6%
24.1%
36.5%

19
27
44
46
69

2024

4,217

43.8%

79

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.

                                                  NEW ZEALAND

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

266
435
562
567
629

4.7%
6.1%
6.4%
6.4%
6.6%

6.9
10.5
12.9
12.4
12.5

2024

663

6.9%

12.4

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