North Macedonia

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CountryNorth Macedonia
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Justice
Prison administration
Directorate for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions
Contact address
Dimitrie Cupovski 9, 1000 Skopje, North Macedonia
Telephone
+389-02-3112723
Fax
+389-02-3112723
Website
https://uis.gov.mk/
Email
uis@mjustice.gov.mk
Head of prison administration (and title)
Jovica Stojanović
Director
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
2 606
at 31.1.2023 (via Council of Europe)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
142
based on an estimated national population of 1.83 million at end of January 2023 (Eurostat)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
12.3%
(31.1.2023)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
3.7%
(31.1.2023)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.4%
(31.1.2023 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
7.4%
(31.1.2023)
Number of establishments / institutions
13
(2019 - 11 prisons, 2 juvenile correctional institutions)
Official capacity of prison system
2 573
(31.1.2023)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
101.3%
(31.1.2023)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 1,178 59
2002 1,336 66
2004 1,618 80
2006 2,026 99
2008 2,235 109
2010 2,516 122
2012 2,543 123
2014 3,116 151
2016 3,346 162
2018 3,029 146
2020 2,114 102
2000 1,178 59
2002 1,336 66
2004 1,618 80
2006 2,026 99
2008 2,235 109
2010 2,516 122
2012 2,543 123
2014 3,116 151
2016 3,346 162
2018 3,029 146
2020 2,114 102

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. 

                                               NORTH MACEDONIA 

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

224
260
474
363
303

16.1%
12.2%
18.8%
10.4%
14.3%

11
13
23
18
15

2023

320

12.3%

17

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.

                                               NORTH MACEDONIA 

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

32
66
59
112
70

2.3%
3.1%
2.3%
3.2%
3.3%

1.6
3.2
2.9
5.4
3.4

2023

97

3.7%

5.3

* Percentage of convicted adults

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