Norway

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CountryNorway
Ministry responsible
The Ministry of Justice and Public Security
Prison administration
Department of Corrections
Contact address
Postboks 344, 2001 LILLESTRØM
Telephone
+47 404 38 800
Fax
+47 404 38 801
Website
Email
postmottak-8005@kriminalomsorg.no
Head of prison administration (and title)
(Ms.) Lise Sannerud
Director General
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
3 012
at 31.1.2024 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
54
based on an estimated national population of 5.53 million at end of January 2024 (from Statistics Norway figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
29.1%
(31.1.2024)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
5.4%
(31.1.2024)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.2%
(31.1.2024 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
26.2%
(31.1.2024)
Number of establishments / institutions
33
(2021 - 33 units consisting of 58 prisons)
Official capacity of prison system
3 816
(31.1.2022)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
80.7%
(31.1.2022)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 2,548 57
2002 2,832 62
2004 3,028 66
2006 3,250 70
2008 3,387 71
2010 3,624 74
2012 3,591 72
2014 3,717 72
2016 3,850 73
2018 3,425 65
2020 2,932 54
2000 2,548 57
2002 2,832 62
2004 3,028 66
2006 3,250 70
2008 3,387 71
2010 3,624 74
2012 3,591 72
2014 3,717 72
2016 3,850 73
2018 3,425 65
2020 2,932 54

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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. 

                                                  NORWAY

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

609
592
1,045
983

23.0%
19.1%
28.7%
26.8%

14
13
21
19

2024

876

29.1%

16

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.

                                                  NORWAY

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2000
2005
2010
2015

147
155
224
186

5.6%
5.0%
6.2%
5.1%

3.3
3.3
4.6
3.6

2024

163

5.4%

2.9

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