Pakistan

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CountryPakistan
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights
Prison administration
Governments of Provinces
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
108 643
at November 2024 (Chief Justice of Pakistan)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
45
based on an estimated national population of 239.42 million at November 2024 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
Circa
70.0%
(September 2021)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
1.6%
(2021)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
1.6%
(2021 - juveniles)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
1.2%
(30.6.2007)
Number of establishments / institutions
116
(August 2022)
Official capacity of prison system
66 625
(November 2024)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
163.1%
(November 2024)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 78,938 56
2002 c 90,000 c 60
2004 88,659 57
2006 86,500 53
2009 81,409 46
2012 74,944 40
2014 c 79,700 c 41
2016 84,315 41
2018 83,718 40
2020 82,139 37
2000 78,938 56
2002 c 90,000 c 60
2004 88,659 57
2006 86,500 53
2009 81,409 46
2012 74,944 40
2014 c 79,700 c 41
2016 84,315 41
2018 83,718 40
2020 82,139 37

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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. 

                                                    PAKISTAN

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

1999
2004
2009
2015

61,241
51,433
57,556
55,429

77.6%
67.8%
70.7%
69.1%

43
33
34
30

2021

c. 60,000

c. 70.0%

c. 27

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.

                                                      PAKISTAN

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

1999
2003
2007
2010
2015
2018

1,203
1,518
1,328
931
1,650
1,527

1.7%
1.8%
1.4%
1.2%
2.1%
1.8%

0.9
1.0
0.8
0.5
0.9
0.9

2021

1,399

1.6%

0.6

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