Papua New Guinea

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CountryPapua New Guinea
Ministry responsible
Ministry for Correctional Service
Prison administration
Papua New Guinea Correctional Service
Contact address
PNG Correctional Service Headquarter, ex Kramer Building, Wards Rd, Hohola, PO Box 6889 BOROKO, Port Moresby, National Capital District 675
Telephone
+675 312 1700
Fax
+675 323 0407
Website
Email
gmiro@cs.gov.pg
Head of prison administration (and title)
Bernard Nepou
Commissioner
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
5 373
at mid-2023 (via Asian & Pacific Conference of Correctional Administrators)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
57
based on an estimated national population of 9.47 million at mid-2023 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
42.9%
(mid-2023)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
4.4%
(mid-2023)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
3.7%
(7.1.2019 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
0.4%
(7.1.2019)
Number of establishments / institutions
18
(2020 - three others are not currently operational. The prison administration is also jointly responsible, together with the Department of Provincial and Local Level Government, for ten rural lock-ups.)
Official capacity of prison system
4 366
(7.1.2019)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
116.5%
(7.1.2019)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 3,531 65
2002 3,302 58
2005 4,056 67
2008 4,574 70
2010 4,268 61
2012 3,467 45
2014 4,480 56
2016 4,945 59
2018 5,192 60
2000 3,531 65
2002 3,302 58
2005 4,056 67
2008 4,574 70
2010 4,268 61
2012 3,467 45
2014 4,480 56
2016 4,945 59
2018 5,192 60

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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. 

                                               PAPUA NEW GUINEA

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
2009
2015
2018

1,428
1,268
2,637
1,841
1,798

40.4%
31.3%
49.9%
37.8%
34.6%

26
21
39
24
22

2023

2,303

42.9%

24

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.

                                                 PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2001
2005
2010
2014
2018

101
201
230
228
245

3.1%
5.0%
5.4%
5.0%
4.7%

1.8
3.3
3.3
3.0
3.0

2023

238

4.4%

2.5

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