Russian Federation

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CountryRussian Federation
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Justice
Prison administration
Federal Service for the Implementation of Punishment
Contact address
Zhitnaya street 14, GSP-1, 119991 Moscow, Russian Federation
Telephone
+7 495 983 8558
Fax
+7 495 982 1950
Website
http://www.fsin.gov.ru
Head of prison administration (and title)
Arkady Gostev
Director
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
433 006
at 1.1.2023 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
300
based on an estimated national population of 144.5 million at beginning of January 2023 (from Russian Federal State Statistics Service figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
25.5%
(1.11.2022 - prisoners held in pre-trial SIZO institutions or facilities functioning as SIZOs)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
8.9%
(1.11.2022)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.2%
(1.12.2021 - prisoners in juvenile colonies)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
6.2%
(1.1.2019)
Number of establishments / institutions
872
(March 2022 - 204 pre-trial SIZO institutions, 642 corrective colonies, 8 prisons, 18 juvenile colonies)
Official capacity of prison system
714 253
(31.1.2021)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
67.0%
(31.1.2021)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 1,060,404 729
2002 980,151 675
2004 847,004 588
2006 823,403 577
2008 883,436 622
2010 864,197 609
2012 755,651 528
2014 677,287 471
2016 646,085 448
2018 602,176 416
2020 523,928 363
2000 1,060,404 729
2002 980,151 675
2004 847,004 588
2006 823,403 577
2008 883,436 622
2010 864,197 609
2012 755,651 528
2014 677,287 471
2016 646,085 448
2018 602,176 416
2020 523,928 363

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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. 

                                                 RUSSIAN FEDERATION

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

232,864
161,810
119,010
117,759
104,220

25.2%
19.7%
14.5%
18.2%
21.6%

160
113
83
80
72

2022

112,225

25.5%

78

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.

                                              RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2002
2006
2010
2015
2020

53,683
58,400
67,900
52,495
40,026

5.8%
6.7%
8.1%
8.1%
8.1%

37.0
41.0
47.6
36.4
27.7

2022

39,153

8.9%

27.1

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