Serbia

Europe
Total prison population:
11,701
Country
Serbia
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Justice (Ministarstvo Pravde)
Prison administration
Administration for the Execution of Penitentiary Sanctions (Uprava za Ivrsenje Krivicnih Sankcija)
Contact address

Nemanjina Street 22-26, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Serbia

Telephone
+381113616590or3616550
Fax
+381113616590or3631717
Website
https://www.uiks.mpravde.gov.rs/
Head of prison administration
Dejan Carević, Acting Director

Prison population data

Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners) 11,701
at 31.1.2024 (Ministry of Justice)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population) 177
based on an estimated national population of 6.60 million at end of January 2024 (from Eurostat figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population) 21.5%
(31.1.2024)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population) 4.1%
(31.1.2024)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population) 1.7%
(31.1.2024 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population) 6.3%
(31.1.2024)
Number of establishments / institutions 30
(2017)
Official capacity of prison system 11,957
(31.1.2024)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity) 97.9%
(31.1.2024)

Prison population trend

Year Prison population total Prison population rate
6,160 82
6,283 84
7,654 103
7,893 107
9,701 132
11,211 155
10,226 142
10,288 145
10,672 151
10,852 156
10,540 153

Prison population total

Prison population rate

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. 

                                                    SERBIA

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

1,256
2,346
3,332
1,538
1,959

20.9%
30.2%
29.7%
14.5%
18.6%

17
32
46
22
29

2024

2,518

21.5%

38

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.

                                                        SERBIA

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

116
231
348
366
455

1.9%
3.0%
3.1%
3.6%
4.3%

1.5
3.1
4.8
5.2
6.6

2024

477

4.1%

7.2

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 trend up to 2000

The figures below give an indication of the prison population trend in the years up to 2000. They supplement the more recent figures that are shown at the foot of the Overview page and in the graphs below.

                                                     SERBIA

Year

Prison
population
total

Prison population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

1990
1993
1996
2000

3,622
3,623
5,150
6,160

37
37
52
82

 The figures for 1990-96 include Kosovo.

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