Seychelles

Total prison population:
482
Country
Seychelles
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Home Affairs
Prison administration
Seychelles Prison Service
Contact address

Montagne Posse Prison, PO Box 12, Victoria, Mahe
Seychelles

Telephone
Head of prison administration
Janet Georges, Commissioner of Prisons

Prison population data

Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners) 482
at 30.6.2025 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population) 392
based on an estimated national population of 123,000 at end of June 2025 (from Seychelles national statistics bureau figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population) 24.5%
(30.6.2025)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population) 6.6%
(30.6.2025)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population) 1.5%
(30.6.2025 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population) 1.3%
(30.6.2016)
Number of establishments / institutions 3
(2019 - Montagne Posée and prisons on Coetivy Island and Marie Louise Island)
Official capacity of prison system 757
(2016)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity) 53.8%
(2016)

Prison population trend

Year Prison population total Prison population rate
c. 166 c. 205
149 178
147 178
174 206
297 342
415 462
544 616
765 837
699 738
391 403
340 345
320 267

Prison population total

Prison population rate

Pre-trial detainees/remand prisoners

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. 

                                          SEYCHELLES

YearNumber in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment
Percentage
of total
prison population
Pre-trial/remand
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)
2006
2010
2014
2020
28
133
152
54
19.7%
32.0%
19.9%
15.9%
33
148
166
55
202511824.5%96

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.

                                         SEYCHELLES  

YearNumber of
female
prisoners
Percentage
of total
prison population
Female prison
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)
2002
2006
2010
2016
2020
4
10
28
33
20
2.7%
5.7%
6.5%
4.7%
5.9%
4.8
11.8
34.8
20.3
2025326.6%26.0

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.

                                           SEYCHELLES

YearPrison
population
total
Prison population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)
1932
1937
1975
1980
1986
2000
27
37
392
313
123
c. 166
-
-
653
494
187
c. 205

 

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