Singapore

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CountrySingapore
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Home Affairs
Prison administration
Singapore Prison Service
Contact address
980 Upper Changi Road North, Singapore 507708
Telephone
+65 6546 9248 or 9490
Fax
+65 6542 0425
Website
http://www.sps.gov.sg
Email
prisonfeedback@pris.gov.sg
Head of prison administration (and title)
Ms Shie Yong Lee
Commissioner of Prisons
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
9 536
at 31.12.2022 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
156
based on an estimated national population of 6.13 million at end of December 2022 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
11.3%
(31.12.2022)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
10.2%
(31.12.2022)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
1.8%
(31.12.2022) - under 19)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
10.6%
(mid-2019)
Number of establishments / institutions
13
(2019)
Official capacity of prison system
16 249
(September 2013)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
79.2%
(September 2013)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 13,791 352
2002 16,310 394
2004 16,835 385
2006 12,236 262
2008 11,998 244
2010 12,852 250
2012 12,504 234
2014 12,596 227
2016 12,219 213
2018 11,737 199
2020 11,198 185
2000 13,791 352
2002 16,310 394
2004 16,835 385
2006 12,236 262
2008 11,998 244
2010 12,852 250
2012 12,504 234
2014 12,596 227
2016 12,219 213
2018 11,737 199
2020 11,198 185

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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. 

                                                    SINGAPORE

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

2,311
2,979
2,042
1,255
1,182

16.8%
19.7%
15.0%
10.1%
10.6%

59
70
40
22
20

2022

1,081

11.3%

18

Note: The figures for 2000-2010 include persons detained for drug rehabilitation.

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.

                                                  SINGAPORE

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

1,126
1,649
1,341
1,320
1,246

8.2%
10.9%
9.8%
10.3%
11.1%

28.7
38.6
26.3
23.6
20.6

2022

968

10.2%

15.8

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