Slovakia

Total prison population:
8,063
Country
Slovakia
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Justice (Ministerstvo spravodlivosti)
Prison administration
Corps of Prison and Court Guard (Zbor väzenskej a justičnej stráže)
Contact address

1 Sagatova St., 81304 Bratislava 1, Slovak Republic
Slovakia

Telephone
Head of prison administration
Col. Michal Sedliak, Director General

Prison population data

Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners) 8,063
at 1.11.2025 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population) 149
based on an estimated national population of 5.42 million at beginning of November 2025 (from Eurostat figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population) 14.1%
(1.11.2025)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population) 7.4%
(1.11.2025)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population) 0.1%
(31.1.2024 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population) 5.2%
(31.1.2024)
Number of establishments / institutions 18
(2021)
Official capacity of prison system 11,457
(1.11.2025)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity) 70.4%
(1.11.2025)

Prison population trend

Year Prison population total Prison population rate
6,941 129
7,758 144
9,422 175
8,249 153
8,166 151
10,031 186
10,850 201
10,020 185
9,995 184
10,294 189
10,519 192
9,939 183

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. 

                                                  SLOVAKIA

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

1,902
2,846
1,464
1,346
1,657

27.4%
32.0%
14.6%
13.6%
15.8%

35
53
27
25
30

2025

1,139

14.1%

21

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.

                                                    SLOVAKIA

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

259
399
564
649
791

3.6%
4.3%
5.6%
6.4%
7.5%

4.8
7.4
10.4
12.0
14.5

2025

597

7.4%

11.0

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.

                                                SLOVAKIA

Year

Prison
population
total

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

1980
1985
1990
1995
2000

12,217
12,231
4,591
7,899
6,941

244
236
87
147
129

 

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