Switzerland

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CountrySwitzerland
Ministry responsible
Federal Department of Justice and Police
Prison administration
Section for the execution of sentences and measures
Contact address
Federal Office of Justice, Bundesrain 20, CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Telephone
+41 58 462 41 28
Fax
+41 58 462 78 79
Website
Head of prison administration (and title)
Ronald Gramigna
Chef de la Section Exécution des Peines et Mesures
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
6 881
at 31.1.2024 (Swiss Federal Statistical Office)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
77
based on an estimated national population of 8.90 million at end of January 2024 (from Eurostat figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
46.1%
(31.1.2024)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
5.7%
(31.1.2024)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.7%
(31.1.2022 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
72.3%
(31.1.2024)
Number of establishments / institutions
88
(2024)
Official capacity of prison system
7 251
(31.1.2024)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
94.9%
(31.1.2024)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 5,760 80
2002 4,937 68
2004 5,977 81
2006 5,888 79
2008 5,780 75
2010 6,181 79
2012 6,599 82
2014 6,923 84
2016 6,912 82
2018 6,972 82
2020 6,897 80
2022 6,310 72
2000 5,760 80
2002 4,937 68
2004 5,977 81
2006 5,888 79
2008 5,780 75
2010 6,181 79
2012 6,599 82
2014 6,923 84
2016 6,912 82
2018 6,972 82
2020 6,897 80
2022 6,310 72

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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. 

                                                    SWITZERLAND

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

2,353
2,404
2,534
2,725
2,882

41.5%
39.2%
41.0%
39.6%
41.8%

33
32
32
33
33

2024

3,170

46.1%

36

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.

                                                      SWITZERLAND

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

364
332
347
375
401

6.4%
5.4%
5.6%
5.4%
5.8%

5.1
4.5
4.4
4.5
4.7

2024

395

5.7%

4.4

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