CountryTogo
Ministry responsible
Ministère de la Justice
Prison administration
Direction de l'Administration Pénitentiaire
Contact address
Lome, Togo
Telephone
+228 22 15 93
Fax
+228 22 29 06
Head of prison administration (and title)
Mr. Idrissou Akibou
Directeur
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
4 990
at 30.8.2021 (via U.S. State Department human rights report)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
59
based on an estimated national population of 8.51 million at end of August 2021 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
60.0%
(30.8.2021)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
2.6%
(30.8.2021)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
1.3%
(10.10.2018 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
5.2%
(2013)
Number of establishments / institutions
13
(2021 - 12 prisons, 1 institution for minors)
Official capacity of prison system
2 720
(30.8.2021)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
183.5%
(30.8.2021)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2003 3,200 61
2010 4,116 64
2012 4,060 59
2014 4,493 63
2016 4,523 61
2018 5,109 64
2020 4,117 50
2003 3,200 61
2010 4,116 64
2012 4,060 59
2014 4,493 63
2016 4,523 61
2018 5,109 64
2020 4,117 50

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. 

                                                TOGO

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

Pre-trial/remand
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

1998
2012
2015
2018

1,160
2,497
2,800
3,212

56.8%
65.0%
63.2%
62.9%

25
38
39
41

2021

c. 2,994

60.0%

35

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. 

                                             TOGO

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

Female prison
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

1998
2011
2015
2018

46
92
118
165

2.3%
2.1%
2.7%
3.2%

1.0
1.4
1.6
2.1

2021

132

2.6%

1.6

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