Tunisia

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CountryTunisia
Ministry responsible
Ministère de la Justice
Prison administration
Direction Générale des Prisons et de la Rééducation
Contact address
Rue 8003 Appartement L, Espace de Tunis Monplaisir, Tunis, Tunisia
Telephone
+216 71 903 503
Fax
+216 71 952 472
Website
Head of prison administration (and title)
Colonel-Major Sami Ennar
Directeur Général des Prisons
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
23 484
at 23.9.2021 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
196
based on an estimated national population of 11.96 million at mid-2021 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
54.9%
(2021)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
3.3%
(2021)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.2%
(2021 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
2.5%
(2021)
Number of establishments / institutions
32
(2020 - 27 prisons, 5 juvenile centres)
Official capacity of prison system
18 577
(2021)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
126.4%
(2021)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
1996 23,165 252
2004 c 26,000 c 261
2009 26,319 250
2011 21,000 196
2013 25,000 226
2015 c 23,000 c 204
2017 20,755 180
2020 22,964 194
1996 23,165 252
2004 c 26,000 c 261
2009 26,319 250
2011 21,000 196
2013 25,000 226
2015 c 23,000 c 204
2017 20,755 180
2020 22,964 194

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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.                                         

                                                     TUNISIA

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2012
2016
 
c. 11,000
11,130
 
c. 51.6%
52.1%
 
c. 101
98
 

2021

12,881

54.9%

108

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. 

                                                 TUNISIA

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2011
2015

400
615

1.9%
2.7%

3.7
5.5

2021

778

3.3%

6.5

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