- Country
- Turkey
- Ministry responsible
- Ministry of Justice (Adalet Bakanligi)
- Prison administration
- General Directorate of Prisons and Detention Houses (Ceza ve Tevkifevleri Genel Müdürlügü)
- Contact address
-
Hacı Bayram Mahallesi Agah, Efendi Caddesi No:70/1, Altindag/ ANKARA, Turkey
Türkiye - Telephone
- Website
- Head of prison administration
-
Yunus Alkac, Director General of Prisons and Detention Houses
Prison population data
| Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners) |
402,014
at 2.1.2026 (national prison administration)
|
|---|---|
| Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population) |
468
based on an estimated national population of 85.96 million at beginning of January 2026 (from Eurostat figures)
|
| Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population) |
15.9%
(2.1.2026 - pre-trial prisoners only, not including other remand prisoners)
|
| Female prisoners (percentage of prison population) |
4.8%
(2.1.2026)
|
| Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population) |
1.1%
(2.1.2026 - under 18)
|
| Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population) |
4.2%
(31.1.2024)
|
| Number of establishments / institutions |
395
(April 2025)
|
| Official capacity of prison system |
299,940
(April 2025)
|
| Occupancy level (based on official capacity) |
132.9%
(April 2025)
|
Prison population trend
| Year | Prison population total | Prison population rate |
|---|---|---|
| 49,512 | 73 | |
| 59,429 | 85 | |
| 57,930 | 81 | |
| 70,277 | 101 | |
| 103,235 | 144 | |
| 120,814 | 164 | |
| 136,020 | 180 | |
| 158,837 | 204 | |
| 200,339 | 251 | |
| 264,842 | 324 | |
| 266,831 | 319 | |
| 341,497 | 400 |
Prison population total
Prison population rate
- Pre-trial/remand prison population: trend
- Female prison population: trend
- Prison population trend up to 2000
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.
TURKEY
| 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 | 29,953 (of which 26,297 untried) 30,061 (of which 25,910 untried) 56,107 (of which 34,827 untried) 25,590 untried c. 41,890 untried | 41.7% (untried are 36.6%) 55.4% (untried are 47.7%) 46.6% (untried are 28.9%) 14.4% untried 15.7% untried | 44 (untried rate 39) 42 (untried rate 36) 77 (untried rate 47) untried rate 32 untried rate 50 |
| 2026 | 63,905 untried | 15.9% untried | untried rate 74 |
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.
TURKEY
Year | Number of | Percentage | Female prison |
2000 | 2,591 | 3.6% | 3.8 |
2026 | 19,148 | 4.8% | 22.3 |
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.
TURKEY
|
Year |
Prison |
Prison population rate |
|
1936 |
30,369 |
187 |
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