United Kingdom: Scotland

Europe
Total prison population:
8,229
Country
United Kingdom: Scotland
Ministry responsible
Scottish Executive
Prison administration
Scottish Prison Service
Contact address

Calton House, 5 Redheughs Rigg, GB-Edinburgh EH12 9HW
Scotland

Telephone
+441312448522
Fax
+441312448738
Website
https://www.sps.gov.uk
Head of prison administration
Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive

Prison population data

Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners) 8,229
at 26.12.2025 (Scottish prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population) 147
based on an estimated national population of 5.60 million at end of December 2025 (from National Records of Scotland figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population) 25.0%
(26.12.2025)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population) 3.7%
(26.12.2025)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population) 0.0%
(26.12.2025 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population) 7.6%
(2.10.2024)
Number of establishments / institutions 17
(2025)
Official capacity of prison system 7,905
(31.1.2024)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity) 100.3%
(31.1.2024)

Prison population trend

Year Prison population total Prison population rate
5,869 116
6,404 127
6,805 134
7,111 139
7,741 150
7,806 150
8,212 155
7,819 146
7,611 141
7,595 140
7,004 128
7,447 136

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. 

                                    UNITED KINGDOM: SCOTLAND

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

951
1,175
1,441
1,538
1,589

16.2%
17.3%
18.3%
19.9%
22.7%

19
23
28
29
29

2025

2,057

25.0%

37

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.

                                    UNITED KINGDOM: SCOTLAND

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

203
332
443
408
271

3.3%
4.9%
5.6%
5.3%
3.9%

4.0
6.5
8.5
7.6
4.9

2025

305

3.7%

5.4

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 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.

                                      UNITED KINGDOM: SCOTLAND

Year

Prison
population
total

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

1900
1910
1920
1930
1935
1940
1945
1950
1955
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000

2,698
2,777
1,874
1,661
1,694
1,320
1,955
1,781
2,176
2,821
3,381
5,003
4,951
4,860
5,273
4,724
5,626
5,869

61
59
39
34
34
27
40
35
42.5
55
65
96
95
94
103
93
110
116

 

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