Vietnam

Total prison population:
133,986
Country
Vietnam
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Public Security
Prison administration
Department of Prison Management
Contact address

17/175 Dunh cong-Hoang mai, Hanoi
Vietnam

Telephone
Head of prison administration
Pham Duc Chan, Director General

Prison population data

Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners) 133,986
at June 2022 (via Asian & Pacific Conference of Correctional Administrators)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population) 135
based on an estimated national population of 98.92 million at June 2022 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population) 11.5%
(June 2022)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population) 12.1%
(mid-2019)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population) 0.4%
(mid-2019)
Number of establishments / institutions 54
(2019)
Official capacity of prison system
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)

Prison population trend

Year Prison population total Prison population rate
88,414 104
92,153 106
107,668 122
113,018 126
130,180 143
142,636 154
130,679 139
129,610 135

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. 

                                                 VIETNAM

YearNumber in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment
Percentage
of total
prison population
Pre-trial/remand
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)
2012
2015
2019
15,150
23,985
15,835
11.6%
17.6%
12.6%
17
26
16
202215,40511.5%16

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.

                                                     VIETNAM

YearNumber of
female
prisoners
Percentage
of total
prison population
Female prison
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)
2005
2007
2010
2015
10,990
10,349
12,591
16,547
12.4%
11.2%
11.6%
12.1%
12.9
12.0
14.1
17.7
201915,15212.1%15.7

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.

                                                   VIETNAM

YearPrison
population
total
Prison population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)
1996
1998
43,000
55,000
56
69

 

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