Zambia

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CountryZambia
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Home Affairs
Prison administration
Zambia Correctional Service
Contact address
PO Box 80926, Kabwe, Zambia
Telephone
+260 977 975 971
Fax
+260 5 223916
Website
http://www.zambiacorrections.gov.zm/
Email
pro.zcs2@zambiacorrections.gov.zm
Head of prison administration (and title)
General Fredrick Chilukutu
Correctional Service Commissioner
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
25 372
at January 2024 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
125
based on an estimated national population of 20.32 million at January 2024 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
20.1%
(January 2024)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
3.3%
(May 2023)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
7.2%
(May 2023 - under 20)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
2.1%
(2.12.2005)
Number of establishments / institutions
90
(2019 - 54 standard prisons, 36 open-air prison farms)
Official capacity of prison system
10 650
(January 2024)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
238.2%
(January 2024)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
1998 14,318 146
2000 11,999 116
2002 13,173 123
2005 14,207 124
2008 15,000 120
2010 16,666 128
2012 c 17,000 c 116
2014 17,160 109
2016 19,000 114
2018 21,000 116
2020 20,735 109
1998 14,318 146
2000 11,999 116
2002 13,173 123
2005 14,207 124
2008 15,000 120
2010 16,666 128
2012 c 17,000 c 116
2014 17,160 109
2016 19,000 114
2018 21,000 116
2020 20,735 109

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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. 

                                                 ZAMBIA

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
2007
2013
2019

3,054
5,060
8,164
3,950
4,000

25.5%
35.3%
54.8%
23.2%
17.6%

29
43
66
26
22

2024

5,101

20.1%

25

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.

                                                    ZAMBIA

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2005
2014
2020

237
c. 515
560

1.7%
c. 3.0%
2.7%

2.1
c. 3.5
2.9

2023

876

3.3%

4.4

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 total
Prison population rate