Myanmar (formerly Burma)

Total prison population:
100,324
Country
Myanmar (formerly Burma)
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Home Affairs
Prison administration
Myanmar Correctional Department
Contact address

Insein Township, Yangon Division
Myanmar (Burma)

Telephone
Head of prison administration
U Thein Oo, Director-General

Prison population data

Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners) 100,324
at May 2020 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population) 183
based on an estimated national population of 54.75 million at May 2020 (United Nations)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population) 15.1%
(2016)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population) 12.3%
(early 2017)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population) 1.6%
(31.12.2002 - probably omitting prisoners in camp-type institutions)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population) 0.7%
(early 2017)
Number of establishments / institutions 96
(2020 - 46 prisons and 50 labour camps)
Official capacity of prison system 89,938
(May 2020)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity) 111.5%
(May 2020)

Prison population trend

Year Prison population total Prison population rate
53,195 125
31,648 68
c. 60,000 c. 125
65,063 132
60,053 121
c. 66,000 c. 131
c. 60,000 c. 117
79,654 151
92,000 171

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. 

                                                     MYANMAR

YearNumber in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment
Percentage
of total
prison population
Pre-trial/remand
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)
2001
2007
2009
4,966
7,431
6,495
15.7%
11.4%
10.8%
10
15
13
            201612,02215.1%23

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.

                                                   MYANMAR

YearNumber of
female
prisoners
Percentage
of total
prison population
Female prison
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)
2001
2007
2009
2013
6,034
9,754
6,443
10,000
19.1%
15.0%
10.7%
16.3%
12.3
19.2
12.5
18.8
20179,80712.3%17.9

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).

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