Malta

Total prison population:
671
Country
Malta
Ministry responsible
Ministry for Justice and Home Affairs
Prison administration
Correctional Services Agency
Contact address

Triq il-Belt Valletta, Paola, PLA 1518
Malta

Telephone
Head of prison administration
Christopher Siegersma, Director General

Prison population data

Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners) 671
at 31.1.2024 (via Council of Europe)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population) 119
based on an estimated national population of 565,200 at end of January 2024 (from Eurostat figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population) 41.6%
(31.1.2024)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population) 6.3%
(31.1.2024)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population) 0.4%
(31.1.2024 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population) 51.9%
(31.1.2024)
Number of establishments / institutions 1
(2024 - Corradino Correctional Facility)
Official capacity of prison system 810
(31.1.2024)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity) 82.8%
(31.1.2024)

Prison population trend

Year Prison population total Prison population rate
230 61
277 70
277 69
343 85
444 108
598 144
585 139
581 132
553 120
619 125
864 167

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. 

                                                       MALTA

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

Pre-trial/remand
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

2001
2005
2010
2015
2020

79
96
233
129
260

30.7%
32.2%
39.0%
22.7%
30.1%

20
24
56
30
50

2024

279

41.6%

49

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.

                                                    MALTA

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2002
2006
2010
2016
2020

11
14
34
46
56

3.9%
4.1%
5.7%
8.3%
6.5%

2.8
3.5
8.2
10.5
10.5

2024

42

6.3%

7.4

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.

                                                       MALTA

Year

Prison
population
total

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

1921
1937
1940
1945
1950
1955
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1999

302
96
77
121
128
89
56
43
34
66
104
89
230

-
-
28
41
41
28
18
14
11
21
32
26
61

 

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