Moldova (Republic of)

Europe
Total prison population:
5,892
Country
Moldova (Republic of)
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Justice (Ministerul Justitiei)
Prison administration
Department of Penitentiary Institutions (Departmentul institutiilor Penitenciare)
Contact address

Str. N. Titulescu 35, MD-2032 CHISINAU, Moldova
Moldova

Telephone
+37322409787or22409717
Fax
+37322409788or22409717
Website
https://anp.gov.md/
Email
anp@anp.gov.md
Head of prison administration
Vladimir Cojocaru, Director General

Prison population data

Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners) 5,892
at 1.4.2025 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population) 255
based on an estimated national population of 2.31 million at beginning of April 2025 (from Statistica Moldovei figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population) 20.2%
(1.4.2025)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population) 5.3%
(1.4.2025)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population) 0.4%
(1.4.2025 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population) 1.9%
(1.4.2025)
Number of establishments / institutions 17
(2021)
Official capacity of prison system 6,622
(1.4.2025)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity) 89.0%
(1.4.2025)

Prison population trend

Year Prison population total Prison population rate
9,449 260
10,633 293
10,591 293
8,876 247
7,895 221
6,535 183
6,476 182
6,853 239
8,054 285
7,635 280
6,716 254
6,396 249

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. 

                                                  MOLDOVA

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

3,236
2,190
1,030
1,634
1,053

33.2%
24.4%
16.1%
20.9%
16.0%

89
61
29
46
30

2025

1,188

20.2%

51

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.

                                                   MOLDOVA

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

387
445
401
485
408

4.0%
4.9%
6.3%
6.2%
6.1%

10.7
12.4
11.3
13.7
11.5

2025

310

5.3%

13.4

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.

                                               MOLDOVA

Year

Prison
population
total

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

1980
1985
1991
1992
1995
2000

14,069
21,842
11,066
10,258
9,781
9,449

353
521
253
276
264
260

Figures for Transnistria, which broke away from the rest of Moldova in 1992, are not included after 1991. 

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