Greenland (Denmark)

Total prison population:
167
Country
Greenland (Denmark)
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Justice, Denmark
Prison administration
Department of Prisons and Probation, Denmark
Contact address

Strandgade 100, DK-1401 Copenhagen K
Denmark

Telephone
Email
Head of prison administration
Naaja H. Nathanielsen, Director General

Prison population data

Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners) 167
average 2024 (Danish prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population) 294
based on an estimated national population of 56,850 at mid-2024 (from Statistics Greenland figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population) 22.8%
(average, 2024)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population) 13.8%
(21.7.2015)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population) 0.0%
(21.7.2015 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population) 0.9%
(21.7.2015)
Number of establishments / institutions 6
(2024)
Official capacity of prison system 153
(average, 2024)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity) 109.2%
(average, 2024)

Prison population trend

Year Prison population total Prison population rate
88 157
96 170
111 195
115 202
132 234
171 302
170 301
131 234
126 225
124 222
131 233

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. 

                                             GREENLAND

YearNumber 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
7
9
46
29
8.0%
8.0%
26.9%
23.0%
12
16
 81
52
20243822.8%67

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.

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.

                                     GREENLAND (Denmark)

YearPrison
population
total
Prison population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)
1994
1997
2000
92
73
88
165
130
157

 

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