French Polynesia (France)

Total prison population:
575
Country
French Polynesia (France)
Prison administration
La Direction des Etablissements Pénitentiaires de Polynésie Française.
Contact address

French Polynesia

Head of prison administration
Lionel Lecomte, Directeur

Prison population data

Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners) 575
at 1.7.2024 (French Ministry of Justice)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population) 200
based on an estimated national population of 287,000 at beginning of July 2024 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population) 19.0%
(1.1.2020)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population) 3.7%
(1.7.2024)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population) 0.4%
(1.10.2021 - under 18)
Number of establishments / institutions 2
(2024 - Faa'a Nuutania and Tatutu de Papeari)
Official capacity of prison system 560
(1.7.2024)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity) 102.7%
(1.7.2024)

Prison population trend

Year Prison population total Prison population rate
275 114
291 117
314 123
404 155
426 156
429 156
397 141
569 205
598 212
554 195

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. 

                                          FRENCH POLYNESIA (FRANCE)

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2011
2016

90
57

21.4%
14.4%

33
20

2020

122

19.0%

44

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. 

                                         FRENCH POLYNESIA (FRANCE)

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2003
2007
2015
2020

12
12
17
26

4.1%
3.0%
3.8%
4.2%

4.8
4.6
6.0
9.3

2024

21

3.7%

7.3

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.

                                 FRENCH POLYNESIA (FRANCE)

Year

Prison
population
total

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

1992
1998
2001

225
280
275

110
122
114

 

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