Prisoners on the rise in Europe: overcrowding in 13 countries

No less important is the division: as of 2016, 1 in 19 adult prisoners in prisons in the EU countries were women. In 2023, the share of women in prisons was 5.4 per cent, almost the same as in 2022 (5.3 per cent). The share of women in prisons varies between the EU countries. In 2023, the highest share was in the Czech Republic (8.8%), followed by Hungary (8.2%), Slovakia and Latvia (7.7% for both). The lowest share was in France (3.3%) followed by Bulgaria (4.1%) and Italy (4.2%).

However, that is not all. Another figure concerns the nationality of the detainees. In 2023, 1 in 5 "had a foreign nationality in the reporting country". In the EU countries, the proportion of prisoners with foreign nationality in the reporting country (20.6 per cent) was almost the same as in 2022 (20.4 per cent).

The share of prisoners with foreign nationality varies between EU countries. The highest share was in Luxembourg (75.7%), followed by Greece (54.3%) and Cyprus (56.7%). The lowest share was in Romania (1.1%) followed by Bulgaria (2.9%) and Latvia (3.5%).

In Italy, the condition of prisoners in prisons is at the centre of the monitoring activities and awareness-raising campaigns of the various voluntary associations. Out of 51,347 places foreseen by the regulatory capacity ('calculated on the basis of the criterion of 9 square metres per single prisoner plus 5 square metres for the others'), 60,637 were registered (as of 31 January 2024). As of 30 April 2025, the data show a further increase. Out of 51,292 places in the regulatory capacity, 62,445 persons are registered. Of these 2,725 are women and 19,740 foreigners.

Urging interventions and measures to find a solution to the problem are the associations. In its report at the end of 2024, Antigone, the association that deals with the rights of persons deprived of their liberty, takes a snapshot of the state of Italian detention facilities and, at the same time, highlights problems ranging from the conditions of the buildings to overcrowding and suicides.

According to Antigone's report, the number of people working in prison employed by the prison itself is growing, albeit slightly. "They were 16,305 on 30 June 2023 and rose to 17,096 on the same date in 2024," the report reads.

On the other hand, those working for other employers increased significantly, from 2,848 on 30 June 2023 to 3,144 on 30 June 2024. Both semi-liberated persons (+84) and persons in art. 21 (+117) grew, as well as the number of persons in prison working for private employers, be they social cooperatives (+62) or for-profit companies (+29). However, the number of those working for the latter remains very low. On 30 June 2024, there were only 213 inmates working for traditional private enterprises, while there were 899 inmates working for social cooperatives".

France also records alarming numbers. According to the Ministry of Justice, 82,152 people were detained as of 1 March 2025, a new record for the country. The official capacity, however, was 62,539, with an overcrowding rate of 131.7 per cent - well above the guard limit. In 15 penitentiary institutions, it was even over 200%. The situation in French prisons is so serious that more than 4,500 inmates are forced to sleep on mattresses placed on the floor. To tackle the emergency, Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin announced a plan to build 15,000 new places by 2029 and called for eligible foreign prisoners to be transferred to their home countries to serve their sentences there.

Spain, while experiencing an increase in the prison population (56,698 inmates in 2023), maintains a relatively low overcrowding rate: 75 per cent according to the latest prison reform. The country has adopted a more re-educational approach: the progressive system allows prisoners a gradual transition to more open regimes, based on their behaviour and risk of reoffending. The role of Social Insertion Centres (CIS), which allow inmates to work or study outside during the day, is also notable. Data show that 80% of released prisoners do not return to crime.

In Austria, as of 1 May 2025, there were 9,915 prisoners against an official capacity of 8,263 (108.75 per cent occupancy). The country was criticised by the Court of Auditors for a lack of investment in rehabilitation programmes and for a shortage of personnel. According to experts, prison sentences are still too frequently used in Austria, often even for minor offences. Although the problems have been known for years, no significant structural reforms have been introduced so far.

Ireland also faces an overcrowding crisis. By 1 May 2025, the number of inmates had risen to 5,308, against a capacity of 4,666 (114% occupancy). Over 340 people slept on mattresses. The government has initiated an expansion plan with 1,500 new places planned, but industry associations believe that building new prisons is not the solution. The Irish Penal Reform Trust has called for imprisonment to be regarded as a 'last resort' and for alternative measures, such as community service or supervised temporary release, to be encouraged.

*This article is part of the European collaborative journalism project "Pulse".