Prison capacity and number of persons held in Germany
Germany: Prison capacity and number of persons held was 72,096 Number in 2024. ▬ Flat
Prison capacity and number of persons held in Germany, 2014–2024
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Number.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prison capacity and number of persons held in Germany is 72,096 Number, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 11 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and down 4.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison capacity and number of persons held in Germany peaked at 75,793 Number in 2014 and was at its lowest, 72,096 Number, in 2024.
That places Germany 5th out of 46 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
Prison capacity and number of persons held in Germany, year by year
| Year | Number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 75,793 Number | — |
| 2015 | 73,916 Number | -2.5% |
| 2016 | 73,627 Number | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 73,603 Number | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 74,386 Number | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 72,967 Number | -1.9% |
| 2020 | 72,355 Number | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 72,448 Number | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 72,630 Number | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 72,300 Number | -0.5% |
| 2024 | 72,096 Number | -0.3% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 72,096 Number is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7,404 Number, 9.7× the median. (35 countries reporting)
- Germany's 72,096 Number is above the median for high income countries, which is 8,040 Number, 9.0× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 74,049 Number | 72,967 Number | 75,793 Number | 6 |
| 2020s | 72,366 Number | 72,096 Number | 72,630 Number | 5 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More urban development data for Germany
- Population in the largest city 5.2% (2025)
- Population density 239.01 people per sq. km of land area (2024)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 8.81 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 8.11 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.0972 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 0.1772 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 23.13 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 3.58 million (2025)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 58.06 Tonnes (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison capacity and number of persons held in Germany?
- Prison capacity and number of persons held in Germany was 72,096 Number in 2024, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest prison capacity and number of persons held recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 75,793 Number in 2014.
- What is the lowest prison capacity and number of persons held recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 72,096 Number in 2024.
- How does Germany rank for prison capacity and number of persons held?
- Germany ranks 5th out of 46 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prison capacity and number of persons held rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Germany data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Prison capacity and number of persons held. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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