Prison capacity and number of persons held in Malta
Malta: Prison capacity and number of persons held was 810 Number in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prison capacity and number of persons held in Malta, 2008–2024
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Number.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prison capacity and number of persons held in Malta is 810 Number, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 14.9% on the previous year and up 30.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison capacity and number of persons held in Malta peaked at 952 Number in 2019 and was at its lowest, 516 Number, in 2008.
That places Malta 43rd out of 46 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 17 years of available data.
Prison capacity and number of persons held in Malta, year by year
| Year | Number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 516 Number | — |
| 2009 | 547 Number | +6.0% |
| 2010 | 584 Number | +6.8% |
| 2011 | 618 Number | +5.8% |
| 2012 | 646 Number | +4.5% |
| 2013 | 628 Number | -2.8% |
| 2014 | 622 Number | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 622 Number | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 675 Number | +8.5% |
| 2017 | 675 Number | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 878 Number | +30.1% |
| 2019 | 952 Number | +8.4% |
| 2020 | 952 Number | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 952 Number | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 952 Number | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 952 Number | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 810 Number | -14.9% |
Malta compared with similar countries
- Malta's 810 Number is below the median for high income countries, which is 8,040 Number, 10% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 531.5 Number | 516 Number | 547 Number | 2 |
| 2010s | 690 Number | 584 Number | 952 Number | 10 |
| 2020s | 923.6 Number | 810 Number | 952 Number | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malta
More urban development data for Malta
- Population density 1,805 people per sq. km of land area (2024)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 10.81 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 0 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 5.94 Hectares (2020)
- Establishments, bedrooms and bed-places in tourist accommodation, by 388 Number (2025)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 100.0% (2017)
- Nights spent at tourist accommodation establishments by degree of 12.47 million Number (2025)
- Housing cost overburden rate by NUTS 2 region 6.0% (2025)
- Expenditure on housing function by type of benefit and means-testing 43.44 Million euro (2024)
- Housing cost overburden rate by age, sex and poverty status 6.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison capacity and number of persons held in Malta?
- Prison capacity and number of persons held in Malta was 810 Number in 2024, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest prison capacity and number of persons held recorded in Malta?
- The highest recorded value was 952 Number in 2019.
- What is the lowest prison capacity and number of persons held recorded in Malta?
- The lowest recorded value was 516 Number in 2008.
- How does Malta rank for prison capacity and number of persons held?
- Malta ranks 43rd out of 46 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prison capacity and number of persons held rising or falling in Malta?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malta 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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