Prison capacity and number of persons held in Portugal
Portugal: Prison capacity and number of persons held was 12,608 Number in 2024. ▬ Flat
Latest (2024)
12,608 Number
Change on year
down 0.4%
World rank
13th
of 46 countries
All-time high
12,934 Number
in 2018
All-time low
12,102 Number
in 2009
Years of data
17
2008–2024
Prison capacity and number of persons held in Portugal, 2008–2024
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Number.
Analysis
In 2024, prison capacity and number of persons held in Portugal stood at 12,608 Number.
The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and up 0.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prison capacity and number of persons held in Portugal peaked at 12,934 Number in 2018 and was at its lowest, 12,102 Number, in 2009.
Portugal ranks 13th of 46 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Prison capacity and number of persons held in Portugal, year by year
| Year | Number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 12,464 Number | — |
| 2009 | 12,102 Number | -2.9% |
| 2010 | 12,174 Number | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 12,330 Number | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 12,342 Number | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 12,400 Number | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 12,591 Number | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 12,591 Number | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 12,600 Number | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 12,694 Number | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 12,934 Number | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 12,934 Number | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 12,923 Number | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 12,618 Number | -2.4% |
| 2022 | 12,673 Number | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 12,663 Number | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 12,608 Number | -0.4% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 12,608 Number is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7,404 Number, 1.7× the median. (35 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 12,608 Number is above the median for high income countries, which is 8,040 Number, 1.6× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 12,283 Number | 12,102 Number | 12,464 Number | 2 |
| 2010s | 12,559 Number | 12,174 Number | 12,934 Number | 10 |
| 2020s | 12,697 Number | 12,608 Number | 12,923 Number | 5 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
More urban development data for Portugal
- Population in the largest city 45.6% (2025)
- Population density 116.75 people per sq. km of land area (2024)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 8.77 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 4.36 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.4037 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 0.427 % 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 47.22 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 3.03 million (2025)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 1.7 Tonnes (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prison capacity and number of persons held in Portugal?
- Prison capacity and number of persons held in Portugal was 12,608 Number in 2024, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest prison capacity and number of persons held recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 12,934 Number in 2018.
- What is the lowest prison capacity and number of persons held recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 12,102 Number in 2009.
- How does Portugal rank for prison capacity and number of persons held?
- Portugal ranks 13th out of 46 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prison capacity and number of persons held rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Portugal 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.
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