Ongoing overcrowding in European prisons remains a pressing challenge, affecting safety, staff wellbeing, and access to essential services. EuroPris’ 2025 report, Mapping Overcrowding in European Prisons, draws on contributions from 33 national and regional prison administrations, representing around 80% of our membership, to provide a comprehensive overview of trends, pressures, and responses across Europe.
Key Highlights
Rising populations: Between 2020 and 2025, 24 of 33 administrations reported increasing prison populations, with sharp rises in France, Sweden, Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Croatia.
Beyond occupancy rates: Overcrowding is not just a numbers problem; limited access to healthcare, education, and mental health support, combined with staff fatigue, contribute to pressure on prisons.
Pressure points: Women’s prisons and pre-trial detention facilities face particular challenges.
Operational responses: Administrations employ immediate measures such as shared cells, emergency transfers, and temporary capacity increases.
Systemic and strategic approaches: Medium- and long-term measures include non-custodial sanctions, structured early release, infrastructure planning, staff forecasting, and collaborative governance.
No single solution: Sustainable progress depends on coordinated action, investment in staff and facilities, and a combination of measures across the justice chain.
This mapping provides a unique insight into how European prisons are navigating overcrowding while promoting humane and resilient custodial systems.
Explore the Findings
Discover the full mapping and see how European prisons are working toward sustainable capacity management.
- View the full interactive report here.
- Alternatively, you can download and view the report as a PDF here.
Press Enquiries
Disclaimer:
For all enquiries, please contact the EuroPris Secretariat at [email protected]