Where Romania ranks in the top of the states with the most overcrowded prisons in the European Union

In 2024, the total number of inmates in the European Union increased by 9.8% compared to 2020, reaching 463,376, after a low recorded that year. The inmate rate in the EU is 113 per 100,000 inhabitants, slightly higher than in 2023. Hungary, Poland, and Latvia have the highest inmate rates, while Finland and the Netherlands have the lowest.

Romania ranks 7th in the EU, with a rate of under 150 inmates per 100,000 inhabitants. In 2024, 14 EU countries reported overcrowded cells, with Cyprus having the highest occupancy rate. Additionally, 1 in 18 adult inmates in the EU were women, and Romania recorded a share of 4.59%. Furthermore, 1 in 5 inmates had foreign citizenship, with the highest share in Luxembourg and the lowest in Romania, with only 1.1%. These data highlight the challenges of the penitentiary system in the EU and the significant variations between member states.