According to the Council of Europe’s penal statistics for 2025, Eastern Europe continues to lead in terms of incarceration rates, with the highest figures recorded in Turkey, Azerbaijan, Moldova, and Georgia.
According to the CoE report, as of December 31, 2025, there were 8,592 prisoners in Georgia, including individuals held in pre-trial detention as a preventive measure before a final verdict.
Consequently, according to the Council of Europe, the rate per 100,000 inhabitants stands at 231.9, which is considered a “very high” level compared to the European average (110).
At the same time, according to the report, the prison population decreased by 15.5% between 2015 and 2025. Over the most recent period, from 2024 to 2025, it fell by 11.0%.
The Council of Europe notes that in 2024, an amnesty was announced in Georgia for 953 individuals, and 688 individual pardons were granted.
As for other data, in Georgia:
- The average age of prisoners is 39;
- As of January 31, 2025, there were 74 minors in prisons (0.9% of the total number of prisoners);
- The percentage of prisoners aged 50 and older is considered “high”;
- Women account for 4.4% (377 prisoners) of the total convict population, which is classified as a “low” percentage;
- 11.9% of prisoners (1,020 people) are foreign citizens, which is categorized as a “very low” rate compared to the European median (17.0%).
The report also states that there is a total capacity of 12,332 places for prisoners in Georgia. The prison density stands at 69.7 inmates per 100 places; thus, overall overcrowding is not observed. There are 2,918 cells in the system, with an average of 2.9 prisoners per cell.
