Overview of the Decline in Inmate Numbers
According to the annual report released by the General Delegation for Prison Administration and Reintegration, there has been a notable decrease in the number of inmates in Morocco, dropping by 5.45% between the years 2024 and 2025. As of December 31, 2025, the total prison population stood at 99,366 inmates, equating to approximately 280 inmates per 100,000 residents. This demographic includes 1,112 minors, 2,456 females, and a significant number of singles, totaling 62,982 individuals. The report also highlighted the presence of 2,339 elderly inmates, 14,820 unemployed individuals, and 1,696 foreign nationals, alongside 8,785 individuals in pretrial detention. The average age within the prison population is recorded at 33.62 years.
Insights into Inmate Demographics and Trends
The report further elaborated on trends observed in the prison system, noting a decrease in the number of new admissions, which totaled 98,446 in 2025 compared to 101,157 in 2024. Conversely, the number of inmates released increased significantly, with 104,485 individuals being discharged in 2025 compared to 98,673 in the previous year. This shift indicates a positive trend towards enhancing the rate of inmate release while simultaneously reducing the influx of new inmates.
Examining the demographic makeup of the inmate population, it is evident that those under 30 years old constitute over 45% of the total, while singles dominate the statistics at a rate of 63.38%. Married individuals make up approximately 29.44% of the population, whereas the representation of females remains modest at 2.47%.
Educational statistics reveal that over 74% of inmates possess only primary or lower secondary education, and the illiteracy rate among prisoners is noted at 8.82%. Those with a university education account for just 4.14% of the total population. Regionally, the Casablanca-Settat region has the highest concentration of inmates, representing 19.76% of the total, followed by Rabat-Salé-Kenitra at 17.92%, and Fez-Meknes at 15.34%.
The total area allocated for inmate accommodation reached 178,413 square meters by the end of 2025, equating to 64,812 beds. The national overcrowding rate, however, has improved, decreasing to 153% from 161% at the end of 2024. The General Delegation attributes this decline to a reduction of 5,689 inmates while maintaining a relatively stable capacity during the same period, resulting in the lowest overcrowding rates recorded.
As reported by hespress.com.
