France’s prison population hits record high amid severe overcrowding crisis

France’s prison population has reached a record 88,145 inmates as of April 1, 2026, intensifying concerns over chronic overcrowding in the country’s correctional system.

According to data by the Ministry of Justice, the number of inmates has increased by 6.3% over the past year, while prison capacity has expanded by only 1.6% during the same period, BFM reports.

As a result, the national prison overcrowding rate has climbed to 139.1%, with pretrial detention facilities experiencing even higher pressure at 171.1%. These centres house both convicted individuals serving short sentences and detainees awaiting trial, exacerbating congestion.

France is already ranked among the European countries with the highest prisoner density, trailing only Slovenia and Cyprus. The Council of Europe has previously warned that French prisons risk becoming “human warehouses,” citing overcrowding, deteriorating sanitary conditions, and rising levels of violence.

One of the most visible indicators of the crisis is the growing number of inmates forced to sleep on mattresses placed on cell floors. This figure has reached 7,540—nearly 60% higher than a year earlier. In 30 of the country’s 190 prisons, occupancy rates exceed 200%, effectively meaning two prisoners per available bed.

The most severe overcrowding has been reported in the Paris region, the Toulouse area, and France’s overseas territories.

Prison unions and administrative authorities have warned that the system is under structural strain, with work stoppages affecting around 22% of facilities by the end of April.

The government is preparing measures aimed at easing overcrowding, including plans to prohibit floor mattresses and construct approximately 3,000 new beds in modular prison units. However, implementation has been slower than anticipated, and unions argue that the steps fall short of addressing the scale of the crisis.

By Sabina Mammadli